Catalight Family Wellbeing Scale Proven Effective in Turkish Culture

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- A recent study has validated the Catalight Family Wellbeing Scale as an effective tool for measuring family wellbeing across cultures, specifically for families raising children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The research, published in the journal Family Relations, demonstrates that the scale, originally developed in the United States, performs reliably when translated and adapted for use with Turkish families.

The Catalight Family Wellbeing Scale, a 15-item questionnaire, was translated into Turkish by researchers from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University and two departments within Bartin University. The study tested the scale with over 300 primary caregivers, predominantly mothers and fathers, from schools across Türkiye. The results closely mirrored the scale's original U.S. validation, confirming its reliability and effectiveness in different cultural contexts.

"At Catalight, we believe that the wellbeing of the individual and their family is the true measure of treatment success," said Lindsey Sneed, Ph.D., BCBA, Catalight's vice president of clinical excellence and a co-developer of the scale. "The Family Wellbeing Scale provides an objective measure of the overall health and happiness of families raising children with developmental disabilities."

The scale measures physical, emotional, social, and mental health, offering a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of family wellbeing. Key findings from the study include:

1. Consistent Results Across Cultures: The scale captured the same three key areas of family life—family relationships, family management, and family determination—in the Turkish sample, mirroring the original U.S. version. 2. Dependability of Individual Questions: Individual questions within each category provided consistent answers, ranging from acceptable reliability to excellent. 3. Fair Comparison of Scores: Mothers' and fathers' scores could be compared fairly, indicating that the scale works the same way regardless of who fills it out. 4. Correlation with Quality of Life: Families who scored higher on the Family Wellbeing Scale also tended to score higher on external measures of family quality of life and lower on measures of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Catalight, a nonprofit organization based in California, is dedicated to breaking down barriers and biases within healthcare systems. The company aims to provide timely, equitable, and precise access to care through innovative, individualized care services, clinical research, and advocacy. Catalight's work includes affiliate partners Easterseals Hawaii and Easterseals Northern California, which are transforming the healthcare experience for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

The Catalight Group is one of the largest behavioral health networks in the nation, serving more than 25,000 clients and families annually. The organization is committed to reimagining healthcare by prioritizing wellbeing through value-based care.

With the success of the Turkish validation, Catalight is translating its Wellbeing Scale into more languages to expand its reach globally. Additionally, the organization is working with Sabri Hergüner of Istanbul University to validate the Catalight Parental Stress Scale for families with children who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

This study underscores the importance of culturally sensitive and reliable tools in measuring the wellbeing of families raising children with developmental disabilities, paving the way for more effective interventions and support.