Level of Stability Index for Children (LSIC)
A self-report instrument designed to determine indicators of emotional and behavioral stability in children across depression, suicidal ideation, anger, and aggression domains.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Level of Stability Index for Children (LSIC) was developed by Jacquelyn Denise McMillan, N. Abell (2003). It is designed to measure Emotional and Behavioral Stability. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 34 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Anger, Aggression.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Depression | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,18 | 11 |
| Suicidal Ideation | 11,12,13,14,15,16,17 | 7 |
| Anger | 19,20,21,22,23,24,25,28,29,31 | 10 |
| Aggression | 26,27,30,32,33,34 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = None of the time, 2 = Very rarely, 3 = A little of the time, 4 = Some of the time, 5 = A good part of the time, 6 = Most of the time, 7 = All of the time.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 34 to 238. Interpretation guidelines:
- High Stability / Low Risk: 34 – 85
- Moderate Instability / Moderate Risk: 86 – 153
- Severe Instability / High Risk: 154 – 238
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.