Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Complex Trauma and Strengths Questionnaire (ACTSQ)
A culturally appropriate self-report instrument designed to assess complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms alongside strengths and protective factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Complex Trauma and Strengths Questionnaire (ACTSQ) was developed by Graham Gee, Tess Bright, Amy Morgan, Carlie Atkinson, Shawana Andrews, Yvonne Clark, Karen Glover, Tanja Hirvonen, Elise Davis, Kimberley A. Jones, Rachel Reilly, Fiona Mensah, Madelyne Hudson-Buhagiar, Shannon K. Bennetts, Helen Herrman, Helen Milroy, Andrew Mackinnon, Catherine Chamberlain (2024). It is designed to measure Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Strengths. The scale is intended for use with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 44 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Grief, Loss, and Disconnection, Supports and Relationships, Sense of Self and Strengths, Cultural Connections and Resources.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16 | 16 |
| Grief, Loss, and Disconnection | 17,18,19,20,21,22 | 6 |
| Supports and Relationships | 23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 | 9 |
| Sense of Self and Strengths | 32,33,34,35,36,37,38 | 7 |
| Cultural Connections and Resources | 39,40,41,42,43,44 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = Somewhat, 3 = A fair bit, 4 = A lot.
The scale includes 5 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 0 to 176. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low range of symptoms / strengths: 0 – 58
- Moderate range of symptoms / strengths: 59 – 117
- High range of symptoms / strengths: 118 – 176
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of McDonald's Omega > 0.75 for all factors.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.