Helping Give Away Psychological Science/Ohio Youth Problems, Functioning and Satisfaction Scales (Ohio Scales)

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The Ohio Youth Problems, Functioning, Satisfaction Scales (Ohio Scales) are a set of parent-reported and self-reported questionnaires, consisting of four scales used to assess the improvement and outcomes of children and adolescents who have received mental health services.

Scoring

Unhealthful behaviors

The first scale consists of 20 questions that measure the frequency of certain unhealthful behaviors/symptoms. The respondent is asked to record how often such behaviors/symptoms have occurred in the past 30 days on a 5-point scale system, with the following options:

• 0 points: "Not at all"
• 1 point: "Once or twice"
• 2 points: "Several times"
• 3 points: "Often"
• 4 points: “Most of the time”
• 5 points: “All of the time”

Hopefulness

The second scale consists of 4 questions that assess the child/parent’s overall hopefulness for future improvement. The respondent is asked to record their feelings regarding various components of the child’s current state. Responses are scored on a 6-point scale system, in which option choices on the lower end of the scale indicate more optimal outcomes.

Satisfaction with services

The third scale consists of 4 questions that are designed to assess the child/parent’s overall satisfaction with services. Following a similar structure to the second scale, the respondents are asked to answer questions pertaining to their involvement and satisfaction with their treatment. Responses are scored on a 6-point scale, in which option choices on the lower end of the scale indicate more optimal outcomes.

Troubles

The fourth scale consists of 20 questions designed to measure the extent to which the child’s problems affect their abilities in everyday activities. The respondents are asked to record the difficulty experienced by the child in various areas of their life. Responses are scored on a 4-point scale, with the following options:

• 0 points: "Extreme troubles"
• 1 point: "Quite a few troubles"
• 2 points: "Some troubles"
• 3 points: "OK"
• 4 points: “Doing very well”

Interpretation

For each scale, responses are added to produce a total score. The scores can then be interpreted based on the following criteria:

• For the first scale, a higher score indicates greater problem/symptom severity.
• For the second scale, a lower score indicates greater hope for the child’s improvement.
• For the third scale, a lower score indicates greater satisfaction with the mental health services received.
• For the fourth scale, a higher score indicates a greater degree of impairment in the child’s day-to-day life.