Standardized Screening for Mental Health Needs of Detained Youths from Various Ethnic Origins: The Dutch Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2).

Olivier F Colins,Natasja Hornby,Eva Mulder,Thomas Grisso,Christine Pronk,Monica Markus,Robert Vermeiren,Theo Doreleijers,Laura Guy,Pauline Vahl

doi:10.1007/s10862-014-9476-4

Abstract

In the U.S., the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool to identify youth with mental health needs upon entry in detention facilities. The present study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the Dutch MAYSI-2 administered as part of routine clinical assessments in up to 955 detained male adolescents. Standardized mental health screening questionnaires (Youth Self-Report and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) were used to test the convergent validity of the Dutch MAYSI-2. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the factor structure of the original MAYSI-2 could be replicated with the Dutch MAYSI-2. Internal consistency indices showed that the Dutch MAYSI-2 provides a reliable screening of mental health needs. In addition, the Dutch MAYSI-2 scales were related with conceptually parallel measures of the same targeted mental health needs in the total group. With a few exceptions, the internal consistency and convergent validity was supported across ethnic groups as well. Overall, these results suggest the psychometric properties of the Dutch MAYSI-2 to be promising. Implications and limitations of the current study’s findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Highlights

In the U.S, the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool to identify youth with mental health needs upon entry in detention facilities
Of the Dutch MAYSI-2 scales, the Alcohol/Drug Use scale had the strongest association with intense alcohol and marijuana use in Dutch, Moroccan, Antillean/Surinamese, and Mixed boys. This is the first study to report on the psychometric properties of the Dutch MAYSI-2
Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the factor structure of the original MAYSI-2 could be replicated in detained male adolescents in the Netherlands

Summary

Introduction

In the U.S, the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Second Version (MAYSI-2) has been shown to be a reliable and valid tool to identify youth with mental health needs upon entry in detention facilities. Internal consistency indices showed that the Dutch MAYSI-2 provides a reliable screening of mental health needs. Research in the U.S has demonstrated the MAYSI-2’s reliability and validity (Grisso et al 2012), and its clinical usefulness for American juvenile detention facilities is supported by a growing number of studies showing, for example, that use of the MAYSI-2 increases staff referrals of detained youth to mental health counselors (Lopez-Williams et al 2006), leads to more efficient identification of detained youth at risk for suicide (Williams et al 2008), and helps to identify youths at risk for institutional misbehavior (Butler et al 2007)

Methods

Results

Conclusion