Development and Validation of Butt & Qureshi Climate-Induced Psychosocial Adaptation Scale (BQCI-PAS 2025)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish and test the Butt and Qureshi Climate-Induced Psychosocial Adaptation Scale (BQCI-PAS 2025) in order to measure cognitive, emotional, and social adaptation in young adults in Pakistan. A mixed-methods design was used in Phase I, with a qualitative phenomenological approach in order to produce 64 items (based on lived disaster experiences), 39 of which were retained after expert review. During Phase II, 300 university students (M = 23.8, SD = 3.9) were sampled using convenience sampling. Exploratory factor analysis provided a three-factor model Cognitive Adaptation, Emotional Adaptation, and Social Adaptation with 15 items and 58.4% of the total variance. The subscales had acceptable internal consistency (alpha =.765-851). Convergent validity was supported by positive relations with life satisfaction, whereas conceptual specificity was supported by the differences in relations with climate change anxiety. BQCI-PAS 2025 is a valid and culturally based indicator of psychosocial adapting to the stressors caused by climate.