Abstract
Fast and accurate screening for mental health problems in early childhood is a prerequisite for effective early intervention. The Early Childhood Screening Assessment (ECSA) is a valid and standardized screening tool for young children. The aims of the current study were to examine the psychometric properties, the factorial structure, and validity evidence for test score interpretation of the German version of the ECSA. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis support a two-factor solution differentiating externalizing and internalizing problems in early childhood. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by positive associations with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Accuracy of identifying children at risk in comparison to CBCL was good with appropriate sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, ECSA problem scores showed specific associations with low ego-resiliency and field-independence scores and high ego-undercontrol, aggression, and anxiety scores. ECSA caregiver depression scores were associated with children’s ECSA problem scores. The German version of the ECSA is a short and accurate screening tool for mental health problems in early childhood.
Highlights
As the Early Childhood Screening Assessment (ECSA) is a parent report tool, we examined whether the ECSA screening of caregiver depression and children’s mental health problems are associated in the German ECSA adding further indicators for the validity of the ECSA and showing the usefulness of the ECSA in application in primary child care settings
Because the ECSA was developed with the goal to identify global mental health problems including internalizing and externalizing behaviors, the items were assigned to groups of parcels that differed by content: Three parcels included items that reflect internalizing behavior, three parcels with items indicating externalizing behavior, and one parcel consisting of the remaining items
We investigated whether a one-factor model or a two-factor model differentiating externalizing and internalizing symptoms would better fit the data for this age group
Summary
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the German version of the Early Childhood Screening Assessment (ECSA) by (1) examining the factor structure of the German ECSA and the internal consistency, (2) investigating concurrent validity evidence by evaluating the associations with CBCL scores, (3) examining the accuracy of clinical at risk domains by assessing sensitivity, specificity, and clinical cut-off scores in a German sample in comparison to the respective CBCL cut-off criteria, (4) further demonstrating concurrent validity by examining associations of ECSA scores with the regulatory personality characteristics egoresiliency, ego-undercontrol, field-independence, and in addition with anxiety and aggression as specific internalizing and externalizing indicators of mental health problems, and (5) examining associations between ECSA scores and caregiver depression
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
