Developing an African youth psychosocial assessment: an application of item response theory

Abstract

This study aimed to refine a dimensional scale for measuring psychosocial adjustment in African youth using item response theory (IRT). A 60-item scale derived from qualitative data was administered to 667 war-affected adolescents (55% female). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) determined the dimensionality of items based on goodness-of-fit indices. Items with loadings less than 0.4 were dropped. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the scale's dimensionality found under the EFA. Item discrimination and difficulty were estimated using a graded response model for each subscale using weighted least squares means and variances. Predictive validity was examined through correlations between IRT scores (θ) for each subscale and ratings of functional impairment. All models were assessed using goodness-of-fit and comparative fit indices. Fisher's Information curves examined item precision at different underlying ranges of each trait. Original scale items were optimized and reconfigured into an empirically-robust 41-item scale, the African Youth Psychosocial Assessment (AYPA). Refined subscales assess internalizing and externalizing problems, prosocial attitudes/behaviors and somatic complaints without medical cause. The AYPA is a refined dimensional assessment of emotional and behavioral problems in African youth with good psychometric properties. Validation studies in other cultures are recommended.

Developing a measure of adaptive stress arising from the psychosocial disruptions experienced by refugees based on a sample of displaced persons from West Papua

“…Notwithstanding its limitations, our study illustrates the value of pursuing a sequential process of testing and refinement in the process of adapting and contextualizing measures such as the ASI and its constituent scales to the particular culture and conditions of life relevant to each refugee population. In that sense, our approach may serve as a guide to other researchers undertaking similar projects in complex cross‐cultural fields, where achieving accuracy of assessment remains a major challenge (Betancourt, Yang, Bolton, & Normand, ). In pursuit of the dual objective of achieving theoretical and ecological validity of measures, our methodology may assist in developing and testing instruments that are both grounded in a general conceptual model and applied within a specific culture and context.…”

“…Past studies have focused primarily on trauma and ongoing adversity in explanatory models relating to psychiatric disorders such as PTSD (Porter & Haslam, 2005;Steel et al, 2009). Previously, psychosocial measures used in the refugee field have tended to be generic in their focus (Betancourt et al, 2014;Hollifield et al, 2002;Steel et al, 2009). In our approach, we attempted to reconcile a universal theoretical framework (ADAPT) with the particularities of the context and culture under study.…”

Comparative effectiveness of an economic empowerment program on adolescent economic assets, education and health in a humanitarian setting

“…Power for the study is based on a sample size of 480 young adolescents (160 per group), power of 0.80, and α level of 0.05. The study can detect a significant difference between groups if the change over time in APAI [21,22] scores is 2.67, 2.82, and 2.98 greater in one group for ICCs of 0.001, 0.005, and 0.01, respectively.…”

“…The reduced Acholi Psychosocial Assessment Instrument (APAI) was developed for use with young adolescents living in rural, post-conflict Northern Uganda [21,22]. The Internalizing and Prosocial subscales of the APAI were used to assess mental health outcomes.…”

Psychometric properties of the Ndetei–Othieno–Kathuku (NOK) Scale: A mental health assessment tool for an African setting

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