Validation of an Arabic version of the Composite Abuse Scale (Revised)-Short Form (CASR- SF) as a measure of intimate partner violence in adult females from a Middle-Eastern country

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical issue in the Arab world, exacerbated by the region's socioeconomic challenges and patriarchal societal structures. There is a pressing need for validated tools to measure abuse accurately among Arab-speaking women. This study aims to validate an Arabic translation of the Composite Abuse Scale (Revised)-Short Form (CASR-SF) to ensure its reliability and utility in capturing the experiences of abuse among Arabic-speaking women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2023 using the snowball sampling technique and an online questionnaire. The sample included 915 Lebanese women aged 18–50 years (mean age = 27.09 ± 9.28 years). The participants completed the Arabic CASR-SF along with the Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale and the Child Abuse Self-Report Scale. Psychometric analyses, including factor analysis and reliability testing, were performed to assess the validity of the Arabic CASR-SF. Results CFA indicated that fit of the one-factor model of CASR-SF scores was modest: RMSEA = .124 (90% CI .118, .130), SRMR = .046, CFI = .892, TLI = .870. After adding correlations between residuals of items 5–6, 10–11 and 14–15, the results improved: RMSEA = .107 (90% CI .101, .113), SRMR = .042, CFI = .922, TLI = .903. The second-order model showed a good fit as well: RMSEA = .107 (90% CI .101, .113), SRMR = .042, CFI = .922, TLI = .903. The standardized estimates of factor loadings were all adequate. Internal reliability was very good (ω = .95; α = .95). Higher CASR-SF scores were significantly correlated with higher suicidal ideations (r = .32; p < .001), higher child psychological abuse (r = .35; p < .001), child physical abuse (r = .35; p < .001) and child sexual abuse (r = .38; p < .001) but not child neglect (r = .03; p = .361). Conclusion The Arabic translation of the CASR-SF appears to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing IPV among Arabic-speaking female adults, at least in Lebanon. Its use in future for clinical practice and research is recommended, to help advance understanding and efforts aiming at mitigating IPV in diverse populations.