Development and Validation of the Pediatric Well-Being Picture Scale© Using a Mixed-Methods Research Design

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Mental Health Screening
• Child Development

Background:

• Decreased well-being in children can precede mental health issues.
• Child mental health visits rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for preventing mental health decline in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the Pediatric Well-Being Picture Scale© (PWBPS©), the first picture-based screening tool for children aged 8-11.
• To create an accessible tool for children regardless of literacy, language, or developmental levels.
• To enable quick screening for early referral and intervention in pediatric well-being.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods research design incorporating focus groups and interviews.
• Content and face validity, test/retest reliability, and convergent validity were assessed.
• Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on data from public elementary school students.

Main Results:

• A 10-item, 3-point picture-based Likert scale (PWBPS©) was developed.
• Strong test/retest reliability (ICC = 0.823) and Cronbach's alpha (up to 0.89) were found.
• Convergent validity was confirmed with a significant correlation (Spearman's = 0.64) to the KIDSCREEN-10 scale.

Conclusions:

• The Pediatric Well-Being Picture Scale© (PWBPS©) is a valid and reliable screening tool.
• The PWBPS© facilitates quick and accurate assessments of children's well-being.
• Early intervention, supported by tools like the PWBPS©, is vital for mitigating negative mental well-being effects.