Structural validity of a self-report concussion-related symptom scale

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2006, Vol.38 (1), p.27-32
• Main Authors: PILAND, Scott G, MOTL, Robert W, GUSKIEWICZ, Kevin M, MCCREA, Michael, FERRARA, Michael S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Concussion - physiopathology; Brain Concussion - psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Mid-Atlantic Region; Self Disclosure; Space life sciences; Sports; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trauma Severity Indices; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 0195-9131; 1530-0315
• DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000183186.98212.d5

This study evaluated the factorial validity of a self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity among a large sample of male, high-school athletes. Participants (N = 1089) were nonconcussed, male, high-school football players. All participants completed a single baseline self-report measure of concussion-related symptom severity, namely the graded symptom checklist (GSC). We tested the factorial validity of the measure with confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL 8.50. The analysis indicated that a theoretically derived, three-factor model provided a good, but not excellent, fit for the 16-item GSC. Excellent model-data fit was demonstrated for the three-factor model for a 9-item version of the GSC. In both instances, the three factors were best described by a single second-order factor, namely concussion symptomatology. This study provides additional evidence for the factorial validity of a summative self-reported measure of concussion-related symptoms. The factor structure represents a cohesive group of nine symptoms that can be explained by three underlying latent variables, namely somatic symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, and "cognitive" symptoms, subsumed under a single higher-order factor, namely concussion symptoms.