Translation and psychometric validation of the gerascophobia or excessive fear of aging scale (GEFAS) into Urdu

Purpose The Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS) is a recently developed instrument designed to assess aging-related fears; however, no validated Urdu version has been available for use among Urdu-speaking populations. Given the centrality of language accessibility in mental health equity, the absence of an Urdu translation limits assessment and intervention efforts in large and often marginalized communities. This study aims to translate and validate the GEFAS into Urdu, ensuring its linguistic and cultural relevance. Design/methodology/approach This study followed a rigorous translation process involving forward translation, back-translation, expert evaluation and pilot testing. A sample of 370 participants (37% men, 63% women; aged 18–58 years) was recruited in two phases to assess the scale’s psychometric properties. Findings The GEFAS-Urdu demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.898). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure, with significant factor loadings ranging from 0.800 to 0.857, an average variance extracted of 0.689 and excellent model fit indices (e.g. comparative fit index = 0.999, root mean square error of approximation = 0.040). Convergent validity was established through significant positive correlations with depression (r = 0.501), anxiety (r = 0.395) and stress (r = 0.435). Divergent validity was demonstrated by a significant inverse correlation with psychosocial health (r = −0.175). Measurement invariance analysis shows that the scale demonstrated configural, metric and scalar invariance across gender groups. Item response theory analysis revealed appropriate item difficulty estimates and fit statistics, confirming the reliability and validity of the scale for Urdu speakers. Originality/value The GEFAS-Urdu is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing gerascophobia in Urdu-speaking populations.