Multidimensional scale for child sexual abuse (MSCSA): Development and psychometric properties

In recognition to the rising incidences of child sexual abuse in India, various challenges of existing trauma measures and absence of indigenous efforts at development of comprehensive impact assessment scale, present study was conceptualized.

To develop and establish psychometric properties of Multidimensional Scale for Children with Sexual Abuse.

Outpatient department of government hospitals, non-governmental organizations and child care institutes were primary data setting from which a total of 457 participants were sampled.

The scale development process consisted of identifying impact themes from 59 qualitative research participants and item pooling from available scales; item writing followed by content and face validity analysis from 18 experts; and pilot testing on 30 children. The scale was then applied to 200 children with CSA and 150 children without sexual abuse. The factor structure of the scale was obtained using exploratory factor analysis. Internal consistency, split-half reliability, and validity (convergent, divergent, discriminant) were evaluated. Cut-off scores were obtained using the receiver operating characteristics curve and percentile analysis.

The scale consisted of 62 items across 5 domains. It has high reliability (Cronbach's α 0.93; split-half reliability 0.89), high content, and discriminant validity. Convergent and divergent validity are satisfactory. Scale cut-off score of 31 has high sensitivity.

To our knowledge, this scale is the first such psychometrically robust self-rated scale for young children with sexual abuse in the Asian country. Available in both Hindi and English language, the scale provides a quick measure of trauma across multidimensional functioning.