Cultural Acceptability of Mental Health Scales

This chapter defines and exemplifies cultural acceptability in relation to the translation of mental health scales. Cultural factors need to be appropriately dealt with in the translation of instruments developed in the source languages and cultures into the target languages and cultures. To solicit valid data, translated and adapted mental health scales must be culturally acceptable to the target readers. Cultural acceptability is closely associated with technical equivalence. When displaying semantic equivalence, which means that the method and impact of evaluation remain consistent, an instrument item is acceptable.