Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist in preschool children in Serbia.

AIM: To demonstrate the use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a tool for screening problems in psychosocial development in preschool children in Serbia. METHODS: The form was filled out by parents to 269 children. The statistical and metric characteristics of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist were analyzed, while cut-off values were compared with the values reported from other countries. RESULTS: The PSC scale filled out by parents was found to have acceptable reliability in our sample of preschool children. A high level of reliability of the scale was achieved (a = 0.86). Average values on the scale were lower than in other analyses. There was no statistically significant difference in behavioral traits in regards to children's gender (p=0.53). Factor analysis of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist scale (promax solution) established an existence of a general factor. This general factor is structured with internal and external behavioral traits, as well as with impulsiveness and attention deficit in preschool children. Based on our cut-off value, the need of further follow up was established in 10.4% of study children (n=28, 17 male and 11 female). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the PSC filled out by parents is a good tool for early and rapid identification of potential problems of psychosocial functioning of preschool children. It should be noted that a positive PSC score was not a diagnosis but an indication for additional analysis and assessment of the children and their families.