Psychometric properties of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-C) used with a clinical sample of adolescents: a preliminary study

Abstract

Background: Interpersonal problems are consistently identified with psychopathology that often has its onset in adolescence. Most of the commonly used instruments in child and adolescent psychiatry target non-interpersonal problems. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) is a widely studied and utilized instrument in the adult mental health field. Aims: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the IIP (circumplex version) used with a clinical adolescent population. Method: Sixty-two adolescents (13-17 years) who received treatment in a child and adolescent mental health clinic (CAMHS) were included in the study. To establish reliability and validity, we conducted confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, and validity analyses. Results: Confirmatory analyses did not show optimal model fit. However, other indices like CFI and TLI were promising. The reliability of the eight scales was in the same range as previous studies and acceptable. There were expected significant correlations between IIP-C scales and the broadband scales of Youth Self-report (YSR). Conclusion: The pioneer nature and its clinical focus are strengths however, there is a need for more research. The promising results are encouraging, and future research could also explore how best to bring the instrument into the digital age.