Erstellung und Validierung einer Kurzversion des Fragebogens zur Erfassung aversiver und protektiver Kindheitserfahrung (APK-18) Eine Anwendung des Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) Algorithmus

Abstract

The assessment of childhood experiences is an essential element for understanding and treating subsequent mental health issues during adulthood. In addition to established adverse events, the assessment of protective childhood experiences becomes increasingly important. The present study develops and validates an efficient, reliable, and valid short form of the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Adverse and Protective Childhood Experience (APC). Applying ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms, we identified a set of 18 out of the 59 items of the long version in a clinical sample (n = 701) and validated this item set in a nonclinical sample (n = 643). The APC-18 short form yielded good reliability and validity indices, and reliably distinguished between clinical and nonclinical participants in terms of latent mean differences. The two subscales "other traumatic events"and "separation experience"showed lower reliability, demanding a more cautious interpretation. The APC-18 short form is a timesaving and valid instrument that can be implemented in routine clinical assessments.