Investigating the Adaptation of the Father Nurturance Scale: Validation for Adolescents in Indonesia

Abstract

Objectives: This study tests the internal structure of the nurturance fathering scale (NFS) in the context of adolescents in Indonesia. Adolescents’ perception of paternal presence is important as it has positive impacts on young people’s lives. Father care is not necessarily present in Indonesia’s cultural context. This context underpins the need for a strong scale to measure adolescents’ perceptions of father nurturance. Methods: The data were collected through self-report using the adaptation of the NFS. Methods used for the current study include a confirmatory factor analysis to assess the internal structure of NFS. The total number of respondents to the study was 324 adolescents. Results: Eight items from the NFS adapted in the Indonesian version are fit for the sample of adolescents in Indonesia, based on several fit indicators as follows: Comparative fit index (CFI)=0.998, trophic level index=0.998, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.074, standardized root mean square residual=0.037. Meanwhile, the factor loading ranged from 0.808 to 0.947 and the cronbach α coefficient=0.938. Discussion: The Indonesian iteration of the NFS demonstrates great potential and could prove beneficial in future investigations. It can serve as a foundation for formulating specific policies. The outcomes of this study will act as a catalyst, propelling the advancement of subsequent research about paternal caregiving, particularly within the Indonesian context.