Translation and Evaluation of the Indonesian Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey

Abstract

Equivalent psychometric properties of translated measurement are critical to guarantee the effectiveness of a measure in a different language. This study translated, adapted, and evaluated the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey in Bahasa Indonesia (EMAS-BI). Factor analysis and convergent validity were employed in data collected from a cross-sectional study involving Indonesian college students. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure that was substantiated by confirmatory factor analysis. A second-order, unidimensional model fit the data equally well. A sufficient validity and reliability were reported using model fit, intraclass correlation, and Cronbach’s alpha. Meaningful activities were positively correlated with quality of life and flourishing, but negatively correlated with depression. EMAS-BI has good psychometric properties based on the samples collected from Indonesian college student population. Future study should assess EMAS psychometric properties in other populations in Indonesia.

Plain Language Summary

Translation and Validation of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Surveys in Bahasa Indonesia

Meaningful activities are core to occupational therapy practice and possess potential for research. Thus, these studies assessed the construct of meaningful activities through psychometric evaluation of the Bahasa Indonesia version of Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS-BI). The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure: personal competence component, social competence component, and personal needs component. These three-factors were sufficiently nested under a higher-order meaningful activities factor, indicating the EMAS is assessing a unidimensional construct. The EMAS-BI demonstrated very good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. In addition, positive correlations were found between meaningful activities, quality of life, and flourishing and a negative correlation with depression. These findings support the EMAS-BI as a valid and reliable assessment of meaningful activity engagement and provide a tool for occupational therapists to design and test effective occupation-based interventions.