Exploring the Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Urdu Version of the Child PTSD Symptom Scale in School-Aged Children

Abstract

Background:   Trauma exposure is a widespread and global problem, and a significant gap persists in the current body of literature concerning the empirical development of a globally appropriate factor structure for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in schoolchildren and adolescents. In order to develop diagnostically effective frameworks that can guide for assessment, diagnose, and intervention, it is paramount to gain an inclusive understanding of the fundamental features of PTSD and their possible ramifications for the functioning of youngsters. To address this requirement, this study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the widely used Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) which designed to examine PTSD’s symptoms in youngsters.

Method: A purposive sampling technique and a cross-sectional research approach were used in the present study. The back standard translation method was utilized to adopt and translate CPSS in Pakistani school students. This study was divided into two phases: a pilot and a main study. In the pilot study, the Urdu-translated CPSS version was administered to thirty school students whose ages ranged from 13 to 17 years to establish test-retest reliability. In the main study, one hundred eighty participants were recruited from private schools located in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, between June 2022 and August 2022.

Results: The findings confirmed the three-factor model that is aligned with and supports DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and it could be a valuable and most appropriate tool for research and clinical practice in Pakistani schoolchildren. This scale highlights the CPSS's reliability and cross-cultural validity to evaluate PTSD symptoms in a Pakistani context.

Conclusions: This study's findings confirmed the three-factor model that is aligned with and supports DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, and it could be a valuable and most appropriate tool for research and clinical practice in Pakistani schoolchildren. The overall finding supports the cross-cultural validation and reliability of the Urdu CPSS among Pakistani school students, helping research efforts and mental health assessment.