Psychiatry Investig.  2024 Mar;21(3):242-254. 10.30773/pi.2023.0313.

Development and Validation of the Mental Health Scale for Maltreated Children

• Kim BN
• Jo H
• Kang S
• Kim SY
• Park Hy
• Park J
• Kang HS

• KMID: 2553711
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2023.0313

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive self-report questionnaire to assess emotional and behavioral problems and psychological trauma in maltreated children.
Methods
The Mental Health Scale for Maltreated Children (MHS-MC) was constructed to encompass five major symptoms (depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity/impulsivity, aggression/defiance, and psychological trauma) prevalent in maltreated children. Critical items and ego-resilience subscale were also devised to increase clinical utility. After informed consent, 205 children (maltreated children, n=157, 76.6%) were recruited nationwide, and they answered a package of self-report measures, including the MHS-MC. Reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity were examined to explore the psychometric properties.
Results
The reliability was good to excellent. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a five-factorial solution for the symptom subscales supporting construct validity. In logistic regression, the total scores of the MHS-MC predicted membership in the maltreated group. Criterion-related validity was generally satisfactory in that all subscales of the MHS-MC showed significant correlations with relevant measures in the expected direction.
Conclusion
This is the first attempt to develop a comprehensive psychological scale based on nationwide data collected from maltreated Korean children. We hope that the continued standardization of this scale will contribute to evidence-based clinical and policy decisionmaking for maltreated children.

Keyword

Child maltreatment; Self report; Psychometrics; Mental health