STUDY OF THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE INDICE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS (SANTE-QUEBEC) FOR AN ADOLESCENT POPULATION

The Quebec health department's Psychological Distress Index (IDPSQ-14) is widely used in dealing with adult populations. In this case, the r eliability and validity of the instrument were assessed among adolesce nts (N = 2248). The index was filled out by teenagers as part of an in quiry into the psycho-social experience of high school students. Analy sis of the main components, with orthogonal rotation, showed that the index factor pattern comprises four intercorrelated dimensions: depres sive state, anxiety state, irritability, and cognitive difficulties. T his factor pattern recurred in all three independent samples selected from the investigation data. However, results per age group showed tha t the resultant factor pattern varied for the youngest group, aged 12 and 13 years, and produced a less differentiated model than that found for older teens. These results are in keeping with existing research into adolescent cognitive and psychosocial development. The index demo nstrates considerable internal consistency (alpha = .83) and remains c onstant for both sexes and all age groups. Lastly, the results also su bstantiate the construct validity of the index. Generally speaking, th e results confirm the index's psychometric attributes, previously repo rted for adult populations.