Development and Psychometric Validation of the Perceived Deterritorialization Scale (PDS) in Workplace Settings

Despite the prominence of workplace territoriality research, no validated instrument currently exists to assess perceived deterritorialization the subjective experience of spatial dispossession in modern work environments. This study presents the psychometric validation of the Perceived Deterritorialization Scale (PDS), a 15-item instrument capturing three dimensions: spatial identity loss, environmental instability, and territorial intrusion. Across two studies involving French employees in individual, open-plan, and flex-office settings (N = 340; N = 225), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a robust three-factor correlated structure. The PDS demonstrates strong internal consistency (α = .81–.83) and excellent model fit (CFI = .96; RMSEA = .058), explaining 45.7% of the variance. These results establish the PDS as a reliable tool for researchers and practitioners to evaluate the psychological costs of spatial reorganizations and guide evidence-based workplace interventions.