Measuring the Subjective Signal Strength: Validating Persian Vividness of Visual Mental Imagery Questionnaire-2.

INTRODUCTION

Although visual mental imagery has been widely researched, a lack of valid measures in Persian-speaking populations has limited cross-cultural, developmental, and clinical research on imagery vividness and its role in reality monitoring.

METHODS

We translated, culturally adapted, and psychometrically validated the Persian version of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VVIQ-Pr2) in this cross-sectional study. Our sample was 630 Persian speakers. Participants completed the VVIQ-Pr2 together with the Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ-2), the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group modeling were also conducted.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure with correlated residuals demonstrating excellent model fit. The scale showed strong internal consistency. Convergent validity was confirmed by positive correlations with VMIQ-2 and SUIS, while discriminant validity was supported by negligible associations with anxiety and all Heterotrait-Monotrait ratios falling below recommended thresholds. Scalar measurement invariance across gender was established with females scoring slightly higher than males. Finally, age modeling revealed a slight decrease in the vividness of imagery from adolescence to early adulthood, followed by relative stability after that.

CONCLUSION

The VVIQ-Pr2 is a psychometrically reliable assessment tool for Persian speakers. In addition to operationalizing subjective visual experience in theories on reality monitoring, it may facilitate future cross-cultural and developmental research.