Spanish Validation of the School Anxiety Scale—Teacher Report (SAS-TR)

This study aimed to examine the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the School Anxiety Scale-Teacher Report (SAS-TR) in a community sample of 315 Spanish children aged 5 to 12 years. Thirty-seven teachers from eleven schools completed the SAS-TR and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for each child. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two-factor structure, but a better fit model was obtained after removing four items. The scale was found to have high internal consistency (α?=?0.91) and satisfactory test–retest reliability (ICC?=?0.87) for the Spanish sample. Convergent validity was supported by positive significant correlations between the SAS-TR and the Emotional Symptoms subscale of the SDQ. Lower correlations between the SAS-TR and the SDQ Conduct Problems subscale supported the divergent validity. Overall, the findings suggest that the Spanish version of the SAS-TR is a reliable and valid instrument for teachers to assess anxiety in Spanish children.     

The structure of anxiety symptoms among adolescents in Iran: A confirmatory factor analytic study of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Iranian translation of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) in a large community sample of adolescents (N = 1984), aged 12–17 years, in Ahvaz City, Iran. In addition to the SCAS, all participants completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha = .92) and the validity of the Iranian translation of the SCAS was excellent. The SCAS total scores correlated significantly with the CES-DC, as well as with the emotional, conduct problems, hyperactivity-inattention, and peer problems subscales of the SDQ. However, Steiger's Z test demonstrated that correlations between the SCAS scores and the SDQ conduct problems or hyperactivity-inattention subscales were significantly lower than the correlations between the SCAS scores and the SDQ emotional symptoms subscale. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the same 6-factor structure as the original SCAS. The SCAS proved to be a reliable and valid measure of anxiety symptoms among adolescents in Iran.     

Self-reported strengths and difficulties in a community sample of Finnish adolescents

The psychometric properties of the self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) among Finnish 13- to 17-year-old adolescents (n = 1,458) were studied. The results show that the psychometric properties of the Finnish SDQ self-report were adequate. The results of the correlation analysis confirmed the postulated structure of the SDQ self-report. The correlations of the items to their respective subscales ranged from moderate to high (r = 0.47–0.73). The internal consistency was acceptable on three and somewhat lower on two of the five subscales (alpha = 0.53–0.71). In addition, the factor analysis sufficiently confirmed the postulated structure of the SDQ for girls and boys, except for the conduct problems scale of boys, which was fused with emotional symptoms and with hyperactivity. The means of the SDQ self-report total difficulties scores were very similar to those in a previous study in Great Britain. The results provide additional confirmation of the usefulness of the SDQ as a screening instrument in epidemiological research and clinical practice. Accepted: 12 January 2001     

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of nightmare distress questionnaire (NDQ-CV) in adolescents

BackgroundThe Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ) is the most common scale used to measure nightmare distress for its satisfactory psychometric properties. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of NDQ (NDQ-CV) in a large sample of adolescents.MethodsThe NDQ-CV consists of 14 items (12 original NDQ items, 1 modified NDQ item and 1 new item) to assess waking distress associated with nightmares. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale from 1 = Never to 5 = Always. Subjects used for psychometric assessment of the NDQ-CV were 11,831 participants of the Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort in China. Participants completed the NDQ-CV and a structured questionnaire to assess nightmare frequency, sleep, anxiety/depression, and academic performance.ResultsThe NDQ-CV score ranged from 14 to 70 (M = 22.5, SD = 8.7). Internal consistency reliability coefficient was 0.90. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded 2 dominant factors defined as nightmare general distress (10 items) and daytime reality perception (4 items). The NDQ-CV score was significantly correlated with short nocturnal sleep duration, anxiety/depression, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and poor academic performance. Furthermore, NDQ-CV significantly predicted depressive symptoms 1 year later.Study limitationsAll data were self-reported.ConclusionsThe NDQ-CV appears to be a simple, reliable, and valid scale for assessing nightmare distresses in Chinese adolescents. Further studies are warranted to test the reliability and validity of the NDQ-CV with adult samples.     

Scale properties of the Japanese version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): a study of infant and school children in community samples

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a short screening instrument which addresses the positive and negative behavioral attributes of infants, children and adolescents. The SDQ is widely used to evaluate child developmental disabilities, psychological and psychiatric conditions or disorders in Japan. However, we did not have normative data for the Japanese version until now. To establish the community-based data and properties for the Japanese version, we collected and evaluated parent ratings of a total of 2899 Japanese children aged 4–12 years, including 1463 boys and 1436 girls. Statistical evaluation of psychometric properties included a factor analysis verifying the proposed scale structure, an assessment of scale homogeneities, and the determination of age, gender and relationship of each difficulties scale, or prosocial scale. The total difficulties score in boys (8.70 ± 5.03) was higher than in girls (7.86 ± 4.88). Based on the distributions of SDQ scores observed in the Japanese community sample, recommended bandings identifying normal, borderline, and abnormal (clinical ranges) were defined for each scale, and some gender difference was found in some difficulties and prosocial SDQ scores. After evaluating parent ratings obtained in a community-based sample, the Japanese SDQ was shown to possess favorable psychometric properties. Thus, the Japanese translation of this popular and versatile instrument seems to be approximately as reliable and useful as the original English questionnaire.     

Screening symptoms of reactive attachment disorder: evidence for measurement invariance and convergent validity

The Relationship Problems Questionnaire (RPQ) was developed to screen symptoms of the inhibited and disinhibited subtype of reactive attachment disorder (RAD). This study further examines the psychometric properties of the RPQ in children with severe emotional and behavioural problems by testing its measurement invariance across informants and its convergent validity. Parents and teachers of 152 children [mean age (M_age) = 7.92] from 20 schools for special education filled out the RPQ and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). During a home visit in a subsample of 77 children the Disturbances of Attachment Interview (DAI) was administered to the caregiver and the child was observed using an observational schedule for RAD. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed the expected two‐factor structure for both parent and teacher RPQ. Configural and metric invariance, but no scalar invariance, were obtained across informants. Both RPQ‐subscales had acceptable to good internal consistencies and correlated as expected with similar DAI‐subscales. Furthermore, the disinhibited RPQ‐scale related with observations of the child's approach to a stranger. Finally, significant associations were found between the RPQ and the SDQ. Overall, the RPQ has good psychometric qualities as a multi‐informant instrument for RAD‐symptoms in children with severe emotional and behavioural problems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Psychometric investigation of the specific phobia of vomiting inventory: A new factor model

Well‐validated, standardized measures are lacking for the assessment of emetophobia, the specific phobia of vomiting. The Specific Phobia of Vomiting Inventory (SPOVI) was recently developed and shows promise as a useful measure of emetophobia. The goal of the present study was to further examine and investigate the psychometric properties of the SPOVI in a large student sample (n = 1626), specifically focusing on its factor structure, measurement invariance across gender, and convergent/divergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis results provide support for a one‐factor model of the SPOVI, in contrast to the previously proposed two‐factor model. Internal consistency of the SPOVI was good (α = 0.89) and measurement invariance across gender invariance was supported. The SPOVI also demonstrated good psychometric properties with respect to convergent and divergent validity. The present study's demonstration of the reliability and validity of the SPOVI suggests that the instrument may be a valuable tool for assessing emetophobia symptoms based on its one‐factor structure.     

The factor structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in Greek adolescents

Background  

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a practical, economic and user-friendly screening instrument of emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. This study was aimed primarily at evaluating the factor structure of the Greek version of the SDQ.     

Psychometric properties of the Sleep Hygiene Index in a large Italian community sample

Objective/backgroundPoor sleep hygiene is considered an exacerbating and perpetuating factor of sleep disturbances and is also associated with poor mental health. The Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) is a self-report measure assessing adherence to sleep hygiene practices. The aim of this study was to estimate the psychometric properties of the SHI in an Italian representative sample of the general population, following a formative measurement approach.Patients/methodsParticipants (n = 6276; M = 33.62, SD = 13.45) completed the SHI alongside measures of sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety, and stress. To consider the item formative nature, sets of item-composites weighted by means of canonical correlation analysis was created and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was implemented. Factorial invariance tests were computed considering both presence of sleep problems and presence of emotional distress symptoms as grouping variables.Results and conclusionsCFA confirmed the unidimensional structure of SHI. Internal consistency was acceptable (ω = 0.752). Test-retest reliability at 8–10 months presented an ICC of 0.666. SHI significantly correlated with sleep, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms (r range from 0.358 to 0.500). Configural and metric invariance were reached for both grouping variables. Partial scalar invariance was obtained only across emotional distress groups. People with emotional symptoms reported higher latent means on the sleep hygiene dimension. Findings support the validity and reliability of the Italian version of the SHI. Importantly, the SHI showed robust psychometric properties both in healthy individuals and in individual reporting mental health symptoms. Thus, it is advisable to use this version of the SHI in both research and clinical practice.     

The intellectual disability version of the very short form of the physical self-inventory (PSI-VS-ID): cross-validation and measurement invariance across gender, weight, age and intellectual disability level

Recently Maïano, Bégarie, Morin, and Ninot (2009) developed and validated an intellectual disability (ID) version of the very short form of the physical self-inventory (PSI-VS-ID). In a recent review of the various physical self-concept instruments Marsh and Cheng (in press) noted that the short and very short versions of the French PSI represent an important contribution to applied research but that further research was needed to investigate the robustness of their psychometric properties in new and diversified samples. Thus, this study is specifically designed to investigate the robustness of the PSI-VS-ID psychometric properties in a new independent sample of 248 adolescents and young adults with ID. In particular, tests of measurement invariance were conducted across the present sample and the original sample from Maïano et al. (2009) study in order to more precisely assess the degree of replication of the results. Overall, results from a series of confirmatory factor analyses of the PSI-VS-ID provided support for its: (i) factorial validity and reliability; (ii) factorial invariance across gender and weight status; (iii) partial (strict or strong) factorial invariance across age, ID level and samples; and (iv) latent mean differences across gender, weight status and ID level groups.     

The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: validation study in French school-aged children and cross-cultural comparisons

Objectives  

To examine the psychometric properties of the French version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), compare estimates of child mental health problems and SDQ scores across France, US and UK.     

Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the SCL-90-R: A study on a large community sample

We present the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the SCL-90-R based on a large sample of the Italian population. The sample (N = 3631) included high-school and university students and adults from the community (age range = 13–70 yrs; 39.2% males). Principal component analysis (PCA) supported by parallel analysis, yielded eight components, partially overlapping those in the original version; no evidence of Psychoticism and Paranoid Ideation as separate subscales emerged. Twenty-one items were consecutively deleted, leading to a 69-item version of the scale. Internal coherence was good for all subscales (α values between 0.70 and 0.96). However, the eight-factor solution did not prove consistent when analyses were replicated after dividing the sample in subgroups according to gender and age. A second-order PCA yielded a single factor, supporting the adoption of the GSI as an index of general distress. A 69-item brief version of the scale has been empirically derived in this study, and can possibly be adopted as a screening measure for general distress in Italian adults and adolescents; however, caution should be exercised when interpreting the clinical profile due to the instability of factor structure.     

Adolescents' perceptions of parental behavior: psychometric properties of the short Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran-Adolescent version (S-EMBU-A) in a clinical sample

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the short Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran–Adolescent version (S-EMBU-A) in a clinical context.MethodsThe S-EMBU-A is a 22-item self-report questionnaire, based on the original 64-item EMBU-A, that assesses perceived parental rearing style in adolescents, comprising 3 subscales (Rejection, Emotional Warmth, and Overprotection). The questionnaire was administered to a clinical sample of 281 Spanish psychiatric outpatients aged 13 to 18 years. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed, analyzing the adolescents' reports about their parents' rearing style.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis yielded an acceptable fit to data of the 3-factor model (comparative fit index = 0.90; root mean squared error of approximation = 0.054) and parameters were equivalent for the ratings assigned to fathers and mothers. Satisfactory internal consistency reliability was obtained for the 3 scales (Cronbach α ≥ .74). The influence of gender (of adolescents and parents) and age on scale scores was inappreciable. High scores for Rejection and low scores for Emotional Warmth were related to bad relationships with parents, absence of family support, presence of rejection, harsh discipline, and lack of parental supervision.ConclusionsThe Spanish version of S-EMBU-A can be used with psychometric guarantees to identify rearing style in psychiatric outpatients, because evidence of quality in clinical setting matches that obtained in community samples.     

Construct validity of the Nutrition and Activity Knowledge Scale in a French sample of adolescents with mild to moderate intellectual disability

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability (i.e. internal consistency and test–retest reliability) and construct validity (i.e. content validity, factor validity, measurement invariance, and latent mean invariance) of the Nutrition and Activity Knowledge Scale (NAKS) in a sample of French adolescents with mild to moderate Intellectual Disability (ID). A total sample of 260 adolescents (144 boys and 116 girls), aged between 12 and 18 years old, with mild to moderate ID was involved in two studies. In the first study, analysis of items’ content reveals that many words from the original version were not understood or induced confusion. These items were reworded and simplified while retaining their original meaning. In the second study, results provided support for: (i) the factor validity and reliability of a 15-item French version of the NAKS; (ii) the measurement invariance of the resulting NAKS across genders and ID levels; (iii) the partial measurement invariance of the resulting NAKS across age groups and type of school placement. In addition, the latent means of the 15-item French version of the NAKS proved to be invariant across gender, age categories, and ID levels, but to vary across type of school placement (with adolescents schooled in self-contained classes from regular schools presenting higher levels of NAK than adolescents placed in specialized establishments). The present results thus provide preliminary evidence regarding the construct validity of a 15-item French version of the NAKS in a sample of adolescents with ID.     

A test of the measurement invariance of a brief version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire between American and Spanish older adults

BACKGROUND: Both anxiety disorders and subclinical anxiety symptoms are related to poorer health and functioning in later life. Because worry is an important component of anxiety, the accurate measurement of worry is crucial to studying the etiology, prevention and treatment of anxiety disorders. Assessment of the trait worry has emerged as the most widely used strategy to establish the presence and extent of pathological worry. However, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the most widely used measure of the trait worry, has not been validated cross-culturally in groups outside of the U.S.A. METHODS: We tested the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of an 8 item abbreviated version of the PSWQ (PSWQ-A) in American (N = 206) and Spanish (N = 137) older adult samples. RESULTS: Internal consistency was high and analyses supported a unidimensional solution in both samples. Measurement invariance was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch models. Results of the CFA suggest that measurement invariance between the samples can be assumed for women but not for men. Rasch modeling results by gender suggested that three items have different endorsability levels in the two samples, suggesting that certain items may more closely represent the construct of the trait worry in American and Spanish older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the PSWQ-A appears appropriate for cross-cultural use, although deletion of one item (item 6) may improve the psychometric properties of the scale across different populations.     

Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents: Factorial invariance and latent mean differences across gender and age in Spanish adolescents

Little is known about the factorial invariance across gender and age for self-report measures of social anxiety in adolescence. This study examined the factorial invariance and latent mean differences of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) across gender and age groups in 1570 Spanish adolescents (54% girls), ranging in age from 14 to 17 years. Equality of factor structures was compared using multi-group confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance for the correlated three-factor model of the SAS-A was found across gender and age samples. Analyses of latent mean differences revealed that girls exhibited higher means than boys on two SAS-A subscales, Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Avoidance and Distress-New (SAD-New). In addition, on the SAD-New subscale, the structured means significantly diminished from 14-year olds to 16- and 17-year olds and from 15-year olds to 17-year olds. Findings are discussed in terms of the use of the SAS-A with Spanish adolescents.     

Measurement invariance of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief across gender and age

The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensional structure and measurement invariance of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) (Raine and Benishay, 1995) across sex and age in a representative sample of nonclinical adolescents and young adults. The sample consisted of 1789 adolescents and young adults (42.1% males), with a mean age of 17.1years (S.D.=2.9). The results indicated that the Likert version of the SPQ-B showed adequate psychometric properties (α total score 0.89). The schizotypal personality models that presented the best fit indices were Raine et al.'s (1994) three-factor model and Stefanis et al.'s (2004) four-factor model. In addition, the results support the measurement invariance of the SPQ-B across sex and age. When the latent means of the schizotypal dimensions were compared across sex and age, statistically significant differences were found. Consistent with previous literature, schizotypal personality is a multidimensional construct whose structure appears invariant across sex and age. Future studies should examine the invariance of schizotypal personality across cultures, as well as using the SPQ-B as a screening method in the general population to detect individuals at risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, given its rapid and easy administration.     

Dissociation among Swedish adolescents and the connection to trauma: an evaluation of the Swedish version of Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of Adolescent Dissociative Experience Scale (A-DES), dissociative symptoms among Swedish adolescents, and dissociative symptoms connected to trauma and sexual and physical abuse. A normative group of 400 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years and a clinical group of 20 adolescents with known experienced trauma were given A-DES. A test-retest procedure was conducted with 90 subjects from the normative group. The results showed good reliability, internal consistency and test-retest. Factor analysis in the normative sample (N = 400) resulted in a one factor solution. Correlation between A-DES and other measures of dissociation was high (r = .86). Significant differences for the total sum of A-DES were found in the normative group between adolescents with and without self-reported trauma and between the normative group and the clinical group with known experienced trauma. The Swedish version of A-DES was shown to be a screening instrument with satisfactory psychometric qualities and the capability of capturing dissociative symptoms in adolescents with self-reported trauma as well as clinical cases with identified trauma.     

Psychometric properties of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in the general Italian adolescent population: A validation and a comparison between Italy and The Netherlands

In this study examination is given to the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) in a large community sample of adolescents. Additionally, a comparison was made between the anxiety scores of this Italian adolescent cohort (N = 1975) and a comparative Dutch adolescent cohort (N = 1115).Findings revealed that a five-factor structure of the SCARED applied not only to the Italian adolescents from the general community, but also to boys and girls, and to early and middle adolescents. Moreover, sex and age differences on anxiety scores within the Italian sample were found to be consistent with previous studies of adolescent anxiety disorders. Finally, Italian adolescents reported higher anxiety scores than their Dutch peers.Findings of this study highlight that the SCARED is a valid screening instrument to rate anxiety symptoms of Italian adolescents.     

Validation of the Chinese version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in Hong Kong

Background  

The strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) is now one of the most commonly used instruments for screening child psychiatric morbidities. Psychometric studies in the West affirm its reliability and validity, but similar studies are scarce among non-Western populations. This is an important gap because cultural differences can influence how children’s behaviours are perceived and rated. This study explores the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SDQ among children in Hong Kong.