Psychometric evaluation of the translated Chinese version of the Toxic Leadership Behaviors of Nurse Managers Scale (ToxBH-NM)

Abstract Aim To translate and psychometrically validate the Toxic Leadership Behaviors of Nurse Managers Scale in China. Background Toxic leadership is a negative or ineffective leadership style, the prevalence of which is rising in the field of nursing. Toxic leadership can manifest itself in different ways in different cultural contexts and we currently lack a specific and standard instrument to evaluate nurse managers' toxic leadership behaviors in China. Methods The Toxic Leadership Behaviors of Nurse Managers Scale was translated into Chinese based on Brislin's classical back translation model. Item analysis, content validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA), internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability were used to test the psychometric attributes of the scale. Results EFA yielded a four-factor scale structure with a cumulative variance contribution of 72.020%. CFA suggested acceptable indices which were consistent with the four-factor model of the original scale. Cronbach's α was 0.967 for the whole scale. Conclusions The Chinese version of ToxBH-NM (C-ToxBH-NM) was reliable and valid, and the scale was a potentially useful instrument to assess and present nurse managers' toxic leadership behaviors in China.