Validity and Reliability of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and Brief Symptom Inventory-53 (BSI-53)

Introduction: One of the psychological instruments occupied for numerous clinical and research applications is SCL-90-R. 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. One of these short versions is BSI-53. So, the aim of this research has been determining the psychometric properties of the SCL-90-R and BSI-53 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. Afterwards, the final translated version of ScL-90-R got 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 both tools, a sample of 44 students selected randomly and the tools were conducted in accordance with the period of two weeks for the second time. To check convergent validity of the tools, 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 SCL-90-R and BSI-53, the confirmatory factor analysis was used. Results: The results of the data analysis indicated acceptable and significant values of validity and reliability for both 9 and 10 dimensions of SCL-90-R and BSI-53 in non-clinical samples. Both 9 and 10 factor Structure of both SCL-90-R and BSI-53 were also confirmed through CFA on non-clinical samples. Discussion and Conclusion: Based on the research findings, the SCL-90-R and its short version BSI-53 can be used in psychological research and clinical efforts. Altough the current results are novel and notable, it is essential to examine psychometric properties in clinical samples.