Validity and reliability of the farsi version of the engagement in meaningful activities survey (F-EMAS) in people with mental illness

Abstract Engagement in meaningful daily activities supports psychosocial recovery in individuals with mental illness. The Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS) measures perceived activity meaningfulness but has not been validated in Farsi for psychiatric populations. This cross-sectional study assessed the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of EMAS (F-EMAS) in people with mental illness. A total of 404 Iranian adults were enrolled, including 324 individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis (clinical group) and 80 healthy controls. The clinical group was randomly divided into two independent subsamples for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) ( n = 100) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) ( n = 224). Participants completed the F-EMAS, and a subsample also completed the Farsi versions of the Recovery Assessment Scale-Domains and Stages (P-RAS-DS), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S). Validity was examined using EFA, CFA, content validity indices, convergent correlations, and known-groups comparisons. Reliability was assessed via Cronbach’s alpha, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC). EFA and CFA supported a unidimensional factor structure. Sampling adequacy was acceptable, with KMO = 0.847, and the one factor CFA model demonstrated acceptable fit, with RMSEA = 0.052, CFI = 0.905, and TLI = 0.883. Content validity indices were high, with item-level CVI values exceeding 0.790 and CVR = 0.915. Internal consistency was acceptable, with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.783, and test-retest reliability was good, with ICC = 0.820. F-EMAS scores showed positive correlations with recovery and basic psychological needs, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.338 to 0.611, and negative correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress, with correlation coefficients ranging from − 0.477 to -0.685. All correlations were statistically significant, p < 0.001. Significant score differences were observed between clinical and healthy groups, p < 0.001. The F-EMAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing meaningful activity engagement in Iranian individuals with mental illness and is suitable for use in clinical and research settings.