Examining the Unidimensional Structure of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES): Psychometric Validation and Mediating Roles of Satisfaction, Resilience, and Religiosity.

Résumé

This study aims to test the psychometric properties of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) and examines its associations with psychological distress, satisfaction with life, resilience, and religiosity among individuals affected by the Libyan wars. The sample consisted of 457 participants, with 77.02% female (n = 352) and 22.98% male (n = 105), ranging in age from 18 to 75 years (M_age = 28.82, SD = 11.41). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that the one-factor model exhibited excellent fit, with indices: CFI = .997, TLI = .997, RMSEA = .029 (90% CI = [.015, .040]), SRMR = .050. Reliability analysis indicated high internal consistency (ω = .94, α = .94). ISLES scores were negatively correlated with satisfaction with life (r = - .27) and resilience (r = - .39), while correlations with religiosity were non-significant (r = - .09, p = .060). Positive correlations were observed with psychological distress, including anxiety (r = .39), depression (r = .46), and stress (r = .32). Exploratory indirect association analyses showed that ISLES scores were statistically associated with psychological distress through resilience and life satisfaction, whereas no significant indirect association was observed for religiosity. These findings support the one-factor structure of ISLES and highlight context-specific patterns of association in populations exposed to chronic and ongoing trauma.