Abstract
The BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form (BESS-3-SF; Kamphaus & Reynolds, 2015) is a 28-item screening tool for behavioral and emotional risks among children and youth. In this study, we tested if the 26 items from the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Self Report of Personality-Third Edition (BASC-3-SRP) could function as BESS-3-SF as a screening tool among Chinese youth. Data were collected with BASC-3-SRP from 1,186 adolescents (Male: 35%) in 10 schools, which were randomly and evenly divided into two samples: Sample A and Sample B. We first conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Sample A, and then a first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and a bifactor CFA with Sample B. EFA and first-order CFA suggested a five-factor structure. Bifactor analysis indicated variance explained by the general factor reached the threshold for a unidimensional interpretation. Results also suggested that cultural factors (e.g., relationship with teachers) might need to be considered in further examination of BESS-3-SF among Chinese youth. Together, our findings suggest that BESS-3-SF is a promising tool for screening general behavioral and emotional risks among Chinese youth. Our findings also contribute to the literature regarding the dimensionality of the BESS forms.
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This study was supported through a University of South Florida Nexus Initiative (UNI) Award and the University of South Florida, College of Education Mini Grant.
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The current analysis is part of a larger study, which was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB: Pro00035936) at the University of South Florida.
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Consents were collected from participants’ primary caregivers for participation in the study, as well as publication.
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Randy W. Kamphaus wishes to disclose that he receives royalties on the BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System forms.
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Wang, J.H., Tan, T.X., Kamphaus, R.W. et al. The BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form: Evidence for a Unidimensional Interpretation Among Chinese Youth. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 43, 916–923 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-021-09902-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-021-09902-2