Abstract
This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the adapted Spanish version of the Hurricane-Related Traumatic Experiences (HURTE) scale among Puerto Rican adults (N = 312) who relocated to the U.S. mainland after Hurricane Maria. Using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Item Response Theory (IRT), the study assessed the scale's reliability, validity, factor structure, and item characteristics. EFA revealed a two-factor structure aligning with the original HURTE scale but with variations in item-factor constellations. Factors reflected the physical impact of the hurricane and emotional/interpersonal impacts of hurricane-related experiences. IRT analyses showed the scale includes items of varying difficulty, allowing for a nuanced assessment of trauma severity. Differential item functioning (DIF) analyses across age and education found no significant DIF, but three items showed DIF by gender. This preliminary validation of the Spanish-language HURTE scale is essential for assessing hurricane-related traumatic experiences among Spanish-speaking adults, particularly in the context of increasing natural disasters. The findings contribute to understanding the scale's psychometric properties, paving the way for future research and applications in disaster-related contexts involving non-English-speaking populations, especially in hurricane-prone regions. The study emphasizes the importance of validating measures tailored to diverse linguistic and cultural groups to improve assessment accuracy after natural disasters.
