The Child PTSD Symptom Scale: An Investigation of Its Psychometric Properties

• Published in: Journal of interpersonal violence Vol. 32; no. 15; pp. 2237 - 2256
• Main Authors: Stewart, Regan W., Ebesutani, Chad, Drescher, Christopher F., Young, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.08.2017; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adolescents; Children; Children & youth; Confirmatory factor analysis; Discriminant analysis; Indexes; Measures; Post traumatic stress disorder; Quantitative psychology; Symptoms; Validation studies; Youth; PTSD; history of child abuse; child abuse; mental health and violence
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/0886260515596536

The current study addresses the need for accurate measurement of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in youth by investigating the psychometric properties of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS). The factor structure, reliability, and concurrent and discriminant validity of the CPSS were investigated in a sample of 206 6th- to 12th-grade adolescents. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure, which was contrary to the hypothesized three-factor structure. Scores comprising this one-factor structure were also associated with high reliability (α = .93), and tests of concurrent and discriminant validity were also strong. The implications of these findings are discussed, with particular emphasis on future directions for research on self-report measures for adolescent PTSD symptoms.