Validity of the osu post‐traumatic stress disorder scale and the behavior assessment system for children self‐report of personality with child tornado survivors

Abstract

Abstract Tornadoes and other natural disasters can lead to anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. This study provides further validity for the Oklahoma State University Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale–Child Form (OSU PTSDS‐CF) by comparing it to the Behavior Assessment System for Children Self‐Report of Personality (BASC‐SRP). Correlations were significant at 0.01 between BASC‐SRP scales of Anxiety, Atypicality, and Clinical Maladjustment, and at least 0.05 between OSU PTSDS‐CF scales for Social Stress, Depression, Inadequacy, and Emotional Symptoms Index (ESI). Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) yielded significant differences at 0.01 between children with and without PTSD, based on OSU PTSDS‐CF cut‐off scores, for BASC‐SRP Anxiety, Atypicality, and Clinical Maladjustment. ANOVAs were significant at 0.05 for Social Stress, Locus of Control, Relationship with Parents, and ESI. Results yielded moderate effect sizes, and BASC‐SRP means were within normal limits for all groups. Practitioners are encouraged to supplement the BASC‐SRP with PTSD measures in children who have experienced trauma. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.