Faculty Collaboration Database

Structural validity of a self-report concussion-related symptom scale. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006 Jan;38(1):27-32

Date

01/06/2006

Pubmed ID

16394950

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000183186.98212.d5

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-30344460336 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   66 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the factorial validity of a self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity among a large sample of male, high-school athletes.

METHODS: Participants (N = 1089) were nonconcussed, male, high-school football players. All participants completed a single baseline self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity, namely the graded symptom checklist (GSC). We tested the factorial validity of the measure with confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL 8.50.

RESULTS: The analysis indicated that a theoretically derived, three-factor model provided a good, but not excellent, fit for the 16-item GSC. Excellent model-data fit was demonstrated for the three-factor model for a 9-item version of the GSC. In both instances, the three factors were best described by a single second-order factor, namely concussion symptomatology.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional evidence for the factorial validity of a summative self-reported measure of concussion-related symptoms. The factor structure represents a cohesive group of nine symptoms that can be explained by three underlying latent variables, namely somatic symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, and "cognitive" symptoms, subsumed under a single higher-order factor, namely concussion symptoms.

Author List

Piland SG, Motl RW, Guskiewicz KM, McCrea M, Ferrara MS

Author

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Brain Concussion
Humans
Male
Mid-Atlantic Region
Self Disclosure
Sports
Surveys and Questionnaires
Trauma Severity Indices