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Calibration of the Langner Symptom Survey for the College Population

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Abstract

The sample consisted of 1,306 college students from four universities in the Midwestern United States. Participants’ reported counseling status (never been in treatment or currently in treatment) was used to designate individuals as “well” or “ill” in calculating sensitivity and specificity. Results revealed that a Langner Symptom Survey (LSS) cutoff score of 5 was optimal regarding both sensitivity (0.76) and specificity (0.70) in identifying distressed individuals, rather than a score of 4, as established in adolescents and adults. The LSS' reliability was supported, with an internal consistency of 0.76 as measured by Kuder-Richardson 20. Additionally, those with no child abuse history scored significantly below those with a child abuse history. Further, those without an abuse history scored below the cutoff score of 5, while those with an abuse history scored above the cutoff, lending additional support for the use of 5 as the new cutoff score with the college population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Psychology, Saint Louis University, 3700 Lindell Blvd., Morrissey Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA

    Paul J. Handal & Travis J. Pashak

  2. Pentagon Employee Referral Service, Washington, DC, USA

    Andre Peri

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  1. Paul J. Handal
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  2. Andre Peri
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  3. Travis J. Pashak
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Correspondence to Paul J. Handal.

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Handal, P.J., Peri, A. & Pashak, T.J. Calibration of the Langner Symptom Survey for the College Population. Curr Psychol 34, 389–400 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9264-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-014-9264-z

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