VALIDITY OF THE ACHENBACH AND EDELBROCK YOUTH SELF-REPORT WITH HOSPITALIZED ADOLESCENTS

Conducted a principal-components analysis on an aggregate of measures deemed theoretically compatible with either the Internalizing or Externalizing scales of the Achenbach and Edelbrock (1987) Youth Self-Report (YSR). Assessments involving reading ability and possible self-report contaminants were also included in the analysis. The subjects were 102 adolescent inpatients (52 boys, 50 girls) with a mean age of 14 years, 7 months. Four factors were retained accounting for 71.9% of the variance. The obtained factor structure supports the construct validity of the YSR broadband scales in that Internalizing and Externalizing scores converged as expected with measures of other constructs. However, the convergence appeared limited to self-report data. The primary component included the YSR Externalizing scale. Loadings on this dimension suggest that responses to items involving impulsivity and antisocial behaviors may be influenced by social desirability and denial of symptoms. Inspection of separate intercorrelation matrices for girls and boys suggested greater social desirability responding for girls and stronger boy-parent measurement correspondence.