Mireia Orgilés1, José P Espada. 1. Department of Health Psychology, Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, Elche, 03202, Alicante, Spain, morgiles@umh.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI) has proved to be a suitable measure to assess somatic symptoms in pediatric patients, but additional research was needed to evaluate its psychometric properties in community populations. PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to examine psychometric properties and factorial structure of the instrument among a nonclinical sample of Spanish children. METHOD: The 24-item version of the CSI and two self-report measures of anxiety and depression were administered to 1,111 Spanish children aged 8 to 12. RESULTS: Exploratory analysis suggested a factorial structure composed of three factors: pseudoneurologic symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain. Due to confirmatory analysis indicating a poor fit for the three-factor model, two alternative models were tested. A six-item single factor identified in a previous study with an American community sample showed the best fit (RMSEA = 0.04; GFI = 0.99; AGFI = 0.98; CFI = 0.98; χ(2)/gl = 2.71). The internal consistency for the six-item version was acceptable (ω = .71), and the construct validity with anxiety (r = .53) and depression (r = .38) measures was adequate. CONCLUSION: The six-item version of the CSI demonstrated to be a reliable measure for assessing somatization symptoms in Spanish children.
BACKGROUND: The Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI) has proved to be a suitable measure to assess somatic symptoms in pediatric patients, but additional research was needed to evaluate its psychometric properties in community populations. PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to examine psychometric properties and factorial structure of the instrument among a nonclinical sample of Spanish children. METHOD: The 24-item version of the CSI and two self-report measures of anxiety and depression were administered to 1,111 Spanish children aged 8 to 12. RESULTS: Exploratory analysis suggested a factorial structure composed of three factors: pseudoneurologic symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain. Due to confirmatory analysis indicating a poor fit for the three-factor model, two alternative models were tested. A six-item single factor identified in a previous study with an American community sample showed the best fit (RMSEA = 0.04; GFI = 0.99; AGFI = 0.98; CFI = 0.98; χ(2)/gl = 2.71). The internal consistency for the six-item version was acceptable (ω = .71), and the construct validity with anxiety (r = .53) and depression (r = .38) measures was adequate. CONCLUSION: The six-item version of the CSI demonstrated to be a reliable measure for assessing somatization symptoms in Spanish children.
Authors: L Litcher; E Bromet; G Carlson; T Gilbert; N Panina; E Golovakha; D Goldgaber; S Gluzman; J Garber Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2001-04
Authors: Amanda L Stone; Lynn S Walker; Lauren C Heathcote; J Maya Hernandez; Molly C Basch; Anna C Wilson; Laura E Simons Journal: J Pain Date: 2019-02-13 Impact factor: 5.820