Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds

ABSTRACT Improving youth mental health is a national priority in India, especially given the very high rates of youth suicide. Yet, mental health prevalence data in India are often incomplete. More culturally validated mental health measures are needed to inform prevention and intervention work. The...

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Main Authors: Amy Palmer, Daryl B. O'Connor, N. Janardhana, Prachi Khandeparkar, Poornima Bhola, Sphoorthi Prabhu, Krupa A. L., Mutharaju Arelingaiah, Jayalaxmi K. P., Ritwika Nag, Siobhan Hugh‐Jones
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Mental Health Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.70019
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author Amy Palmer
Daryl B. O'Connor
N. Janardhana
Prachi Khandeparkar
Poornima Bhola
Sphoorthi Prabhu
Krupa A. L.
Mutharaju Arelingaiah
Jayalaxmi K. P.
Ritwika Nag
Siobhan Hugh‐Jones
author_facet Amy Palmer
Daryl B. O'Connor
N. Janardhana
Prachi Khandeparkar
Poornima Bhola
Sphoorthi Prabhu
Krupa A. L.
Mutharaju Arelingaiah
Jayalaxmi K. P.
Ritwika Nag
Siobhan Hugh‐Jones
author_sort Amy Palmer
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Improving youth mental health is a national priority in India, especially given the very high rates of youth suicide. Yet, mental health prevalence data in India are often incomplete. More culturally validated mental health measures are needed to inform prevention and intervention work. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS‐47) is a widely used measure of mental health globally, including in India, but it is yet to be culturally validated there. This study presents the second stage (of two) of the cultural validation of the RCADS‐47 in a sample of Indian adolescents (n = 332; Mage = 14.81 years). Participants completed a revised version of the RCADS‐47 (K‐RCADS), alongside comparative measures. Psychometric testing for convergent and discriminant validity, alongside factor analysis, was conducted. The K‐RCADS had good psychometric properties; high internal reliability (α = 0.89) and good construct validity when compared to measures of similar constructs (r = 0.51–0.69). Support was found for five of the six original RCADS factors. Findings suggest confidence in the rephrased RCADS‐47 ability to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression among Indian adolescents, alongside highlighting the importance of culturally validating measures of mental health. Further research in this validation is also discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-8539655c7af340a2804cc3c49302b3762025-08-20T02:32:53ZengWileyMental Health Science2642-35882025-06-0132n/an/a10.1002/mhs2.70019Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year OldsAmy Palmer0Daryl B. O'Connor1N. Janardhana2Prachi Khandeparkar3Poornima Bhola4Sphoorthi Prabhu5Krupa A. L.6Mutharaju Arelingaiah7Jayalaxmi K. P.8Ritwika Nag9Siobhan Hugh‐Jones10School of Psychology University of Leeds Leeds UKSchool of Psychology University of Leeds Leeds UKNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaSangath India, Psychology Goa IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaNIMHANS Bangalore Karnataka IndiaSchool of Psychology University of Leeds Leeds UKABSTRACT Improving youth mental health is a national priority in India, especially given the very high rates of youth suicide. Yet, mental health prevalence data in India are often incomplete. More culturally validated mental health measures are needed to inform prevention and intervention work. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS‐47) is a widely used measure of mental health globally, including in India, but it is yet to be culturally validated there. This study presents the second stage (of two) of the cultural validation of the RCADS‐47 in a sample of Indian adolescents (n = 332; Mage = 14.81 years). Participants completed a revised version of the RCADS‐47 (K‐RCADS), alongside comparative measures. Psychometric testing for convergent and discriminant validity, alongside factor analysis, was conducted. The K‐RCADS had good psychometric properties; high internal reliability (α = 0.89) and good construct validity when compared to measures of similar constructs (r = 0.51–0.69). Support was found for five of the six original RCADS factors. Findings suggest confidence in the rephrased RCADS‐47 ability to identify symptoms of anxiety and depression among Indian adolescents, alongside highlighting the importance of culturally validating measures of mental health. Further research in this validation is also discussed.https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.70019adolescentanxietycultural validationdepressionIndiamental health
spellingShingle Amy Palmer
Daryl B. O'Connor
N. Janardhana
Prachi Khandeparkar
Poornima Bhola
Sphoorthi Prabhu
Krupa A. L.
Mutharaju Arelingaiah
Jayalaxmi K. P.
Ritwika Nag
Siobhan Hugh‐Jones
Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
Mental Health Science
adolescent
anxiety
cultural validation
depression
India
mental health
title Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
title_full Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
title_fullStr Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
title_full_unstemmed Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
title_short Toward Cultural Validation of the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale in Karnataka, India: Psychometric Testing Among 13–17‐Year Olds
title_sort toward cultural validation of the revised children s anxiety and depression scale in karnataka india psychometric testing among 13 17 year olds
topic adolescent
anxiety
cultural validation
depression
India
mental health
url https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.70019
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