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Measuring Traumatic Reactions in Palestinian Children: A Psychometric Assessment of the Children Revised Impact of Event Scale-Arabic Version (CRIES-13A)

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to test the measurement model and measurement invariance of the Impact of Event Scale (Arabic version) in a large sample of Palestinian children. We estimated (Study 1; n = 610) the measurement model using confirmatory factor analysis. In Study 2 (n = 864), we conducted multigroup (girls and boys) tests of measurement invariance. We pooled the data collected from the participants in the first two studies (Study 3, N = 1474) to assess overall score reliability, as well as the IES’ convergent and divergent validity vis-à-vis other measures of child wellbeing and mental health. The outcomes of the statistical analyses supported an invariant 13-item measurement model (intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal) for CRIES-13A. Intrusion and hyper-arousal together made up a first-order domain of symptoms (re-experiencing). The combined findings of these studies suggest that the CRIES-13A displays robust psychometric properties and may be used in contexts of military violence.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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The code used in this study is available on request from the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “R. Massa” Department of Human Sciences and Education, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Guido Veronese & Alessandro Pepe

  2. Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Guido Veronese

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  1. Guido Veronese
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  2. Alessandro Pepe
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Correspondence to Guido Veronese.

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The research was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards defined by APA and the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. The research protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Milano-Bicocca (Prot. 368).

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Veronese, G., Pepe, A. Measuring Traumatic Reactions in Palestinian Children: A Psychometric Assessment of the Children Revised Impact of Event Scale-Arabic Version (CRIES-13A). Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 53, 16–26 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01113-2

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