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Assessing psychosocial functioning following childhood acquired brain injury: The Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration
Cheryl Soo1,2, Robyn L Tate2, Vicki Anderson1
1a Australian Centre for Child Neuropsychology Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.
Insights
The Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale for Children (SPRS-C) effectively measures psychosocial functioning in children with acquired brain injury (ABI). Normative data and discriminant validity were established, showing lower scores in children with ABI compared to typically developing children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neuropsychology
- Child Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- The Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale for Children (SPRS-C) is designed to assess psychosocial functioning in children with acquired brain injury (ABI).
- Establishing normative data and validating the scale's ability to differentiate between clinical and control groups is crucial for its effective use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present normative data for the parent-rated SPRS-C in typically developing children (TDC).
- To evaluate the discriminant validity of the SPRS-C by comparing scores between children with ABI and a matched control group.
Main Methods:
- Normative data were collected from 200 parents of typically developing children aged 5-14 years.
- Discriminant validity was assessed using a sample of 26 children with ABI and 26 matched typically developing children.
Main Results:
- SPRS-C scores for typically developing children were generally in the higher ranges across age bands.
- No significant correlations were found between SPRS-C total scores and child's age or parent's occupational skill level in the normative sample.
- Children with ABI demonstrated significantly lower SPRS-C scores compared to the control group.
Conclusions:
- The study provides normative data that can guide the clinical interpretation of the SPRS-C.
- The findings support the discriminant validity of the SPRS-C for assessing psychosocial functioning in children with ABI.
Objective:
The Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale for Children (SPRS-C) assesses psychosocial functioning in children with acquired brain injury (ABI). This article aims to: (1) describe normative data for the parent-rated SPRS-C and, (2) evaluate the discriminant validity of the SPRS-C.
Methods:
For Aim 1, participants were parents of typically developing children (TDC) aged 5-14 years (N = 200). For Aim 2, participants with ABI were aged 5-14 years (n = 26). A matched group of TDC was sampled from the larger normative sample to serve as a control group (n = 26).
Results:
For Aim 1, SPRS-C scores across the 10 age-bands were in the higher ranges. Correlation coefficients of SPRS-C total score with child's age and parent occupational skill level were not statistically significant. For Aim 2, SPRS-C scores for the ABI group were significantly lower than the control group.
Conclusions:
These data provide a guide for clinical interpretation of the SPRS-C for measuring psychosocial functioning in children with ABI.
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