The Future-Positive Core Beliefs Scale (FPBS): Construction, Validation, and Initial Psychometric Properties

This study introduces the Future-Positive Core Beliefs Scale (FPBS), a psychometric instrument developed to assess optimistic beliefs about the future. Future-positive core beliefs shape individuals’ perceptions of potential outcomes, contributing to their well-being and personal growth. The aim of study was to develop, validate, and refine the FPBS for psychological assessment and research use. The research involved four stages: (1) item development, which included item generation, content validation, and piloting; (2) Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), conducted with a sample of 861 bilingual participants aged 18–45, which revealed a three-factor model explaining 55.26% of the variance, with factor loadings ranging from .42 to .80; (3) Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on a separate sample data of 600 participants, demonstrated strong construct validity (CFI = .95, GFI = .94, RMSEA = .06) with excellent reliability estimates (Cronbach’s alpha = .91) and item response theory analysis confirmed scale items higher discrimination values; and (4) analysis of the third sample comprising 270 participants, further confirmed FPBS’s robust convergent and discriminant validity. Limitations include sample homogeneity and the potential for self-report bias. Further research should evaluate the scale’s applicability across diverse populations. Overall, the FPBS provides a reliable and valid tool for measuring future-oriented positive core beliefs.