The Persian version of the centrality of event scale (CES): Assessment of validity and reliability among Iranian university students

Background: Event centrality, the extent to which an experience is perceived as a central
event in one’s life, has been found to be a strong correlate of posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). The centrality of event scale (CES) is commonly used in different conditions
and cultures to measure trauma-related effects. However, the psychometric
properties of this scale have not been investigated in the Iranian context.
Methods: The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Persian
translation of the 7-item CES in a sample of 525 university students with a history of a
romantic breakup.
Results: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a one-factor structure. The CES score
was positively correlated with psychological inflexibility and PTSD symptoms. The
measurement invariance analyses showed that the 7-item CES is gender invariant and
can be used for bothmen and women.
Findings: Findings supported the good psychometric properties of the 7-item CES for
measuring event centrality in Iranian university students.