Reliability and Validity of the Clinical Assessment of Sub-Optimal Interaction in Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation

Abstract

Externalizing behaviors are prevalent in pediatric and mental health settings and may lead to sub-optimal therapist-client interaction. The Clinical Assessment of Sub-optimal Interaction – Short Form (CASI-SF) evaluates therapist-child interactions that may pose a barrier to the therapeutic relationship. Reliability and validity of the CASI-SF was evaluated in outpatient pediatric rehabilitation. The CASI-SF demonstrated good internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. There was no evidence of differential item functioning, ceiling, or floor effects. Rating scale functioning, dimensionality, item and person fit, and item separation supported structural validity; person separation was low. These findings support the reliability and validity of the CASI-SF.

Keywords:

• Intentional relationship model
• sub-optimal interaction
• interpersonal communication

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Su Ren Wong, Dr. Laura Mraz, and Dr. Kavitha Krishnan for assisting us with participant recruitment and data collection. Additionally, we would like to thank the dedicated research assistants Jenna Colangelo, Kaitlin Ibara, Rikki Ostrowski, Jennifer Wescott, and Ariana Rodriguez.