Construction and Validation of the Human Psychological Flourishing Scale (HPFS) in Sociocultural Context of Iran

Objective: The increasing importance of the movement of positive psychology has led scientific research to explore and measure the optimal human performance or flourishing. Many researchers believe that the components of flourishing are different in sociocultural contexts, and culture is the primary factor affecting the optimal human performance. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop an instrument to measure human flourishing and to evaluate its psychometric properties in the sociocultural context of Iran. Methods: In this study, we employed a cross-sectional research methodology. For this purpose, 412 teachers from senior high schools of Tehran were selected by the method of multistage cluster sampling and were requested to respond to the researcher-constructed human flourishing scale, Soleimani et al.’s Flourishing Scale, Diener’s Flourishing Scale, PERMA-Profiler, Ahvaz Self-Actualization Questionnaire, and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and Pearson correlation.  Results: Factor analysis was conducted via principal component analysis and varimax rotation. Three factors, namely, individual achievement/competency, social contribution, and sense of satisfaction/happiness were extracted. These three factors together explained 62.99% of the total variance. Thereafter, confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the fitness of the three-factor model (CFI=0.96, GFI=0.95, AGFI=0.92, RMSEA=0.066, SRMR=0.047, χ2=141.16, df=51, and χ2/df=2.77). In addition, Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the researcher-constructed flourishing scale is significantly correlated with Soleimani et al.’s Flourishing Scale, Diener Flourishing Scale, PERMA-Profiler, Ahvaz Self-Actualization Questionnaire, and Beck’s Depression Inventory. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the subscales of researcher-constructed flourishing scale, namely, sense of satisfaction/happiness, individual achievement/competency, and social contribution were respectively found to be 0.87, 0.83, 0.77, and 0.79.  Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the flourishing scale has acceptable psychometric features in teachers’ community, and it can be used as a valid instrument in psychological research.