Reliability, predictive validity and normative data for the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 in a national Australian...

We evaluated the reliability, validity and acceptability of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17, a free, brief measure of child mental health, in a sample of parents of preschool-age (3-5 years) and school-age children (6-17 years). This is the first study to examine parent-reported Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 for children aged 3 years.

A national community sample of Australian parents (N = 2097) completed a demographic questionnaire and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17. We used a cross-sectional, test-retest design to assess the structural validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent and predictive validity of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 total and subscale scores. Predictive validity was evaluated using a sub-sample of parents (n = 122) who completed the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 and Child Behaviour Checklist at a second timepoint. Normative data were also produced.

Factor analysis supported the three-factor model for the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17. Total (r = 0.82-0.93) and subscale scores (r = 0.75-0.89) strongly correlated with the Child Behaviour Checklist and demonstrated strong internal consistency (total scores α = 0.87-0.88). Test-retest reliability was acceptable for school-age children. The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 demonstrated excellent classification accuracy for preschool children; however, it did not perform as strongly in older age ranges. Normative data for age and gender were produced for the measure. Results indicated high levels of parent acceptability for the measure.

Findings contribute new validation evidence for the use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 as a screening and assessment measure in research and clinical settings, for parents of children from 3 years and above. This study is the first to ascertain Australian normative data for the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17.