NCJ Number
220463
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 31 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2007 Pages: 853-869
Date Published
August 2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the psychometric qualities of three retrospective, multi-item measures of childhood sexual abuse (CSA): the CSA Frequency Scale; CSA Count Index; and CSA Multiple Characteristics Index.
Abstract
Upon evaluation, all three measures met criteria for satisfactory quality, with the exception of external validity for both CSA Count Index and CSA Multiple Characteristics Index. When compared across test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity results, none of the measures proved superior. The results support further development and standardization of similar measures. The use of only standardized retrospective multi-item CSA measures helps alleviate some of the limitations that are inherent in cross-sectional research on the long-term effects of CSA. Retrospective measurement of CSA is a challenge shared by researchers from many disciplines striving to understand the long-term effects of CSA. Less commonly used among researchers to measure past CSA are the multi-item measures such as scales and indexes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the psychometric qualities of three retrospective, multi-item CSA measures that represent the three most commonly used approaches found in the literature. The labels assigned to the three measures are CSA Frequency Scale, CSA Count Index, and CSA Multiple Characteristics. Data from a larger study on health outcomes of women who experienced CSA were used, as well as data from a smaller sample recruited for the purpose of this study. Tables, references