Measurement Invariance of the Parent Version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Across Community and Clinical Populations

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris A. M. Smits ◽  
Meinou H. C. Theunissen ◽  
Sijmen A. Reijneveld ◽  
Maaike H. Nauta ◽  
Marieke E. Timmerman
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Favorable Result ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Parent Version ◽  
Clinical Populations

Abstract. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a popular screening instrument for the detection of social-emotional and behavioral problems in children in community and clinical settings. To sensibly compare SDQ scores across these settings, the SDQ should measure psychosocial difficulties and strengths in the same way across community and clinical populations, that is, the SDQ should be measurement invariant across both populations. We examined whether measurement invariance of the parent version of the SDQ holds using data from a community sample (N = 707) and a clinical sample (N = 931). The results of our analysis suggest that measurement invariance of the SDQ parent version across community and clinical populations is tenable, implying that one can compare the SDQ scores of children across these populations. This is a favorable result since it is common clinical practice to interpret the scores of a clinical individual relative to norm scores that are based on community samples. The findings of this study support the continued use of the parent version of the SDQ in community and clinical settings.

The Parent Version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisanne L. Stone ◽  
Roy Otten ◽  
Linda Ringlever ◽  
Marieke Hiemstra ◽  
Rutger C. M. E. Engels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Child Psychopathology ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Meaningful Group ◽  
Dutch Sample ◽  
Parent Version

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a widely used screening instrument for child psychopathology. Many studies have consistently reported rather low α values for certain subscales for the SDQ parent version. Further, the factor structure has not been tested frequently by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); research into measurement invariance is even scarcer. Therefore, this study evaluates the internal reliability and tests for measurement invariance for the SDQ parent version. In a Dutch sample of 1,484 children we examined reliability by using coefficient ω and tested for invariance across several subgroups. Also, we conducted CFA to examine the five-factor structure of the SDQ. ω yielded higher values than α did, which supports the use of ω in a SEM-based framework. Support for measurement invariance was found on the configural, metric, and scalar level, and as expected, the five-factor structure was confirmed. Scholars are advised to consider ω as an alternative to α, seeing that various problems with α have been discussed. Support for measurement invariance was found for several demographic variables, so that meaningful group comparisons can now be made for the SDQ parent version.

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Normative Data for Spanish 5- to 17-Year-Olds

Assessment ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107319112091892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Español-Martín ◽  
Mireia Pagerols ◽  
Raquel Prat ◽  
Cristina Rivas ◽  
Laura Sixto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Child Behavior Checklist ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been extensively used to measure common forms of psychopathology among children and adolescents. However, its psychometric properties vary across countries and several controversial issues warrant further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate whether the Spanish version of the SDQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing emotional and behavioral problems in a sample of 6,775 students aged 5 to 17 years, as rated by parents, teachers, and youth. We examined the internal consistency of the questionnaire, its factor structure, and measurement invariance across child’s gender and age. Criterion validity was tested against the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher’s Report Form (TRF), and Youth Self-Report (YSR), and we measured the ability of the SDQ to identify children with specific psychiatric disorders. Finally, we provide, for the first time, Spanish normative data for children aged 5 to 10 and 11 to 17 years, according to gender and each informant. Our results revealed acceptable reliability estimates for all SDQ subscales. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original five-factor model and full measurement invariance was found. Furthermore, SDQ scores showed a moderate to strong correlation with those on the equivalent CBCL/TRF/YSR scales, and were effective in discriminating individuals with and without clinical diagnoses.

scholarly journals Does the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – self report yield invariant measurements across different nations? Data from the International Child Mental Health Study Group

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Stevanovic ◽  
R. Urbán ◽  
O. Atilola ◽  
P. Vostanis ◽  
Y. P. Singh Balhara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Five Factor Model ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Prosocial Behaviour ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

Aims.This study evaluated the measurement invariance of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) self-report among adolescents from seven different nations.Methods.Data for 2367 adolescents, aged 13–18 years, from India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Croatia were available for a series of factor analyses.Results.The five-factor model including original SDQ scales emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity–inattention problems, peer problems and prosocial behaviour generated inadequate fit degree in all countries. A bifactor model with three factors (i.e., externalising, internalising and prosocial) and one general problem factor yielded adequate degree of fit in India, Nigeria, Turkey and Croatia. The prosocial behaviour, emotional symptoms and conduct problems factor were found to be common for all nations. However, originally proposed items loaded saliently on other factors besides the proposed ones or only some of them corresponded to proposed factors in all seven countries.Conclusions.Due to the lack of a common acceptable model across all countries, namely the same numbers of factors (i.e., dimensional invariance), it was not possible to perform the metric and scalar invariance test, what indicates that the SDQ self-report models tested lack appropriate measurement invariance across adolescents from these seven nations and it needs to be revised for cross-country comparisons.

scholarly journals Is Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a Community Sample the Optimal Way to Assess Mental Health Functioning?

PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e0144039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmila Vaz ◽  
Reinie Cordier ◽  
Mark Boyes ◽  
Richard Parsons ◽  
Annette Joosten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Mental Health Functioning ◽  
Health Functioning ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

Is the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire applicable to lower educated adolescents?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Theunissen ◽  
M de Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Preventive Child Healthcare ◽  
Valid Instrument ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Optimal Implementation

Abstract Background The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire self-report (SDQ-SR) is a widely used instrument to identify emotional and behavioral problems by Preventive Child Healthcare (PCH). It is a valid instrument in more highly educated adolescents, however evidence regarding lower educated adolescents (vocational school) is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the psychometric properties of the SDQ-SR when used with less well and more highly educated ('higher') adolescents, and to explore opinions of adolescents and PCH professionals regarding its suitability. Methods We included 426 adolescents (130 lower and 296 higher educated), who completed the SDQ-SR. We compared how the psychometric properties (i.e. internal consistency) applied to lower and higher educated adolescents. We assessed whether the five-factor structure of the SDQ is invariant across different educational levels. Moreover, we interviewed 24 adolescents from pre-vocational secondary education schools, and performed online focus group interviews with 17 PCH professionals. Results The internal consistencies (Cronbach's alphas) per SDQ scale were comparable for lower and higher educated adolescents. On most subscales the lower educated adolescents had higher mean scores than the higher educated adolescents. Findings on differences by educational level for the other psychometric properties, i.e. multi-group invariance and single group (CFA) analyses, were inconsistent, with some measures showing unequal factor loadings but others not. Although professionals and lower educated adolescents reported that the SDQ includes many outdated and difficult words, professionals nevertheless perceived the SDQ-SR as a valid instrument. Conclusions The psychometric properties of the SDQ-SR are sufficient for use among lower educated adolescents. However, for optimal implementation in PCH there is a need for improvement in the wording of the SDQ, as expressed by both professionals and adolescents. Key messages The psychometric properties of the SDQ are sufficient for use among lower educated adolescents. For optimal implementation the SDQ needs to be updated in more understandable language.

scholarly journals Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 (6) ◽  
pp. 534-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Goodman ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
Helen Simmons ◽  
Rebecca Gatward ◽  
Howart Meltzer
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Separation Anxiety ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Community Screening ◽  
Child Psychiatric ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

BackgroundChild psychiatric disorders are common and treatable, but often go undetected and therefore remain untreated.AimsTo assess the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a potential means for improving the detection of child psychiatric disorders in the community.MethodSDQ predictions and independent psychiatric diagnoses were compared in a community sample of 7984 5- to 15-year-olds from the 1999 British Child Mental Health Survey.ResultsMulti-informant (parents, teachers, older children) SDQs identified individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis with a specificity of 94.6% (95% CI 94.1–95.1%) and a sensitivity of 63.3% (59.7–66.9%). The questionnaires identified over 70% of individuals with conduct, hyperactivity, depressive and some anxiety disorders, but under 50% of individuals with specific phobias, separation anxiety and eating disorders. Sensitivity was substantially poorer with single-informant rather than multi-informant SDQs.ConclusionsCommunity screening programmes based on multi-informant SDQs could potentially increase the detection of child psychiatric disorders, thereby improving access to effective treatments.

scholarly journals Evaluating Measurement Invariance Between Parents Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Assessment ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Chiorri ◽  
James Hall ◽  
Jeffrey Casely-Hayford ◽  
Lars-Erik Malmberg
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

Parent Ratings of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: What Is the Optimum Factor Model?

Assessment ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1142-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rapson Gomez ◽  
Vasilis Stavropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Factor Model ◽  
Structural Models ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Parent Ratings ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Peer Problems ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Parent Version

To date, at least 12 different models have been suggested for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The current study used confirmatory factor analysis to examine the relative support for these models. In all, 1,407 Malaysian parents completed SDQ ratings of their children (age range = 5-13 years). Although the findings showed some degree of support for all 12 models, there was most support for an oblique six-factor model that included the five SDQ domains (emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior) and a positive construal factor comprising all the 10 SDQ positive worded items. The original proposed five-factor oblique model also showed good fit. The implications of the findings for understanding the results of past studies of the structural models of the parent version of the SDQ, and for clinical and research practice involving the SDQ are discussed.

Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) in Clinical Versus Nonclinical Individuals: Generalizability of Psychometric Features

Assessment ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 815-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Bach ◽  
Martin Sellbom ◽  
Erik Simonsen
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Invariance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Personality Inventory ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual

The Personality Inventory for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (PID-5) was developed for the assessment of pathological traits in clinical settings. However, most research on the PID-5 is derived from nonclinical samples. To date, the comparability and generalizability of PID-5 constructs across nonclinical and clinical samples have not been adequately investigated. Therefore, we investigated the measurement invariance, five-factor structure, and factor correlations across clinical and nonclinical samples. The clinical sample ( n = 598) comprised patients with nonpsychotic disorders (81% women; mean age = 28.95), whereas a matched nonclinical sample ( n = 598) comprised community-dwelling individuals (81% women; mean age = 29.59). Measurement invariance was analyzed using a 13-step, two-group exploratory structural equation modeling approach. The results demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties for both samples and supported strong measurement invariance across the groups at the domain level.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a Community Sample of French-Speaking Adolescents

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu d'Acremont ◽  
Martial Van der Linden
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Peer Problems ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties

Abstract. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assesses adaptive and problematic behavior in children and adolescents ( Goodman, 1997 ). The aim of this study was to test the construct validity of a French translation of the scale. Teachers completed the SDQ for their pupils (279 girls and 278 boys, 13-18 years). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the SDQ supported the original distinction between Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, Peer problems, Emotional symptoms, and Prosocial behavior. Multigroup CFA revealed invariance of factor measurement across gender. In addition, boys had higher factor scores for Conduct problems, Hyperactivity/Inattention, and Peer problems whereas girls were more Prosocial. The internal reliability of the subscales ranges from acceptable to very good. These results indicate that the French version of the SDQ has a reliable factor organization among adolescent boys and girls.

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