title: Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale in a diverse sample of children exposed to interpersonal violence.
abstract: This study determined psychometric properties of the Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) with an ethnically diverse sample of 383 children 2 to 7 years of age exposed to interpersonal violence and participating in a community-based intervention. Means and alpha coefficients for the total scale and 3 subscales fell within previously reported parameters. Separate exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling revealed that compared to the PEDS's 3-factor structure (Anxious/Withdrawn, Fearful, Act Out), a modified PEDS model with 2 latent factors (Act Out and Internalize) better fit the data and also held for both African American and White subsamples. Different correlations between the two factors and the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist further suggested that the factors represented unique latent constructs and gave evidence of construct validity. The modified PEDS could potentially be used for screening children exposed to violence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, USA. jcs5@case.edu
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spilsbury
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drotar
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burant
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flannery
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Creeden
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American