Performance of the interpersonal needs questionnaire in adolescent clinical samples: Confirmatory factor analyses and evaluation of measurement invariance

Objective This study evaluated the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, construct and criterion validity, and measurement invariance of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) among adolescents. Method Participants (N = 539) included three distinct samples of youth drawn from two outpatient psychology clinics and an inpatient psychiatric unit. The combined sample was 63.3% female and had a mean age of 14.95 years (SD = 1.31 years). All participants completed the INQ as well as measures of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation. Results Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the removal of three items from the thwarted belongingness subscale of the INQ was needed to achieve acceptable model fit. The resulting combined 12-item scale demonstrated good factor structure, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity. The modified 12-item INQ also demonstrated scalar invariance across subgroups defined by sex, race, and age. Conclusions Findings support the use of this reduced 12-item version of the INQ among adolescents. Youth may have difficulty accurately responding to changes in item valence; thus, future research with youth should consider using a 12-item version of the INQ that avoids valence changes within subscales.