Confirmatory factor analysis of the Prison Adjustment Questionnaire (PAQ) amongst South African adult male incarcerated offenders

Abstract

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Prison Adjustment Questionnaire (PAQ) in a sample of 968 incarcerated male offenders. Confirmatory factor analyses using WLSMV estimation indicated that a bifactor model based on Pretorius, S. E., Jordaan, J., & Esterhuyse, K. (2025). Psychometric properties of the prison adjustment questionnaire (PAQ) amongst South African male incarcerated offenders. Psychology, Crime & Law, Online First, 1–26.two-factor structure (Behavioural and Emotional Adjustment) provided the best fit (CFI = .952; TLI = .920; RMSEA = .077; SRMR = .040). Factor loadings revealed that behavioural and physical difficulty items contributed strongly to a general correctional adjustment factor, whereas internally focused emotional experiences reflected domain-specific variance. Internal consistency was acceptable for the global scale (α = .808) and the two subscales (Behavioural α = .876; Emotional α = .691). Correlational analyses examining external (construct) validity indicated uniformly small associations between PAQ scores and measures of coping, perceived social support, and psychological distress, with little differentiation across constructs. Although some associations reached statistical significance, effect sizes were negligible, suggesting limited support for external validity. Overall, findings suggest that the PAQ provides a generally reliable and structurally coherent measure of correctional adjustment within the South African context. However, further research is needed to establish its external validity using more contextually aligned indicators. The findings have implications for assessment, rehabilitation planning, and institutional well-being.