A Psychometric Evaluation of the Revised Version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale in Chinese Adolescents

Background: Adolescent-specific ADHD self-report screening measures can greatly increase the likelihood of correct diagnosis and timely treatment of ADHD in adolescents. This study provides preliminary evidence for evaluating the reliability and validity of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-Revised (ASRS-R) in a school-based sample of Chinese adolescents. Methods: The ASRS-R and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered to 867 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years (M[subscript age] = 13.08 years). Construct validity was assessed using correlation analysis of the ASRS-R with the SDQ. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency, retest reliability, and measurement invariance of the scales were examined by gender. Results: CFA showed a two-dimensional factor structure of the ASRS-R, and the model fitted the data well ([chi-squared]/df = 4.370, RMSEA = 0.062, TLI = 0.932, CFI = 0.940, GFI = 0.927, AGFI = 0.907, and SRMR = 0.038). The ASRS-R scale was invariant across gender and had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.934) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.874). The construct validity, as calculated using the SDQ, was also acceptable. Conclusion: The ASRS-R can be a psychometrically reliable self-report instrument and provide preliminary support as a simple tool for identifying ADHD symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The findings provide evidence for extending the application of the ASRS, previously limited to adults, to the adolescent populations.