Adaptation of the Spanish-Version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) as an Informant-Based Instrument

Abstract

Background There is a lot of disparity between prevalence rates of child maltreatment from informant studies and from studies using self-report measures. However, there is not an instrument that can be completed by both the child/adolescent and a clinician. The aim of this study is to adapt the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) to be completed by professional workers, so as to provide with one instrument that can be applied to both self and informant-based sources of report in order to study the effect of the source of report on the prevalence rates of child maltreatment. Methods A sample of 273 professionals provided evidence about 635 children/adolescents. Professionals assessed child maltreatment with the adapted version of the CTQ-SF and with the Children Risk of Abuse and Maltreatment Parental Scale (ACRAM-PS). We tested factor structure using frequentist and Bayesian Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA). Reliability was estimated using Composite Reliability Index. Discriminant and convergent validity were assessed using the ACRAM-PS as a criterion. Results Bayesian CFA with near-zero priors found a very good five-factor solution and the estimates of reliability were adequate for all dimensions. We also found support for the convergent validity of the adapted CTQ-SF with the dimensions of the ACRAM-PS. Conclusions Psychometric properties of the adapted CTQ-SF are equivalent to those found in previous psychometric studies of the original CTQ-SF. Therefore, both instruments could be used simultaneously to explore the prevalence of abuse and neglect.