Self-reported competencies and behavior problems among Brazilian adolescents: a validation study of the Youth Self-Report (YSR/2001)

• Grant number: 09/10079-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 01, 2009
• End date: February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Psychological Treatment and Prevention
• Principal Investigator: Edwiges Ferreira de Mattos Silvares
• Grantee: Marina Monzani da Rocha
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Understanding the problems that may appear during adolescence is a challenge for mental health professionals. The "Youth Self-Report" (YSR) was developed to facilitate the participation of adolescents, aged 11 to 18 years old, on the evaluation of their own behavior. Several studies have been conducted aiming the validation of the YSR in countries distinct in language and culture from the United States. The main goal of this study is to validate the Brazilian YSR version. To achieve this overall objective, the following specific objectives were elaborated: a) analyze the responses given to the items of inventory, by performing a confirmatory factor analysis in order to verify that the eight empirically based syndrome-scales found in the original validation study of the YSR are found in Brazil; b) verify the similarities and differences in the reports, considering gender, age, socio-economic status and the region where the inventory was collected; variables recognized by influencing the type of problem and the frequency with which it is reported, which allowed the development of standards of reference; c) conduct an epidemiological study on the behavioral and emotional problems of Brazilian youths, which will allow discussions about the needs of prevention programs or psychological intervention focusing on what was found in the population; d) verify the transcultural validity of the YSR, comparing the Brazilian data with data from several other countries. To achieve these goals, youth referred for psychological services of 11 Brazilian cities will be invited to answer the YSR and will be part of the "referred" group. Youths of the general population will be invited to respond to the questionnaire during a class in public and private schools from the same 11 Brazilian cities. Those who report being referred for mental health services in the last 12 months will be grouped with adolescents "referred", while the other will be part of the "non-referred" group. The adolescents will also answer the "critério Brasil" form to determine the socio-economic level of the participants. Statistical analysis of results should follow the methodological procedures undertaken by the authors of the inventory in the original study. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ROCHA, Marina Monzani da. Evidências de validade do \Inventário de Autoavaliação para Adolescentes\ (YSR/2001) para a população brasileira. 2012. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) São Paulo.