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3.9.2 The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-Short Form (RADS2-SF)
The Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale is a self-report tool with proven
reliability and validity that measures symptoms of depression in adolescence (Reynolds,
2002). It has a five factor structure that assesses generalized demoralization,
despondency and worry, externalized somatocism, anhedonia, and self worth.
The RADS2-SF is a shorter version developed to provide a brief measure for the
assessment of depression. For the Youth’07 survey the RADS2 –SF was examined and
found to have psychometric properties similar to the full RADS version with acceptable
reliability and validity for New Zealand adolescents across the major different ethnic
groups (Milfont et al., 2008). The authors found the RADS2-SF had Cronbach’s alpha
of 0.88 and was strongly correlated (0.95) to the RADS. Therefore the RADS2-SF was
an appropriate tool for replacing the full length version in the Youth’07 survey. The
RADS2-SF cutoff of ≥ 26 for symptoms of significant depression was replaced by the
Y’07 survey with a cutoff of ≥28. This was based on the analysis of Youth2000 data
which showed a level of ≥28 best matched the cut-off level of the RADS and more
closely matched the percentage identified with significant levels of depressive
symptoms (Milfont et al.,( 2008). The authors acknowledged the cutoff of 28 proposed
could lead to a drop in sensitivity but was more appropriate in looking at time trends in
a comparison between Youth2000 and Y’07. To provide an accurate comparison with
the control group a cutoff of ≥28 was chosen for this study.
The RADS2-SF is the copyright of Psychological Assessment resources, Inc.,
Florida 2002 and permission was obtained for use in this survey.
3.9.3 The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
The SDQ is a standardized tool that has been widely used and validated
(Cronbach’s a = 0.73). It is a measure of psychosocial functioning in 4 to 18 year olds
and was developed as a parent- and self screen tool. SDQ has four difficulties scales:
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