title: Structural validity of a self-report concussion-related symptom scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the factorial validity of a self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity among a large sample of male, high-school athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 1089) were nonconcussed, male, high-school football players. All participants completed a single baseline self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity, namely the graded symptom checklist (GSC). We tested the factorial validity of the measure with confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL 8.50.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis indicated that a theoretically derived, three-factor model provided a good, but not excellent, fit for the 16-item GSC. Excellent model-data fit was demonstrated for the three-factor model for a 9-item version of the GSC. In both instances, the three factors were best described by a single second-order factor, namely concussion symptomatology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides additional evidence for the factorial validity of a summative self-reported measure of concussion-related symptoms. The factor structure represents a cohesive group of nine symptoms that can be explained by three underlying latent variables, namely somatic symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, and "cognitive" symptoms, subsumed under a single higher-order factor, namely concussion symptoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Performance and Recreation, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, USA. scott.piland@usm.edu
authors.forename: Scott G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Piland
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Guskiewicz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices