Psychometric Evaluation and Standardization of the Persian Adaptation of the APGAR Questionnaire among Adults

Objective: Family functioning profoundly influences individual psychological resilience and well-being. This research sought to examine the psychometric properties, including validity, reliability, and standardization of the Persian family adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, resolve (APGAR) questionnaire among adults living in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: This psychometric study, conducted in a cross-sectional design from May to June 2025, employed convenience sampling for participant recruitment. The questionnaire was translated using the forward-backward method. Validity was determined by conducting face validity (item-impact scores), content validity, criterion validity (correlation with the family organized cohesion scale [FOCS]), and construct validity (conducted via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using average variance extracted [AVE] and composite reliability [CR] indices). Reliability was determined via test re-test evaluation, Cronbach α, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: A total of 424 Persian-speaking adults (54.9% female; age range: 18–78 years) completed the 5-item APGAR. The instrument demonstrated robust face, content, and criterion validity. Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach α of 0.808 and an ICC value of 0.897. CFA revealed all factor loadings exceeding 0.6 and a satisfactory CR index (0.807), although the AVE value (0.457) was reported to be below the ideal threshold. Conclusion: The Persian adaptation of the family APGAR is a psychometrically sound and efficient instrument for the assessment of family dynamics in Iranian adult samples. Its application in health intervention programs could enhance the evaluation and promotion of family health. Its brevity and cultural adaptability facilitate early detection of family stress, guiding targeted psychological interventions and enhancing family-centered care in Iran.