Kindergarten inventory of social/emotional tendencies:a cross-validation study

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Parirokh Dadsetan ¹ , Ali Asgari ² , Susan Rahimzade ³ , Maryam Bayat ⁴

1 - PhD Islamic Azad University South Tehran Branch
2 - PhD University of Tehran
3 - Islamic Azad University South Tehran Branch
4 - Education Assitant Payame Noor University

Received: 2015-06-04 Accepted : 2015-06-04 Published : 2010-09-23

Keywords: Preschool Children, social/emotional disorders, Cross-validation, kindergarten children,

Abstract :

The psychometric properties of the Persian translated of Kindergarten Inventory of Social/ Emotional Tendencies (KIST; Miller, Michie & Miller, 1997) were studied, using cross-validation method. A sample of 1435 children (767 boys and 668 girls) aged 5-6 years old-were randomly selected from Tehran kindergartens and preschools and assigned into two groups (sample A=725, sample B=710). The mothers of sample group filled out the KIST (50 items rated from zero to 5). Results of exploratory factor analysis using oblique rotations showed that by combining KIST’s two original subscales of Hyperactivity/Inattentiveness and Maladaptive Behaviors and omitting the Sleep behavior subscale, the Persian version of KIST consisted of six factors: 1) Hyperactivity-Maladaptive behaviors, 2) Social skills, 3) Communications skills, 4) Daily living skills, 5) Eating behavior, and 6) Separation anxiety smptoms. These factors accounted for 40.2% of the variance. The fit indices of CFA confirmed the cross validity of the inventory. Significant positive coefficients between the KIST total score and the teacher scores (r=0.35) confirmed the convergent validity. KIST's significant negative coefficients with the Children Behavior Checklist (-0.32) and Teacher Report Form (-0.33) of Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (Achenbach, 1991) confirmed the divergent validity. The theoretical bases of extracted factors are discussed.