Validating an Internalizing Psychopathology Screener for Use with College Students

Abstract

Objective College students experience high levels of internalizing psychopathology. The current study evaluated multiple sources of validity evidence for using the Youth Internalizing Problems Screener (YIPS) to identify college students with these concerns. Method We evaluated responses to the YIPS and criterion measures with a sample of N = 454 young adults enrolled in a large public university in the USA (M age = 20.02, female = 74%, White = 60%). Analyses addressed structural and criterion validity evidence. Results Results showed strong levels of validity evidence for the YIPS factor structure and theory-consistent correlations with criterion variables. YIPS scores had moderate to strong accuracy for estimating symptom severity levels for both anxiety and depression. Conclusions Results suggest the YIPS is a psychometrically sound screener for internalizing psychopathology among college students, supported by multiple sources of validity evidence. Significance statement Our findings suggest mental health professionals might use the YIPS in college settings for identifying young adults presenting with varying levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. Given the YIPS is brief, free, and publicly available, it may be more feasible than alternative internalizing screeners available for this purpose.