ISSN 2520-6265 (print)

ISSN 2520-6273 (online)


THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF A UKRAINIAN VERSION OF J. WEINHOLD’S CODEPENDENCY SCALE («HOW CODEPENDENT ARE YOU?»)



Authors:
N. M. Bulatevych, PhD (Candidate of Psychological Sciences),
Associate Professor of the Department of Developmental Psychology,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
ORCID: 0000-0002-2971-874X
Researcher ID: KHW-6087-2024
Scopus ID: 57201291641
E-mail: bulatevich@ukr.net

V. V. Lukyanets, Master’s Student (Psychology of Childhood and Family),
Faculty of Psychology,
Department of Developmental Psychology,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
ORCID: 0009-0001-3078-4411
E-mail: vikalucky1@gmail.com

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/upj.2025.1(23).1

Article Information
Issue: 1(23) 2025, pages: 9-26
Language: Ukrainian
Received: 12.03.2025
1st Revision: 16.03.2025
Accepted: 22.03.2025


Abstract

The article presents an adaptation of the «How Codependent Are You?» scale developed by J. and B. Weinholds for a Ukrainian-speaking sample. The authors emphasize that co-dependency is a widespread complex phenomenon that continues to attract scientific interest. It is characterized by behavioral patterns and emotional experiences within interpersonal relationships when a person becomes excessively dependent on others.

The article analyzes the conceptual framework of codependency proposed by J. and B. Weinholds and notes that reviewed publications revealed a lack of studies examining the psychometric properties of the original scale or its translations, including in Ukrainian. Moreover, concerns were raised regarding the content validity of some scale items as indicators of codependency.

An expert review of the scale items was conducted by three independent specialists. Based on their analysis, nine items were identified as conceptually relevant to the construct of codependency.

The study aim was to create a Ukrainian version of the scale and evaluate its psychometric characteristics.

A back-translation method was used. The sample consisted of 235 respondents (88.9% women), who completed the questionnaire online. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency measures (Cronbach’s alpha, etc.), and indicators of concurrent validity were applied to assess the scale’s psychometric properties. The ESEM results showed that the original one-factor model provided a suboptimal fit; better statistical indices were obtained for two- to four-factor models. However, the most optimal structure appeared to be a one-factor model based on the nine expert-selected items.

The adapted scale expands capability for examining codependency and may serve as a tool for both further scientific research and practical psychological work.

Key words: codependency, family system, dysfunctional families, interpersonal relationships, psychometric properties of the scale.

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