| Abstract: | Evaluated the measurement fidelity (i.e., reliability, factor structure, and validity) of T. M. Achenbach's (1966, 1991) Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale. Data from hospitalized psychiatric adolescents were used to test the unidimensionality of each narrow band syndrome and to conduct confirmatory factor analysis on broadband syndromes. Three competing models regarding broadband syndromes were constructed and compared with the structure reported by Achenbach (1991). The results partly support Achenbach's findings in that 4 of the 7 narrowband syndromes were found to be valid. However, meaningful subdimensions were obtained for the other 3 narrowband syndromes. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that internalizing and externalizing were valid broadband syndromes. However, 3 narrowband syndromes (Social Problems, Thought Problems, and Attention Problems) cross-loaded on both broadband syndromes. Important differences in broadband syndromes were found between boys and girls. Supplemental analyses on Time 2 data demonstrated the stability of these findings. Implications for future refinement of the YSR are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
