Cross Cultural Adaptation, into Gujarati, of the English version, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescent mental health is a neglected entity today which needs to be addressed at the earliest. Several mental health screening questionnaires and tools are available for the same. Aim: To translate and validate self-report version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), (11-17 years) into Gujarati (language). Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in two bilingual higher secondary schools from Anand district, Gujarat. A total of 30 students with 15 students (11-17 years) from Gujarati and English medium schools each belonged to 8th and 9th grades who were fluent in both Gujarati and English were selected. Scale performance was measured as normal/borderline/ abnormal based on the scores of the 25 items of SDQ. Linguistic equivalence, conceptual equivalence, scale equivalence and reliability of both versions of the SDQ were compared. Ethical clearance from the Ethics Committee was obtained and permission was sought from the heads of the schools. Results: Linguistic equivalence between the two versions was assessed using mean-difference scores for each item. 7 out of 25 items had mean difference score more than set standard 0.166. Items 9 and 10 had significantly different mean difference. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients showed good conceptual agreement between item and its corresponding subscale score in both, except item 7, 12 and 23 for Gujarati and item 12 for English version. Difference between pair of correlation coefficient was comparable for all except items 7,8 and 10. Concordance rate between classifications by 2 scales was good for Emotional (92.8%), Conduct (92.8%) and Pro-social behaviour subscale (96%) and fair for Hyperactivity and Peer problems subscale (67.8%). Total score concordance rate was 92.8%. Conclusion: Gujarati version of SDQ (11-17 years) has acceptable linguistic and conceptual equivalence and found to be a valid and reliable measure. Items 9 and 10 were rephrased after analysis.

Keywords

• adolescent health
• child psychiatry
• child psychology
• school health