The psychometric properties of the child anxiety and depression life interference scale (CADLIS)

Objective: Life interference is a key diagnostic feature for anxiety and depressive disorders. Measures focusing on life interference caused by anxiety and depressive disorders in children and adolescents have received minimal attention. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Child Anxiety and Depression Life Interference Scale (CADLIS), a brief child (CADLIS-C) and parent-report (CADLIS-P) measure designed to assess life interference from anxiety and depressive disorders in both the child and parent’s life. Method: A total of 672 parents of children aged 4–18 years completed the CADLIS-P, and 627 children aged 7–18 years completed the CADLIS-C. Results: The proposed two-factor CADLIS-C model was not supported, instead, due to high inter-factor covariance a one-factor model of life interference was proposed. The one-factor model demonstrated better model fit. The proposed three-factor model for the CADLIS-P was not supported, instead, an exploratory factor analysis found a two-factor model differentiating life interference into child and parent life interference a better model fit. The CADLIS demonstrated excellent internal consistency, good convergent and divergent validity, interrater correlations and was able to differentiate between children with and without clinical levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Limitations: Limitations of the study included the sample population which consisted of a small clinical sample, an over-representation of high-income families and the use of a panel provider. Conclusions: Overall, the CADLIS demonstrated sound psychometric properties. The CADLIS is a reliable measure that demonstrates evidence of convergent validity for the assessment of life interference associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in children.