PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE UKRAINIAN VERSION OF THE SELF-HARM INVENTORY (SHI) FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SELF-HARM BEHAVIOR

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to adapt the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) into Ukrainian and to evaluate its psychometric properties for use in psychological research and clinical practice. Particular attention was paid to assessing the reliability of the instrument, including internal consistency and test–retest reliability, as essential indicators of the quality of a psychological assessment tool. Methodology. The adaptation procedure followed internationally accepted guidelines for the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of psychological instruments. The Ukrainian version was developed through forward and backward translation with the participation of experts in psychology. The psychometric evaluation was conducted on a sample of adult respondents. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and the Kuder–Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20), while temporal stability was examined using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Scientific novelty. This study presents the first Ukrainian adaptation of the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) designed to assess a broad range of self-harming and selfdestructive behaviors. The psychometric characteristics of the Ukrainian version were examined, and its temporal stability was confirmed. The findings expand the methodological resources available for psychological assessment in Ukraine and provide a reliable instrument for studying self-harm and related psychological phenomena. Conclusions. The psychometric evaluation demonstrated satisfactory reliability of the Ukrainian version of the SHI. Test–retest analysis showed high temporal stability for most questionnaire items. Internal consistency coefficients were Cronbach's α = 0.481 and KR-20 = 0.481. These values should be interpreted in the context of the multidimensional nature of the SHI, which assesses diverse manifestations of self-harming and self-destructive behavior rather than a single latent construct. Overall, the obtained findings support the use of the Ukrainian version of the SHI as a screening instrument for assessing self-harm in psychological research and professional practice.