Validating the TeenHITSS to Assess Child Abuse in Adolescent Populations

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Psychometrics
• Family Violence Research

Background:

• Family violence poses significant risks to adolescent well-being.
• Effective screening tools are crucial for early detection and intervention in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy of the Teen Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream-Sex (TeenHITSS) measure.
• To evaluate TeenHITSS as a screening tool for family violence among adolescents in clinical environments.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 251 adolescent participants from various clinical and shelter settings.
• Psychometric properties including internal reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated for the TeenHITSS and Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales (CTSPC).

Main Results:

• The TeenHITSS demonstrated strong concurrent validity with the CTSPC (r=.71).
• An optimal cut-point of one or greater on TeenHITSS was identified for detecting abuse victims.
• TeenHITSS showed slightly superior performance (AUC=.79) compared to CTSPC (AUC=.73) in differentiating abuse victims.

Conclusions:

• The TeenHITSS is a valid and reliable screening tool for physical and sexual abuse in adolescents aged 13 and older.
• TeenHITSS provides an actionable cut score, enhancing its clinical utility for providers.
• The tool facilitates the detection of adolescent abuse, enabling timely intervention and prevention efforts.