Peer-reviewed article

Environmental Restriction Questionnaire: cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of Turkish version in young children with developmental disabilities.

Taş SA, Tezcan S, Karabulut DG, Şenol H · 7 May 2026

Abstract

Background Children with developmental disabilities often face environmental barriers that limit their participation in daily activities. Environmental Restriction Questionnaire (ERQ) requires cross-cultural adaptation and validation to be used in Turkish populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Turkish version of the Environmental Restriction Questionnaire (ERQ) in young children with developmental disabilities. Methods Participants were a total of 220 children, aged between 4 and 6 years, who had developmental disabilities (mean age: 4.95 ± 0.9) and their parents. The Environmental Restriction Questionnaire (ERQ) was translated from English into Turkish and underwent cross-cultural adaptation. Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity was determined using the correlation between ERQ and CASP with Spearman's correlation analysis. For reliability of ERQ, Cronbach's alpha (α) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were used. Results For reliability of ERQ, high Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were found for the ERQ total and subscale scores (ICC = 0.80-0.90) (Cronbach's α = 0.84-0.93). Construct validity showed poor model fit (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.112; Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) = 0.648) suggesting that the proposed factor structure was not adequately supported. Concurrent validity analyses revealed weak to moderate negative correlations between ERQ and CASP scores (r = - 0.351 to - 0.135; p < 0.05). Conclusion The ERQ appears to be a reliable, cross-culturally adapted instrument; however, its structural validity was not adequately supported, and its applicability should be interpreted with caution. While the Turkish version of the ERQ demonstrates good reliability, construct validity analysis indicated poor model fit, suggesting that the factor structure requires further investigation.