Network analyses of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms in children

Psychometric Evaluation of the Affective Reactivity Index Among Children and Adolescents in China: A Multi-Method Assessment Approach

The Affective Reactivity Index (ARI) is one of the most studied scales for assessing youth irritability, but little is known about its measurement performance in community populations. This study applied item response theory (IRT), network analysis, and classical test theory (CTT) to examine the psychometric properties of the ARI in a sample of n = 395 community-based children (Mage = 13.44, SD = 2.51) and n = 403 parents. In this sample, the ARI demonstrated good reliability, as well as convergent and concurrent validity. The one-factor structure was supported by both confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis. IRT analysis revealed that the ARI effectively distinguished between various levels of irritability within the community population. Network analysis identified "Loses temper easily,""Gets angry frequently," and "Often loses temper" are central aspects of irritability. The findings support the ARI as a brief, reliable, and valid instrument to assess irritability in community children and adolescents.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Sleep Condition Indicator: A Clinical Screening Instrument Based on the DSM-5 Criteria for Insomnia

Purpose

We aimed to adapt the Turkish Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI) version and examine its psychometric properties among the general population.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional study. The item-total correlation, standard error of measurement, Cronbach's α, and McDonald's ω were used for internal consistency. We ran confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and network analysis to confirm the factor structure. Multigroup CFA was run to assess the measurement invariance across gender, whether clinical insomnia or not, and poor sleep quality. We correlated SCI scores with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores to evaluate construct validity. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to calculate the cut-off score of the SCI. The temporal stability was examined with the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results

Eight hundred thirty-four participants attended. Over half of the participants were women (63.2% n = 527); the mean age was 36.15 ± 9.64. Confirmatory factor and network analysis results show that the two-factor correlated model had a good model fit for the SCI. The SCI had scalar level invariance across gender, having clinical insomnia and poor sleep quality in the Multigroup CFA. ROC curve analysis shows that the SCI has good sensitivity (90.3%) and specificity (91.8%) for cut-off ≤ 15. The intraclass correlation coefficient computed between the first and second SCI total scores was significant (r=0.80 with a 95% confidence interval from 0.78 to 0.87; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The Turkish SCI is a practical self-reported insomnia scale with good psychometric properties that can be used to screen for insomnia disorder.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms and Multi-level Family Factors in Chinese Migrant Children: A Network Perspective

Based on the network theory of mental disorders, this study used network analysis to examine the network of ODD symptoms and multilevel family factors and identify the most crucial family factors influencing ODD symptoms in children. A total of 718 Chinese migrant children aged 7-14 years participated in this study. This study measured ODD symptoms, family system-level variables (3 factors), family dyadic-level variables (6 factors), and family individual-level variables (6 factors) with factors selected based on the multilevel family factors theory of ODD symptoms. The results indicated that (1) "annoy" was the center symptom of ODD, (2) "annoy" and "vindictive" was the main bridge connecting the multilevel family factors, and (3) family cohesion at the family system level, parent-child conflict at the family dyadic level, and parental depression at the family individual level were critical central and bridging influencing factors. The findings of this study highlight the critical role of "annoy" and "vindictive" symptoms in the activation of ODD symptom networks in children and provide a basis for future improvements in diagnostic criteria. These potential core and bridge factors might become key intervention targets for childhood ODD.