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Metric properties of the Achenbach's Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale
Karmen Novak & Julija Pirnat
Full text (pdf) | Views: 21 | Written in Slovene. | Published: December 23, 2002
Abstract: Two problems regarding Youth Self-Report (YSR) in translation to Slovene language and modifications are discussed. The scale evaluates general psychopathology. YSR consists of eight scales (Withdrawn, Somatic complaints, Anxious/depressed, Social problems, Thought problems, Attention problems, Delinquent behavior, Agressive behavior) and two general factors (internalizing, externalizing). Objective of the first part is to determine item and scale discrimination between referred and non-referred adolescents (applicability in Slovene culture). The second objective is to determine the prediction value by comparing these diagnoses to ICD-10 diagnoses. YSRs were completed by referred and non-referred adolescents (11-18 years) matched by gender, age and socio-economic status. The comparison showed high reliability of some scales. The majority of scales as well as both general factors discriminate well between referred and non-referred youths. Some scales, however, have big discriminant power on sex and age. It was found out that YSR can predict well some of the ICD-10 diagnoses (conduct disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder) while it is inappropriate to predict other diagnoses. Suggestions of how to change expressions at some items in Slovene version were made. Besides, more exact names of some scales are required.
Keywords: screening tests, test construction, psychopathology, psychodiagnostics, adolescents
