Development of a Brief Computerized Adaptive Testing Version of the SCL-90: Validation of a Six-Factor Model Using a...

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Adolescent mental health
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) is widely used but limited by length and structural issues in its ten-factor model.
• High factor correlations in the traditional SCL-90 model present identification problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a brief computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system for the SCL-90 based on a six-factor model.
• To improve the practical utility and efficiency of SCL-90 assessments in Chinese adolescents.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis of the traditional ten-factor and a proposed six-factor SCL-90 model using a clinical sample of 10,052 adolescents.
• Development of a CAT system using multidimensional item response theory.
• Post hoc simulations to evaluate test length reduction and reliability with a stopping rule (SE < 0.4).

Main Results:

• The traditional ten-factor SCL-90 model showed poor fit due to high factor correlations.
• The proposed six-factor model demonstrated acceptable fit (CFI = 0.875, RMSEA = 0.061).
• CAT simulations reduced average test length by 58.9% (from 90 to 37 items) while maintaining high agreement (≥ 0.89) and acceptable reliability (≥ 0.76).

Conclusions:

• A six-factor representation of the SCL-90 is clinically meaningful for Chinese adolescents.
• The developed CAT system offers an efficient and valid adaptive assessment framework for clinical settings.