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The Development of a School-Based Measure of Child Mental Health

Deighton, Jessica, Tymms, Peter, Vostanis, Panos, Belsky, Jay, Fonagy, Peter, Brown, Anna, Martin, Amelia, Patalay, Praveetha, Wolpert, Miranda (2013) The Development of a School-Based Measure of Child Mental Health. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 31 (3). pp. 247-257. ISSN 0734-2829. (doi:10.1177/0734282912465570) (KAR id:36705)

Abstract

Early detection of child mental health problems in schools is critical for implementing strategies for prevention and intervention. The development of an effective measure of mental health and well-being for this context must be both empirically sound and practically feasible. This study reports the initial validation of a brief self-report measure for child mental health suitable for use with children as young as eight (“Me and My School” (M&MS)). After factor analysis, and studies of measurement invariance, two subscales emerged: emotional difficulties and behavioral difficulties. These two subscales were highly correlated with corresponding constructs of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and showed correlations with attainment, deprivation and educational needs similar to ones obtained between these demographic measures and the SDQ. Results suggest that this school-based self-report measure is psychometrically sound, and has the potential of contributing to school mental health surveys, evaluation of interventions, and recognition of mental health problems within schools.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0734282912465570
Uncontrolled keywords: Mental health, self-report, child, school surveys, Me & My School
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Anna Brown
Date Deposited: 21 Nov 2013 13:10 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 10:20 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/36705 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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