Short Forms of the German Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)–Validation and Normative Data of the 11‐ and 25‐Item Versions
ABSTRACT Objectives This study assesses the reliability and validity of two short forms of the German Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS 11‐ and 25‐item versions) and provides normative data. Methods Data were collected from a representative sample of N = 1562 German schoolchildr...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.70022 |
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| Summary: | ABSTRACT Objectives This study assesses the reliability and validity of two short forms of the German Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS 11‐ and 25‐item versions) and provides normative data. Methods Data were collected from a representative sample of N = 1562 German schoolchildren and N = 757 pediatric chronic pain patients (ages 8–17). Results Cronbach's α demonstrated acceptable to good internal consistency for the total score as well as the depression and anxiety scales. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated acceptable to good model fit for both a 2‐factor structure (RCADS‐11) and a higher‐order structure (RCADS‐25). Multi‐group CFAs demonstrated similar model structures across the school and pediatric chronic pain samples. Convergent validity was supported by moderate to high negative correlations with health‐related quality of life and a high positive correlation with functional impairment. Girls—and to some extent, adolescents – scored significantly higher on anxiety and depression scales. The short versions demonstrated excellent agreement with the original 47‐item RCADS (0.78 ≤ Cohen’s κ ≤ 1.0). German normative data are provided. Conclusion The short versions of the German RCADS are reliable and valid instruments for assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. |
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| ISSN: | 1049-8931 1557-0657 |