Spanish adaptation and psychometric validation of the Gatekeeper Self-Efficacy Scale (GKSES) in Spanish university students.

Gatekeeper training programs are a key strategy in suicide prevention, enhancing individuals' ability to identify and respond to suicide risk. Perceived self-efficacy is central to intervention, yet its assessment in Spanish-speaking contexts remains limited. This study translated, culturally adapted, and examined the psychometric properties of the Spanish Gatekeeper Self-Efficacy Scale (GKSES). A total of 255 students completed the GKSES alongside measures of suicide literacy, attitudes toward suicidal behavior, and suicidal ideation. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a one-factor model with adequate fit and high internal consistency. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were supported across gender and faculty. GKSES scores showed a positive association with suicide literacy, whereas the expected association with attitudes toward suicidal behavior was not supported. Past-year suicidal ideation was associated with GKSES scores and examined as an external correlate. Findings provide initial support for the reliability and validity of the Spanish GKSES among university students in Spain.