Standardization of Psychometric Properties of Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) in Iranian children and teenagers

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate psychometric properties of the Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) among Iranian children and teenagers .

The method of the present study was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population of the study included all teenagers aged 11 to 17 years old in Iranian that 3305 students (1519 boys and 1786 girls) were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. After translating and obtaining the opinions of experts and subjects, the face validity of the questionnaire were confirmed. SPSS and LISREL software were used for statistical analysis.

The results of the confirmatory factor analysis, based LISREL software, showed that three-factor structure of the Impersonation, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and attention symptoms in the Iranian students sample had good fit with data. Correlational analyses between this Questionnaire with Achenbach’s Behavioral Problems-Youth Self-report Scale_(YSR) provided initial evidence for the (PSC-17-Y) convergent validity. Reliability of the questionnaire based on Cronbach's alpha method, mean of variance extracted and retested for the total scale and its dimensions was confirmed.

In sum, these findings provide evidence for the validity and reliability of the (PSC-17-Y) as an instrument to measure internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and attention symptoms among Iranian children and teenagers. This scale can be used to measure screening for psychosocial disorders in treatment and research departments.