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Psychometric evaluation of the child-adolescent teasing scale
Judith A Vessey1, June A Horowitz, Karen L Carlson
1Boston College, William F. Connell School of Nursing, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA. vessey@bc.edu
The Journal of School Health
|May 21, 2008
Summary
The Child-Adolescent Teasing Scale (CATS) is a reliable 32-item tool for identifying middle school students at risk from distressing teasing. Its psychometric evaluation confirms its validity and utility as a screening measure.
Area of Science:
- Psychometrics
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Teasing is a common experience for middle school students.
- Existing measures may not adequately screen for the impact of teasing.
- A new instrument, the Child-Adolescent Teasing Scale (CATS), was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To psychometrically evaluate the Child-Adolescent Teasing Scale (CATS).
- To establish the CATS as a valid and reliable screening measure for middle school students.
- To identify students at risk due to distressing teasing.
Main Methods:
- A 70-item scale was developed from focus group data.
- A diverse sample (N=764) completed the CATS, PHCSCS, and PSC.
- Psychometric analyses were conducted on a sample of 666 participants.
Main Results:
- Principal components analysis yielded a 32-item, 4-factor solution.
- The CATS demonstrated strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .94).
- Content and criterion-related validity were supported by expert review and statistical analyses.
Conclusions:
- The 32-item, 4-factor CATS is psychometrically sound.
- The CATS shows potential as an effective screening tool.
- It can help identify students experiencing distressing teasing.
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