The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the independent living readiness scale to measure objectively vulnerable youth’s independent living level. For this study, theoretical approach and experiential approach were compromised, and the...
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the independent living readiness scale to measure objectively vulnerable youth’s independent living level. For this study, theoretical approach and experiential approach were compromised, and the scale development was achieved according to eight stage procedure(deduction of composition factor, generation of the initial item pool, having the initial item pool reviewed by export, collecting data, measure purification, evaluation of model-fit statistics, verification of reliability and validity, validation of scale).
The existing studies related to the development of the readiness scale for independent living had its limit as follows. First, the studies were included only partial parts among the whole independent living readiness regions so there were some limitation to understand the whole level. Second, verification of reliability and validity were not comprised well, so it caused trouble to trust the result of study. Third, target was limited to only foster care youth, and institutional care youth, so this limitation made trouble to apply extensively to out of institutional care vulnerable youths such as runaway and homeless youth, and the youth who kicked off from school. Fourth, when other countries' scale were used not validated by our situation, the scale was not suitable for us.
Thus, in the study, this researcher would like to develop the independent living readiness scale which have reliability and validity, suitable to internal social, cultural, and economic environment, and applicable to vulnerable youth comprehensively. For this, advance research and experimental data which are related to readiness for independent living were reviewed firstly, and 53 readiness factors for independent living in 7 regions such as self-reliance will, ability career and vocational, economical management, social skill, management of housing and daily life, self care, management of study were deducted. Based on this, initial items were developed through using existing scales’s questions and development of new question, and content validity by expertise were reviewed. Using this completed reserved scale, data were collected from preliminary survey and main survey. The data were collected from a survey targeting vulnerable youth who having problems such as dropout, runaway and homeless, staying or leaving from institutional care, and poverty. Finally 1,052 data were used to develop scale. Also for the comparative analysis with general youth, 564 general youth's data were used additionally.
The analysis process were as follows: 17 factors are extracted through exploratory factor analysis for each of 7 regions firstly and then 75 suitable questions were selected. Furthermore, suitability of measurement model was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis for each region and next convergent validity and discriminant validity was verified. Also, high-order CFA was conducted to check that 7 regions converge on the concept of readiness level for independent living, it was confirmed that this scale was valid by hierarchical convergent validity. As a result, this multidimensional readiness scale for independent living which are of 54 questions, 16 factors with 7 small scales was completed.
In the scale of readiness for independent living Cronbach's ⍺ value of 7 regions was between .66~.87 and overall showed .94 of fine internal consistency. And the correlation of each region and overall region was relevant between .70~.78(p<.01). Continually, to check generalizability of developed scale, convergent validity, cross validity, and contrast group validity was evaluated and all result showed fine internal and external validity. Finally, it was confirmed that the scale was available to use as a general-purpose to vulnerable youth.
This study is meaningful in regard to developed the first scale in Korea to be able to measurement comprehensively 7 readiness regions for independent living that is needed for smooth transition from adolescence to adulthood and be able to use generally to vulnerable youth. This scale is expected to be able to provide the baseline data for effectiveness study of independent living readiness program and individual customized intervention.