Convergence, Divergence, and Predictive Validity in Depression and Suicidality Screening Tools with Adjudicated Youth Across Ethnicity

Abstract

This study evaluated the convergent and discriminant validity of scores from screening tools for depression (Traumatic Symptom Checklist for Children [TSCC], Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version [MAYSI-2], Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-Second Edition [RADS-2], Adolescent Psychopathology Scale, Short Form [APSSF-Short Form]) and suicidality (Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire Junior High School Version [SIQ-JR], MAYSI-2) with adjudicated youth. We also evaluated if convergent and divergent correlational relationships were statistically invariant across ethnic groups. Correlations evaluating convergent validity within subscales measuring depression and suicide ideation were r = 0.38–0.56. Correlations evaluating divergent evidence across depression and suicide ideation were r = 0.32–0.58. Concerning convergent correlations, both depression subscales and suicide ideation subscales were nearly 0.1 higher for White youth compared to African American youth. Results indicate that caution is needed when selecting screening tools and the importance of utilizing multiple sources of information, varied methods, and data from multiple settings. Additional results and implications are noted.