Detecting emotional and behavioral difficulties in school: validation of psc-17 Detectando las dificultades emocionales y conductuales en la escuela: validacion de psc-17

Abstract

Early identification of children who may have a mental health problem is essential to implement preventive and treatment actions. In order to do this, it is necessary to have valid instruments adapted to the characteristics of the population and the contexts in which they are applied. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to validate the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-17) in Chilean first grade elementary school students. A random sample of 5177 students participating in a national school mental health program was used. The children were evaluated by their parents or caregivers and their teachers. Results of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a three-factor structure composed of: internalizing, externalizing and attention difficulties. These findings are consistent with what has been reported in the literature, transforming the PSC-17 into a good screening tool for use in schools and health centers.