Validity and reliability of the Swahili version of the 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in Kenya

The psychometric properties of the 25-item Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25) are undocumented in Kenya despite its popularity. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Swahili version of RCADS-25 in a community sample of adolescents in Kilifi, Kenya. A total of 1163 adolescents aged 12-17 years completed the RCADS-25 in the current follow-up study, alongside the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale (WHOQoL-BREF). Specifically, we examined the reliability, measurement invariance, and construct, convergent, and divergent validity of RCADS-25. The RCADS-25 demonstrated good internal consistency (Omega coefficients: 0.79 – 0.88). The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated strong evidence for a two-factor structure (depression and anxiety), which was invariant across both sex and adolescent age groups. Convergent validity was confirmed through positive correlations with GAD-7 and PHQ-9. Divergent validity was established through significant negative correlations with the WHOQoL-BREF scale. The RCADS-25 is a valid and reliable tool for screening depression and anxiety among adolescents in Kilifi and similar settings in Kenya. Future studies should explore broader aspects of reliability, such as test-retest, predictive validity, and clinical utility, among other aspects.