The stereotyped behavior scale: psychometric properties and norms

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Stereotyped behaviors are common in individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• The Stereotyped Behavior Scale (SBS) was previously developed to measure these behaviors.
• Updates to the SBS include item revisions and the addition of severity scales.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the psychometric properties of the revised Stereotyped Behavior Scale (SBS).
• To provide updated normative data for the SBS.
• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the new SBS version.

Main Methods:

• The revised SBS was administered to 45 adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Data were collected from direct care staff and through direct behavior observations.
• Reliability was assessed using test-retest and interrater agreement, while validity was examined against the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Residential (ABC-R) and direct observations.

Main Results:

• The revised SBS demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha = 0.91).
• Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93 for frequency, 0.71 for severity) and good interrater agreement (ICC = 0.76-0.75) were found.
• Strong correlations were observed between SBS scores and criterion measures, supporting its validity.

Conclusions:

• The revised Stereotyped Behavior Scale (SBS) is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing stereotyped behaviors in adults with intellectual disabilities.
• The updated scale, with its frequency and severity measures, provides valuable data for clinical assessment and research.
• The availability of normative data enhances the clinical utility of the SBS for this population.