TITLE:
The “Will to Exist, Live and Survive/Fight” (WTELS-F) Scale Initial Short Version: Cross-Cultural Validation of Its Reliability, Structural, Predictive and Incremental Validity
AUTHORS:
Ibrahim A. Kira, Neslihan Arici Özcan, Hanaa Shuwiekh, Amthal H. Al-Huwailah
KEYWORDS:
Will to Live, Existential Anxieties, Annihilation Anxieties, Cumulative Trauma, PTG, Psychopathology
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: A novel short form scale was recently introduced in the literature to evaluate the coping construct of the will-to-exist-live-and survive/fight. The scale proved to have good psychometrics in an Egyptian sample. In the current study, we evaluated cross-culturally the meta master motive coping of “will-to exist-live-survive” (WTELS). Using confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup invariance on a combined five samples (N = 1566) from Western (the UK, N = 178), and non-Western countries (Egypt (N = 490), Turkey (N = 420), Kuwait (N = 300), and Syria (N = 179)), we tested the one-factor structure previously found for WTELS measure and its invariance across genders, age, and national groups. The one-factor was found to have a good fit with the data and was strictly invariant across genders, age groups, and Western and non-Western sub-samples. PROCESS macro found that WTELS have strong direct and indirect positive effects on posttraumatic growth. Its indirect effects were mediated by reappraisal and self-esteem and moderated by spirituality. WTELS had strong negative effects on mental (psychopathology, PTSD, depression, existential anxieties, and suicidality) and physical health. Further, stepwise regression provided evidence of the WTELS incremental validity in PTSD reduction. The results validated the “WTELS” scale cross-culturally and the model was found to be a powerful and deep motive for coping behind the emergence of PTG, and better mental and physical health.