Psychometric Properties of the Brief Version of the Social Skills Inventory for Adolescents

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the evidence of internal structure and scores reliability of the Social Skills Inventory for adolescents - brief version (IHSA-Del-Prette). The following analyses were performed: (1) Exploratory Factor Analysis - EFA; (2) Confirmatory Factor Analysis - CFA; (3) Reliability; (4) Multigroup Analysis (invariance). The participants were 2,291 students of the Middle and High Schools, both sexes aged 12 to 17 years old divided into two sample groups: 1,172 participants in sample group 1 (collected 2006-2007) and 1,119 in sample group 2 (collected 2011-2012). The results of the EFA (group 1) support the four subscales structure (Self-control, Affective Approach, Empathy and Assertiveness) for 16 items (loadings > .30). The structure was confirmed by the CFA performed on the second group (CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .05, 90% CI [.04,.05], loadings > .50); and showed scalar invariance (samples 1 and 2) due to group and age, as well as partial scalar invariance due to gender (Delta CFI < .01; Delta NCI < .02). It was concluded the brief version of IHSA-Del-Prette presents psychometric properties for use in the Brazilian context.