title: Psychometric properties of the Farsi version of effort-reward imbalance questionnaire: a longitudinal study in employees of a synthetic fibre factory in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the reliability and validity of the Farsi version of the effort-reward imbalance questionnaire (F-ERIQ) and to examine the responsiveness of the tool to changes over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study was carried out among 227 male employees of Iran Polyacryl Corporation. The F-ERIQ was developed through a forward-backward translation process that includes three scales of effort, reward and over-commitment (OC). Reliability and internal consistency of the F-ERIQ were assessed by split-half and Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity were conducted to evaluate construct validity. Depressive mood was used as an indicator for exploring criterion validity. The variations in mean scores over time for scales were regarded as measures of the responsiveness to changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline split-half correlations for effort, reward and OC were 0.53, 0.85 and 0.65, respectively; Cronbach's alpha coefficients improved from 0.61 to 0.70 for effort, 0.85 to 0.88 for reward and 0.67 to 0.72 for OC. All of item-total correlations were higher than 0.23 and item-scales correlations were higher than 0.4. Although Values of Goodness of Fit Index and Adjusted GFI were higher than 0.9 and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation, Root Mean Square Residual and Standardized RMR were lower than 0.05, confirmatory factor analysis only confirmed the construct of the effort and OC. People with higher job stress were at higher risk of depressive mood (at least 3 times more). Overall, the mean score of effort, OC and ERI increase, and the figures decrease for reward among people who experience changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide evidence that the F-ERIQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychosocial stress at work among Farsi-speaking male employees. We propose that F-ERIQ be further evaluated across a variety of jobs and industries.
authors.affiliation: Biostat and Epidemiology Department, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 81799-64793 Isfahan, Iran. g_yadegarfar@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yadegarfar
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alinia
authors.forename: Reihane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hassannejad
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fayaz
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanati
authors.forename: Kave
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanati
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harandi
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hajnoorozali
authors.forename: Mahmood-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baghi
authors.forename: Enayat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mirzavand
authors.forename: Azeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majeed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007802:Language; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012201:Reward; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013784:Textiles; D055815:Young Adult