Associated symptoms of traumatization: A scale validation of Trauma symptoms checklist - 26 (TSC-26)

Background: The Trauma Symptoms Checklist-26 (TSC-26) has been used to measure negative affectivity, somatization, and dissociation in several Danish studies, but it has never been validated. Method: Using data from five studies involving 1576 participants, the factor structure of the TSC- 26 was explored using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Correlation analyses of the associations between scales on the TSC-26 total score, its subscales, and scores on scales measuring related constructs were carried out. Independent samples t-tests of exposure variables were conducted. A test-retest analysis was performed, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated as measures of reliability. Results: The CFA confirmed the expected three-factor structure of the TSC-26, which obtained an acceptable fit with three modifications. The correlation analyses showed strong correlations between TSC-26 and related scales. Independent samples t-tests found significant differences in TSC-26 scores between high- and low trauma exposure groups. Both measures of reliability resulted in high reliability coefficients for the whole scale as well as subscales. Reliability measures and test-retest coefficients were excellent. Conclusion: The total score of the TSC-26 can validly be used to measure negative affectivity, somatization, and dissociation in samples of traumatized individuals. A few scale modifications and the development of a cut-off score are recommended in future studies.