Turkish adaptation of the nurses’ sexual harassment scale: validity and reliability study

The aim of this study is to adapt the Nurses’ Sexual Harassment Scale, originally developed in Iran, into Turkish and to determine its validity and reliability. This methodological study was conducted with a sample of 288 nurses working in various healthcare institutions across Turkey. Data were collected via online platforms between December 2024 and February 2025 using a survey form that included socio-demographic questions, the Nurses’ Sexual Harassment Scale, and the Scale of Sexual Harassment Behavior from Patients or Clients toward Healthcare Workers. Data were collected from the sample group using convenience sampling method. For linguistic validation, the translation-back translation method was applied. Construct validity was analysed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha scores. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 23.00 and AMOS software. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure—Latent Sexual Harassment and Manifest Sexual Harassment—comprising 15 items. The eigenvalues for the two factors were 13.43 and 1.57, explaining 89.541% and 10.459% of the total variance, respectively. Item loadings ranged between 0.416 and 0.899. The confirmatory factor analysis results showed that CMIN/DF was 5.447, RMR was 0.044, GFI was 0.800, and AGFI was 0.730. Fit indices such as NFI (0.912), TLI (0.913), and CFI (0.926) were all above 0.90, while RMSEA was 0.091. The overall internal consistency of the scale was high (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.961). Subscale reliability was also strong, with alpha values of 0.975 for Latent Sexual Harassment and 0.973 for Manifest Sexual Harassment. These findings support that the Turkish version of the Nurses’ Sexual Harassment Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing sexual harassment experiences among nurses.