مجله علوم روانشناختی (Jul 2022)
Evaluation of the validity and invariance of the factor structure the lecavalier behavioral inflexibility scale in children with autism disorder aged 3 to 6 and 7 to 12 years in Isfahan
Abstract
Background: Inflexibility is an inappropriate response children with autism disorder to environmental changes. A tool with appropriate reliability and validity is needed to measure the behavioral inflexibility of different age groups of children with autism disorder.there is a research gap due to disagreement on the relationship between behavioral inflexibility and age. So, the question is whether the factor structure of the Lecavalier Behavioral Inflexibility Scale is invariant. In different age groups. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the validity and invariance of the factor structure of the Lecavalier Behavioral Inflexibility Scale in children with autism disorder aged 3-6 and 7-12 in Isfahan. Methods: The research method was descriptive-survey and applied in terms of purpose. The statistical population was children with autism disorder aged 3-12 in Isfahan, of whom 450 children were randomly selected, and the data obtained from 430 of them (230 for exploratory factor analysis and 200 for confirmatory factor analysis) were analyzed. The GARS Autism Symptoms Diagnostic Scale (GARS) (2012) with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89 and the Lecavalier Behavioral Inflexibility Scale (BIS) (2020) with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.97 were used. Results: Data were analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The Behavioral Inflexibility Scale (CVR> 0.62 and CVI> 0.79) had acceptable internal consistency in the two age groups (α> 0.70). ∆x2 of the restricted and unrestricted models of the measurement residues were equal in different age groups [∆x2 (90)= 108.51, p= 0.089]. Conclusion: The Persian version of the Lecavalier Behavioral Inflexibility Scale has acceptable validity and reliability for both age groups, and its factor structure is invariant.
