The Psychometric Properties and Construct Validity of the Acquired Capability for Suicide-Fearless About Death Scale (ACSS-FAD) Based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS) in a Sample of Iranian Students

Authors
Zahra Alizadeh brjandi 1
Sajjad Bagheri 2
Seyed Kazem Rasoulzadeh Tabatabai 3
1 Imam Reza International University
2 Hakim Toos Institute of Higher Education
3 Ferdowsi University
Abstract
Suicide models suggest that attempts occur when individuals have both a desire to die and the acquired capability for suicide, such as fearlessness about death (FAD), which is crucial for transitioning from suicidal desire to action (Ferm et al., 2022). This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Acquired Capability for Suicide-Fearless About Death (ACSS-FAD) scale based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS), assessing its factor structure, reliability, and validity among Iranian students. The ACSS-FAD was translated into Persian using back-translation and administered to 380 students from counseling clinics at Ferdowsi University, Imam Reza University, and Hakim Razavi University in Mashhad during the 2022-2023 academic year. Construct and convergent validity were evaluated through data analysis. Cronbach's alpha for all subscales and the overall scale indicated satisfactory psychometric properties across genders and the total sample. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the factor structure with good fit indices. Correlation patterns between subscales and the convergent validity with the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation demonstrated good validity. The Persian version of the ACSS-FAD shows good reliability and validity in the Iranian population, serving as a useful tool for screening and assessing imminent suicide risk in clinical and research settings.
Keywords
Reliability
Validity
Factor structure
Acquired Capability
Fearlessness About Death
Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
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