The Brazilian Personal Social Capital Scale 10 (brPSCS-10): A Translated and Adapted Version of the Personal Social Capital Scale 8 (PSCS-8) tested in a sample of residents of a flood-affected area

OBJECTIVE: In 2024, a catastrophic flood devastated Brazil's southernmost state, highlighting the need for tools to assess social capital. Yet, validated instruments for the Brazilian context are lacking. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the PSCS-8 for use in a Brazilian population after a climate event. METHODS: This validation study used a sample from a longitudinal project assessing the mental health of residents of a flood-affected area. Participants (n=1057) responded to an online survey comprising the brPSCS-10, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and items on community resilience perception (CRP). The adaptation process involved expanding the scale to 10 items to enhance cultural relevance. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the original two-factor structure. RESULTS: The brPSCS-10 demonstrated good internal consistency. The scoring model aligned with the original structure showed a good fit in the CFA. Social capital was higher among individuals with higher income and education levels, and associated with lower PTSD symptoms and higher CRP. CONCLUSIONS: The brPSCS-10 is a reliable instrument for measuring perceived social capital in Brazilian Portuguese. Its brevity makes it suitable for large-scale surveys in post-disaster and public health research.