Development and validation of The CyberAbility Scale: a screening tool of cyberscam risk for people with and without acquired brain injury.

PURPOSE: Cyberscams represent a significant global issue to which people with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be particularly vulnerable. Due to a lack of existing measures, The CyberAbility Scale was developed to measure cyberscam vulnerability for people with and without ABI. This study aimed to refine and validate The CyberAbility Scale.

METHODS

The CyberAbility Scale was refined through assessment of scale response distribution, inter-item and item-total correlations, and exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory and multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses and psychometric properties were evaluated.

RESULTS

Participants with (n = 149) and without (n = 153) ABI completed a longer version of the scale, with 24 relevant and functional items retained. A four-factor model of risk included Past Scam Experience, Scam Knowledge, Trusted Supports, and Seeking Connection Online, alongside the ability to identify scams. The scale had appropriate model fit, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent and construct validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, The CyberAbility Scale is a brief, valid tool to screen online vulnerability for persons with and without ABI.