Short Forms of Symptom Checklist (SCL): Investigation of validity & Reliability

Introduction: SCL-90-R is one of the psychological instruments occupied for numerous clinical and research applications. Using this instrument needs to investigate psychometric properties in clinical and non-clinical samples. On the other hand, using short versions of SCL-90-R has been developed because of time consuming to fulfill the original version. Among the short forms of SCL-90-R attended by numerous reseach include SCL-27, HSCL-25, BSI-18, SCL-14, HSCL-10, SCL-9 and SCL-6. So, the goal of this research has been determining the psychometric properties of the mentioned short forms of SCL-90-R in a non-clinical sample in Iran. Method: To achieve this aim, the comparison between some common Persian translations of SCL-90-R and the original version was conducted. Then, the final translated version of ScL-90-R was ready. Then SCL-90-R was conducted on a sample of 513 bachelor, master and M.D. students of Shahed University. In order to calculate the coefficient of retesting the inventory, a sample of 44 students selected randomly and the inventory was conducted in accordance with the period of two weeks for the second time among them. To check convergent validity of the checklist, the following questionnaires were used: DASS-21, BAI, BDI-II, GHQ-28, GAD-7, PANAS, religious orientation questionnaire (Shams), BFNE, RSES and SHAI-18. To investigate the construct validity of the BSI-18, the exploratory factor analysis was used. Results: The results of the data analysis indicated acceptable and significant values of validity and reliability of dimensions of SCL short forms in non-clinical samples. The reliability of different versions of SCL was obtaind between 0.84 for SCL-9 ans 0.92 for HSCL-25according to internal consistency method, and between 0.81 for both BSI-18 and SCL-6, and 0.84 for both HSCL-25 and HSCL-10 according to retest method. Facorial structures were also confirmed in non-clinical samples according to confirmatory factor analysis with RMSEA between 0.036 for SCL-9 and 0.055 for SCL-14. Discussion and Conclusion: Based on the research findings, the SCL short versions could be used in psychological research and clinical efforts. However, the current results are novel and notable, but it is essential to examine psychometric properties in clinical samples.