Factor structure of Calhoun's Youth Suicide Scale

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Youth suicide is a significant public health concern.
• Understanding reactions to youth suicide is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the factor structure of Calhoun's Youth Suicide Scale (YSS).
• To determine the validity, stability, and reliability of the YSS for assessing reactions to youth suicide.

Main Methods:

• Administered the YSS to two independent samples of undergraduates (N=191 and N=240).
• A subsample (N=152) retook the YSS after one month to assess test-retest reliability.
• Factor analysis was used to determine the underlying structure of the scale.

Main Results:

• Three distinct factors emerged in both samples, explaining 50.0% and 55.5% of the variance, respectively.
• These factors represent perceptions of parents, expected responses to bereaved families, and empathy with parents.
• High congruence coefficients (.98, .94, .78) between samples indicate structural consistency.
• Individual item reliability correlations ranged from .30 to .61.

Conclusions:

• The YSS exhibits a valid, stable, and moderately reliable factor structure.
• The scale is a viable instrument for future research on reactions to youth suicide.
• Findings support the use of the YSS in clinical and research settings for understanding responses to youth suicide.