Title
A Measurement Invariance Examination of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in a Southern Sample: Differential Item Functioning Between African American and Caucasian Youth
Abstract
This study examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in a large sample of youth from the Southern United States. The authors aimed to determine (a) if the established six-factor Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale structure could be replicated in this Southern sample and (b) if scores were associated with measurement invariance across African American and Caucasian youth representative of youth from this region of the United States. The established six-factor model evidenced the best fit in comparison to one-, two-, and five-factor models in the total sample (N = 12,695), as well as in the African American (n = 4,906) and Caucasian (n = 6,667) subsamples. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis also supported measurement invariance across African American and Caucasian youth at the levels of equal factor structure and equal factor loadings. Noninvariant item intercepts were identified, however, indicating differential functioning for a subset of items. Clinical and measurement implications of these findings are discussed and new norms are presented.
Department(s)
Psychology
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191112450907
Keywords
sychometrics, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale, ethnicity, norms, measurement invariance, confirmatory factor analysis
Publication Date
2012
Recommended Citation
Trent, Lindsay Rae, Erin Buchanan, Chad Ebesutani, Chelsea M. Ale, Laurie Heiden, Terry L. Hight, John D. Damon, and John Young. "A measurement invariance examination of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in a southern sample: Differential item functioning between African American and Caucasian youth." Assessment 20, no. 2 (2013): 175-187.
Journal Title
Assessment
