Turkish Adaptation and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of the Mirror Image Comfort and Avoidance Scale (MICAS) in University Students

Mirror viewing is closely related to body image and self-evaluation. The Mirror Image Comfort and Avoidance Scale (MICAS) assesses individuals’ comfort with and avoidance of viewing their own reflection. This study aimed to culturally adapt the MICAS into Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties among university students. This methodological study was conducted with 407 university students between January and June 2025. Structural validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, and temporal stability was examined in a subgroup of 25 participants from the main sample who completed the scale twice approximately two weeks apart. EFA supported a 17-item, two-factor structure explaining 57.56% of the total variance. CFA using robust maximum likelihood estimation indicated an acceptable model fit (SB-χ2/df = 2.19, RMSEA = 0.054, SRMR = 0.068, CFI = 0.930, TLI = 0.919). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were 0.83 for the Comfort subscale and 0.93 for the Avoidance subscale. Test–retest correlations were very strong for both subscales (r = 0.987–0.993, p < 0.001). The Turkish MICAS demonstrated an acceptable two-factor structure, good to excellent internal consistency, and strong test–retest associations, providing preliminary psychometric evidence for its use in research among university students. Further studies examining convergent, discriminant, criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance in more diverse populations are warranted.