| The purpose of this study was to validate the My Worst Experience Survey. Eleven subjects who were classified as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) comprised the PTSD group. The subjects in the PTSD group were compared to 11 subjects who were classified with other psychiatric disorders (clinical), and 11 subjects selected from a previous sample of 443 adolescents attending parochial schools in regular education (control). Each subject was administered the My Worst Experience Survey, a 105-item self-report survey designed to assess posttraumatic symptoms related to trauma in children and adolescents. Statistical analysis comparing the PTSD group, clinical group, and control group means were conducted on the frequency total scores, frequency of symptom occurrence, factor scores, and cluster scores. Results indicated a statistically significant difference between the PTSD group and the clinical and control groups for each of the variables. The subjects with the diagnosis of PTSD scored significantly higher on the My Worst Experience Survey for the total score, the frequency of symptom, each of the seven factor scores, and the three cluster scores. Therefore, the My Worst Experience Survey appears to be an accurate and sensitive measure to assess PTSD in children and adolescents. These findings were discussed with regard to implications for school psychologists and other mental health professionals, and future research. |
