DEVELOPMENT AND FACTOR STRUCTURE OF A SELF-REPORT MEASURE FOR ASSESSING INTERNALIZING SYMPTOMS OF ELEMENTARY-AGE CHILDREN

The development and factor structure of the Internalizing Symptoms Sca le for Children (ISSC), a new self-report measure for assessing intern alizing symptomatology in children, is detailed. Development of the IS SC was driven by the lack of a children's self-report instrument desig ned specifically to assess the broad domain of internalizing symptomat ology, as well as research findings showing a high degree of comorbidi ty among internalizing syndromes (e.g., depression, anxiety, somatic c omplaints, social withdrawal). Thorough and methodologically rigorous procedures were employed during the development of the ISSC to ensure strong content validity as well as clinical utility. Exploratory and c onfirmatory factor analytic procedures were utilized on the 54-item IS SC research protocol, resulting in a strong two factor solution for th e 48 items retained. Factor 1, Negative Affect/General Distress, inclu des items that indicate the presence of internalizing symptoms, or in some cases, the absence of optimistic or functional emotional states. Factor 2, Positive Affect, includes items describing positive affect i ncompatible with internalizing symptoms, or in some cases, items that reflect the absence of internalizing symptoms. Results of the factor a nalyses are discussed in terms of previous research on affectivity and specific internalizing syndromes or disorders. Potential uses of the ISSC, as well as further research needed, are described. Implications of the present investigation for future assessment and classification studies in the area of child psychopathology are reviewed. (C) 1997 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.