Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Vanderbilt Children's ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS-A) in a Saudi Population Sample
Authors: Alqahtani Mohammed M. J. , Al Saud Nouf Mohammed , Alsharef Nawal Mohammed , Alsalhi Saleh Mohammed , Al-Hifthy Elham H. , AlHadi Ahmad N. , Ad-Dab’bagh Yasser , Alenazi Fawwaz Abdulrazaq , Alotaibi Barakat M. , Alsaeed Sultan Mahmoud , Arnout Boshra A. , ALQasem Latifah , Alhossein Abdulkarim , Alqahtani Yasser Jubran , AlGhamdi Samirah A. , Alrahili Nader , Varnham Jeremy , Asiri Saeed Abdulwahab 
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study aimed to utilize Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to investigate the constructive validity of the Arabic translation of the Vanderbilt Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Diagnostic Scale (VADRS-A) using its two versions, the Arabic Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS-A) and the Arabic Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS-A).

Method

A descriptive research design was employed. Children were assessed by their parents and teachers, and a cluster sample of 1812 participants was chosen from many schools in Saudi Arabia, divided into two groups: parents (504) and teachers (1308) of children whose ages ranged between 5 to 12 years old. The VADPRS-A and VADTRS-A were administered to parents and teachers under the supervision of the Saudi ADHD Society.

Results

The results of the PCA of VADPRS-A found that the six factors saturate one general factor that explained (59%) of the total variance of the factor matrix with eigenvalues (3.540). Similarly, the PCA of VADTRS-A demonstrated that the five factors were saturated on a general factor that explained (69.20%) of the total variance of the factor matrix with eigenvalues (3.460). Also, the results indicate the high internal consistency of VADPRS-A and VADTRS-A, all factors correlated together and the total scores positively and significantly statistically (p>.001) correlation coefficients ranged between (0.296 to 0.843) for VADPRS-A, and ranges between (0.432 to 0.939) for VADTRS-A. Also, the Cronbach's α coefficient values for the six factors and total score of VADPRS-A were (.906, .925, .900, .896, .853, .872, .959) respectively, and these values are close to the values of the McDonald's ω for the factors and the total score were (.908, .923, .901, .871, .850, .877, .925) respectively. In the same way, Cronbach's α coefficients were (.967, .921, .914, .858, .948, .971) for all factors and the total score of VADTRS-A respectively, and these values are close to the values of the McDonald's ω (.968, .921, .919, .856, .943, .965) for all factors and the total score of VADTRS-A. In addition CFA for VADPRS-A and VADTRS-A models showed acceptable factor loading and good values of goodness-of-fit indices; CFI, TLI, RMSEA, IFI, and GFI (0.956, 0.942, 0.049, 0.956, 0.952) respectively for VADPRS-A model, and were (0.958, 0.932, 0.051, 0.963, 0.964) for VADTRS-A model, all of these were at an acceptable range. These results suggest a fit with the previous theoretical literature about VADPRS and VADTRS and DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria of ADHD.

Conclusion

These findings highlighted the good psychometric properties of VADRS-A in both its versions VADPRS-A and VADTRS-A in the Saudi environment. Due to these findings, we suggest utilizing VADPRS-A and VADTRS-A during ADHD diagnosis in children 5-12 years old in Saudi Arabia, to facilitate early diagnosis and intervention, and to help mitigate the risks of ADHD during subsequent developmental phases in children's lives.