Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm
Abstract Background The Symptom Checklist (SCL) developed by the Health Behaviour in School‑aged Children (HBSC) study is widely used to capture the psychosomatic complaints (PSC) of non-clinical children and adolescents. Although its psychometric properties have been well established internationall...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Yuhang Zhu Xianzhu Cong Zhenliang Qiu Ricky Jeffrey Ranran Li Li Jing Gaopei Zhu Xi Yang Shuang Li Jinling Wang Xu Xu Hongliu Zhu Xinjian Wang Ling Huang Xueqin Sun Di Wu Kai Zhang Xunhong Miao Rui Wen Qinglang Huang Zhuang He Juan Li Alina Cosma Fuyan Shi Suzhen Wang the PROSQoL-JSSS research group |
| author_facet | Yuhang Zhu Xianzhu Cong Zhenliang Qiu Ricky Jeffrey Ranran Li Li Jing Gaopei Zhu Xi Yang Shuang Li Jinling Wang Xu Xu Hongliu Zhu Xinjian Wang Ling Huang Xueqin Sun Di Wu Kai Zhang Xunhong Miao Rui Wen Qinglang Huang Zhuang He Juan Li Alina Cosma Fuyan Shi Suzhen Wang the PROSQoL-JSSS research group |
| author_sort | Yuhang Zhu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Symptom Checklist (SCL) developed by the Health Behaviour in School‑aged Children (HBSC) study is widely used to capture the psychosomatic complaints (PSC) of non-clinical children and adolescents. Although its psychometric properties have been well established internationally, the performance of the Mandarin Chinese version remains unclear. This study evaluates the Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL’s psychometric properties, develops its norm, and creates the corresponding scoring algorithm. Methods Data were collected from a two-wave cross-sectional survey conducted between June 20 and July 11, 2022, across eight Chinese Human Geography Regions (CHGRs). The sample included 3290 junior secondary school students, obtained through convenience sampling (first wave) and multistage, stratified, cluster sampling (second wave). The surveys were administered anonymously in the school setting, using a paper-and-pencil, self-administered questionnaire. The Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL’s unidimensionality was verified using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and its psychometric properties were comprehensively evaluated using the partial credit model (PCM) of the Rasch measurement method. Based on the above scientific evidence, the population-based norm and norm-referenced scoring algorithm were developed and created. Results The CFA confirmed that the HBSC-SCL can be considered unidimensional in the Chinese Mainland. Evidence-based on the six features of the Rasch model indicated that the Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL has satisfactory psychometric properties. All 5-category rating scales of eight items appropriately differentiated the students’ PSC and demonstrated strong goodness-of-fit. This version also exhibited good unidimensionality and local independence. The Rasch model generated two kinds of reliability indicators, with the item indicators performing well. The person-item map demonstrated acceptable person and item matches, and provided new perspectives for future improvements. Additionally, no substantial uniform differential item functioning (UDIF) was detected across 13 groups (e.g., survey waves, gender, chronological age). Conclusions The Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties and performs well in the Chinese Mainland context. It provides concise self-reported PSC measures for junior secondary school students, potentially applicable to a broader Chinese-speaking population. Its ease of administration, scoring, and interpretation makes it suitable for routine school monitoring, large-scale population surveys, and clinical applications. Additionally, the population-based norm and norm-referenced scoring algorithm support the broader application of this version and offer new insights for interpreting PSC sum scores. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf9cb1881d2e439381ed40228cdbafc6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf9cb1881d2e439381ed40228cdbafc62025-02-09T13:00:22ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-02-0113112510.1186/s40359-024-02136-3Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithmYuhang Zhu0Xianzhu Cong1Zhenliang Qiu2Ricky Jeffrey3Ranran Li4Li Jing5Gaopei Zhu6Xi Yang7Shuang Li8Jinling Wang9Xu Xu10Hongliu Zhu11Xinjian Wang12Ling Huang13Xueqin Sun14Di Wu15Kai Zhang16Xunhong Miao17Rui Wen18Qinglang Huang19Zhuang He20Juan Li21Alina Cosma22Fuyan Shi23Suzhen Wang24the PROSQoL-JSSS research groupTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityNo. 1 High School of Anhui Sixian CountySchool of Education and English, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Nottingham Ningbo ChinaDepartment of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamNo. 1 High School of Anhui Sixian CountyDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversityTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityWeifang Dongming SchoolTongsheng No. 1 Junior High School of Lishui TownNingxiang No. 13 Senior High SchoolDepartment of Counseling Psychology, College of Health and Welfare, Dongshin UniversityMental Health Education Center, School of Teacher Education, Aba Teachers CollegeTeaching and Research Section of Basic Nursing, School of Nursing, Bengbu Medical UniversityThe Second Teaching and Research Section of English Major, School of Foreign Languages, Shandong Second Medical UniversityNingxiang Meihua High SchoolSuzhou Education and Sports BureauNo. 2 High School of Xinfeng CountyJingxi Ethnic Senior High SchoolTeaching and Research Section of Applied Psychology, School of Educational Sciences, Guiyang UniversityTeaching and Research Section of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Health Management, Binzhou Medical UniversityTrinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, the University of DublinTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityTeaching and Research Section of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversityAbstract Background The Symptom Checklist (SCL) developed by the Health Behaviour in School‑aged Children (HBSC) study is widely used to capture the psychosomatic complaints (PSC) of non-clinical children and adolescents. Although its psychometric properties have been well established internationally, the performance of the Mandarin Chinese version remains unclear. This study evaluates the Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL’s psychometric properties, develops its norm, and creates the corresponding scoring algorithm. Methods Data were collected from a two-wave cross-sectional survey conducted between June 20 and July 11, 2022, across eight Chinese Human Geography Regions (CHGRs). The sample included 3290 junior secondary school students, obtained through convenience sampling (first wave) and multistage, stratified, cluster sampling (second wave). The surveys were administered anonymously in the school setting, using a paper-and-pencil, self-administered questionnaire. The Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL’s unidimensionality was verified using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and its psychometric properties were comprehensively evaluated using the partial credit model (PCM) of the Rasch measurement method. Based on the above scientific evidence, the population-based norm and norm-referenced scoring algorithm were developed and created. Results The CFA confirmed that the HBSC-SCL can be considered unidimensional in the Chinese Mainland. Evidence-based on the six features of the Rasch model indicated that the Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL has satisfactory psychometric properties. All 5-category rating scales of eight items appropriately differentiated the students’ PSC and demonstrated strong goodness-of-fit. This version also exhibited good unidimensionality and local independence. The Rasch model generated two kinds of reliability indicators, with the item indicators performing well. The person-item map demonstrated acceptable person and item matches, and provided new perspectives for future improvements. Additionally, no substantial uniform differential item functioning (UDIF) was detected across 13 groups (e.g., survey waves, gender, chronological age). Conclusions The Mandarin Chinese HBSC-SCL demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties and performs well in the Chinese Mainland context. It provides concise self-reported PSC measures for junior secondary school students, potentially applicable to a broader Chinese-speaking population. Its ease of administration, scoring, and interpretation makes it suitable for routine school monitoring, large-scale population surveys, and clinical applications. Additionally, the population-based norm and norm-referenced scoring algorithm support the broader application of this version and offer new insights for interpreting PSC sum scores.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02136-3Psychosomatic complaintsHealth Behaviour in School‑aged ChildrenHBSC Symptom ChecklistMandarin ChinesePsychometric propertiesRasch measurement method |
| spellingShingle | Yuhang Zhu Xianzhu Cong Zhenliang Qiu Ricky Jeffrey Ranran Li Li Jing Gaopei Zhu Xi Yang Shuang Li Jinling Wang Xu Xu Hongliu Zhu Xinjian Wang Ling Huang Xueqin Sun Di Wu Kai Zhang Xunhong Miao Rui Wen Qinglang Huang Zhuang He Juan Li Alina Cosma Fuyan Shi Suzhen Wang the PROSQoL-JSSS research group Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm BMC Psychology Psychosomatic complaints Health Behaviour in School‑aged Children HBSC Symptom Checklist Mandarin Chinese Psychometric properties Rasch measurement method |
| title | Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm |
| title_full | Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm |
| title_fullStr | Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm |
| title_short | Using the HBSC Symptom Checklist to measure junior secondary school students’ psychosomatic complaints in the Chinese Mainland: Rasch-based validation, population-based norm, and norm-referenced scoring algorithm |
| title_sort | using the hbsc symptom checklist to measure junior secondary school students psychosomatic complaints in the chinese mainland rasch based validation population based norm and norm referenced scoring algorithm |
| topic | Psychosomatic complaints Health Behaviour in School‑aged Children HBSC Symptom Checklist Mandarin Chinese Psychometric properties Rasch measurement method |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02136-3 |
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