Sharp C., Venta A., Marais L., Skinner D., Lenka M., Serekoane J.
Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Research on Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Anthropology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Sharp, C., Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Venta, A., Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, United States; Marais, L., Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Skinner, D., Research on Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa; Lenka, M., Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Serekoane, J., Department of Anthropology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has left 12 million children orphaned in Sub-Saharan Africa, children are at increased risk for mental health problems. Currently, no validity data exist for any screening measure of emotional-behavior disorders in pre-adolescent children in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the construct validity of the caregiver-, teacher-, and self-report versions of the one-page Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in 466 orphans in South Africa between the ages of 7 and 11 (Mage = 9.23 years, SD = 1.33, 51.93 % female) and to provide, for the first time, clinical cut-offs for this population. Findings demonstrated support for the caregiver SDQ, but not the teacher and self-report versions. We provide clinical cut-offs, but caution their use before further research is conducted. There remains a critical need for further psychometric studies of the SDQ in the developing world. Resumen Debido a la pandemia de VIH /SIDA que ha dejado a 12 millones de niños huérfanos en Á frica subsahariana, los niños tienen un riesgo mayor de tener problemas de salud mental. Actualmente, no hay data para validar ningún cuestionario de trastornos emocionales y de comportamiento en los niños pre-adolescentes en el Á frica subsahariana. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar la validez de constructo de varias versiones (completadas por cuidador, maestro, y autoinforme) de un cuestionario de una página, el Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), en 466 huérfanos en Sudáfrica entre las edades de 7 y 11 (M = 9.23 años, SD = 1.33, 51.93 % mujeres) y describir, por primera vez, los puntos de estratificación para esta población. Los resultados demuestran apoyo para la versión SDQ completada por el cuidador, pero no la versión completada por el maestro ni por autoinforme. Ofrecemos puntos de estratificación, pero advertimos contra su uso antes de que se realicen más investigaciones. Sigue habiendo una necesidad crítica de estudios psicométricos del SDQ en el mundo subdesarrollado. © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014.
acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adaptive behavior; Africa south of the Sahara; child; emotion; epidemiology; evaluation study; female; follow up; human; male; mass screening; Mental Disorders; mental stress; orphaned child; poverty; psychology; psychometry; questionnaire; self report; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adaptation, Psychological; Africa South of the Sahara; Child; Child, Orphaned; Emotions; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Mental Disorders; Poverty; Psychometrics; Questionnaires; Self Report; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Stress, Psychological