Psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist for children aged 18 to 60 months

Early detection of social-emotional and behavioral problems in children is important, because this anticipation allows for more effective intervention. Therefore, this quantitative, cross-sectional and instrumental study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and various other psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Preschool Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PPSC). The participants were 398 Portuguese parents who completed the PPSC and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The PPSC, consisting of 18 items, measures the social-emotional statuses of children from the ages of 18 to 60 months. Three competing models (the unifactorial, 3-factorial and 4-factorial models) were tested as regards the PPSC’s factor structure using a confirmatory factor analysis. Our findings suggest that the original unifactorial scale of the PPSC is the most suitable in terms of the Portuguese version of this measure. The use of the PPSC in primary healthcare, its diagnostic accuracy, and children’s related social-emotional adjustment factors are then discussed.

Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-1 Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y): Spanish validation study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) is validate measure that assesses psychosocial problems overall and in three major psychopathological domains: internalizing, externalizing, and attention deficit hyperactivity, taking 5-10 minutes to complete. Prior research has established sound psychometric properties of the PSC-17-Y for English-speakers. OBJECTIVE To provide evidence of reliability and structure, convergent and discriminant validity, as well as longitudinal and gender invariance of the PSC-17-Y in a large sample of Spanish adolescents. METHODS Data were collected on 5430 pediatric community, ages 12 to 18 years, who filled out the PSC-17-Y twice during 2019 (7-months interval). We calculated Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficients to test reliability, Pearson's correlations for convergent (distress) and criterion validity (well-being, quality of life and socioemotional skills), CFA analysis for structure validity, and a multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis for longitudinal and gender stability. RESULTS Within structural analysis for PSC-17-Y, the CFA analysis supported a correlated three-factor solution, which was also invariant longitudinally and across gender. All three sub-scales showed evidence of reliability with coefficients near or above .70. Moreover, scores of PSC-17-Y sub-scales were positively related with convergent measures and negatively with criterion measures. Normative data for PSC-17-Y are presented in the form of percentiles (75 and 90th). CONCLUSIONS The present work provides the first evidence of reliability and validity of the Spanish version of PSC-17-Y administered over the internet to assess mental health problems among adolescents, maintaining the same domains of the long version.

Investigating school children’s behavioral and emotional problems using pediatric symptoms checklist-17 in a structural equation modeling framework

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 was originally used in primary care settings with parents to identify their children’s behavioral and emotional problems, but there has been some research supporting use of this scale in school settings. This study examined: (a) the factor structure and measurement invariance of the teacher-rated Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 and (b) complex relationships among demographic characteristics, behavioral and emotional problems, and learning outcomes using structural equation modeling in elementary schools. A sample of 508 children in grades one and two were rated by their teachers with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17. Measures of Academic Progress test was utilized to measure participants’ learning outcomes in reading and math. The results confirmed a three-factor structure of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and attention problems) and attested the measurement invariance across different demographic groups (i.e. gender, ethnicity, and grade levels). Boys were more likely to have severe attention problems which were associated with lower learning outcomes as seen by Measures of Academic Progress reading and math scores. Attention problems mediated the relationship between gender and learning outcomes. This study has implications for the use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 in school-based settings. Additionally, it highlights the potential relationships among gender, attention problems, and learning outcomes.

568 Appearance Related Concerns Among Pediatric Burn Patients

Introduction A primary outcome goal for pediatric burn patients is to regain social functioning and achieve developmental social milestones. Research regarding appearance related concerns and their relevance to social development is still lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how appearance-related concerns affect social and academic functioning for children with visible scars. The overall aim of this project is to develop a screening process to identify patients at risk so that appropriate supportive interventions can be implemented. Methods A secondary analysis of data collected using Burn Outcomes Questionnaire (BOQ) and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) which measures psychosocial well-being, was conducted in a pediatric burn center. These questionnaires were administered to patients aged 11–18 years who were admitted to our hospital between 2000 and 2017. Using these validated tools, the relationship between scores on the BOQ and PSC specifically associated with appearance related concerns and their implication on social and academic functioning were compared. Subscales for externalizing psychiatric symptoms (hyperactivity, aggression) or internalizing psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression) were compared to appearance related scores using Pearson’s correlation. Results Data on 36 patients was obtained and analyzed. Results are shown in Table 1. There was a moderate correlation between appearance-related concerns and internalizing symptoms (R = 0.55; p < .001). There was no relationship between externalizing symptoms and appearance related concerns. Conclusions Appearance related concerns are significantly associated with internalizing psychiatric symptoms that include anxiety and depression. Additional research is needed to identify demographic factors such as gender as well as cultural moderators that can be used to identify patients at risk. Applicability of Research to Practice Results of this study have determined that there is a need for greater screening of internalizing psychiatric symptoms among our patient population. Once identified, patients can be offered appropriate interventions.

Identification and Utility of a Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y)

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth self-report (PSC-Y) is a 35-item measure of adolescent psychosocial functioning that uses the same items as the original parent report version of the PSC. Since a briefer (17-item) version of the parent PSC has been validated, this paper explored whether a subset of items could be used to create a brief form of the PSC-Y. Data were collected on more than 19,000 youth who completed the PSC-Y online as a self-screen offered by Mental Health America. Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) were first conducted to identify and evaluate candidate solutions and their factor structures. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were then conducted to determine how well the data fit the candidate models. Tests of measurement invariance across gender were conducted on the selected solution. The EFAs and CFAs suggested that a three-factor short form with 17 items is a viable and most parsimonious solution and met criteria for scalar invariance across gender. Since the 17 items used on the parent PSC short form were close to the best fit found for any subsets of items on the PSC-Y, the same items used on the parent PSC-17 are recommended for the PSC-Y short form.

Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17

The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (PSC-17) is a screener designed to measure children’s behavioral and emotional problems. The measurement invariance of the scale’s higher-order factor structure was investigated in the current study. Gender invariance was established through a series of tests for configural invariance (baseline model), metric invariance, scalar invariance, residual variance invariance of items, higher-order factor loadings invariance, intercepts invariance of first-order factors, disturbances invariance of first-order factors, and factor variance invariance of a higher-order factor. The latent mean difference of the higher-order factor indicates that boys exhibited more problems with a strong effect size ( d = .870). As invariance holds, the PSC-17 may be an option to identify preschool children’s behavioral and emotional problems in Response to Intervention programs in school-based settings.

Assessment of Behavioural Disorders in Children with Functional Constipation

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) is a common health problem in paediatrics that causes significant physical and emotional distress to patients and their families. AIM: In the current work, we assessed the presence of behavioural problems in children with functional constipation and their pattern and relation to various demographic and disease-associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted, including 55 consecutive children aged 4-16 years diagnosed with functional constipation and 55 healthy age and sex-matched controls. Psychological assessment was done using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist – 17 (PSC-17). RESULTS: Twenty-six (47.3%) patients with FC had positive total PSC-17 scores while none of the controls had positive scores (p-value < 0.001). Positive internalising and externalising behaviours scores and attention problems were found in 36 (65.5%), 15 (27.3%) and 12 (21.8%) of the patients respectively in contrary to controls where only 6 (10.9%) had positive scores in internalising behaviour, and non-showed externalising behaviour and 4 (7.3%) were inattentive. Older age, longer duration of illness, residency in rural areas and presence of encopresis were found to have a significant association with the presence of such problems. CONCLUSION: Children with FC have more behavioural disorders compared to healthy controls. Integration of psychosocial aspects and their management is recommended during dealing with patients with FC.

Perbedaan Resiko Gangguan Psikososial pada Remaja Positive Smartphone Addiction dan Negative Addiction di SMA Kota Sungai Penuh Tahun 2019

Excessive use of smartphones poses a risk of addiction, smartphone addiction will affect psychological health which has an effect on psychosocial disorders. Teenagers are a vulnerable period that easily accepts new cultures, smartphone technology culture is one that lurks teenagers. Objective: This study is to determine the differences in the risk of psychosocial disorders in adolescents with positive smartphone addiction with negative smartphone addiction. This research is a quantitative study with cross sectional design, data collection using the smartphone addiction scale (Short-version) questionnaire and pediatric symptom checklist (PSC-17), the population of adolescents in high schools in Sungai Penuh city, a sample of 350 people , the conscientious variable consists of the independent variable smartphone addiction and the dependent variable psychosocial disorders in adolescents. There was a difference in the risk of psychosocial disorders in adolescents, 60/25 men experienced psychosocial disorders (p = 0,000) OR 3,936. In adolescent girls 50/47 experience psychosocial disorders (0.004) OR 2,437. Teen positive smartphone addiction is at greater risk for experiencing psychosocial disorders