Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in Adolescent Community and Clinical Populations

This study assessed the factor structures of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) adolescent and parent versions and their measurement invariance across settings in clinical ( n = 4,053) and community ( n = 962) samples of Dutch adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Per SDQ version, confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess its factor structure in clinical and community settings and to test for measurement invariance across these settings. The results suggest measurement invariance of the presumed five-factor structure for the parent version and a six-factor structure for the adolescent version. Furthermore, evaluation of the SDQ scale sum scores as used in practice, indicated that working with sum scores yields a fairly reasonable approximation of working with the favorable but less easily computed factor scores. These findings suggest that adolescent- and parent-reported SDQ scores can be interpreted using community-based norm scores, regardless of whether the adolescent has been referred for mental health problems.

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The Parent Version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000119 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 44-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

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.

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The Factor Structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.23.2.105 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 105-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

David Mellor ◽

Mark Stokes

Keyword(s):

Factor Structure ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Community Sample ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Underlying Structure ◽

Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Strengths And Difficulties ◽

Matched Data

Abstract. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been widely adopted as a measure of child and adolescent mental health and behavioral problems. However, despite an impressive number of studies demonstrating its psychometric properties, appropriate analyses of the instrument's underlying structure have not been reported. We conducted confirmatory factor analyses on matched data obtained from a large community sample of 7-17-year-olds, their parents, and their teachers. The analyses indicated that the reputed factor structure was not supported, with none of the subscales being unidimensional. Further, each informant group appeared to respond differently to the questionnaire. Considering the findings in relation to the stringency of the tests used to evaluate the SDQ, its utility, and previous research on its clinical validity, it is suggested that the SDQ be used with caution and in conjunction with other forms of assessment.

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The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: Factor Structure of the Father-Report and Parent Agreement in 2-Year-Old Children

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191117698757 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 1059-1069 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stephanie D’Souza ◽

Karen E. Waldie ◽

Elizabeth R. Peterson ◽

Lisa Underwood ◽

Susan M. B. Morton

Keyword(s):

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Growing Up ◽

Modified Model ◽

Mothers And Fathers ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

There is limited research on the preschool version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and comparisons between mothers and fathers as informants and whether the factor structure shows measurement invariance across parents is lacking. Our study involved mothers ( n = 6,246) and fathers ( n = 3,759) of 2-year-old children from the Growing Up in New Zealand birth cohort. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the factor structure of the SDQ and test for measurement invariance across mothers and fathers. For fathers, we found support for a modified five-factor model that accounts for a positive construal method effect. Internal consistency was good for measures except peer problems. Full measurement invariance of this modified model was found across mothers and fathers, and parents showed moderate agreement in their SDQ ratings (0.34 ≤ r ≤ 0.44). More research is needed on whether mother- and father-reports differ in sensitivity when screening for early childhood psychiatric disorders.

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Malaysian Parent Ratings of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Language Versions, Gender, Informants, and Race

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191118787284 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (8) ◽

pp. 1971-1984 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rapson Gomez ◽

Vasileios Stavropoulos

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Model ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Racial Groups ◽

Parent Ratings ◽

Research Practice ◽

Multiple Group ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

For a Malaysian sample, the current study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the best model for parent ratings of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and then multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) to confirm this model, and to examine measurement invariance across different language versions (Malay and English), child’s gender (boys and girls), informants (mothers and fathers), and racial groups (Malay, Chinese, and Indians). In all 1,407 Malaysian parents completed SDQ ratings of their children (age ranging from 5 to 13 years). The EFA showed most support for a two-factor model oblique model, with factors for a positive construal factor and a psychopathology factor. CFA confirmed this model, and MCFA showed full measurement invariance (configural, metric. and scalar) across the groups in the different comparisons. For all comparisons, there were equivalencies for latent mean scores. The implications of the findings for clinical and research practice involving the SDQ in Malaysia are discussed.

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Age Appropriateness of the Self-Report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191120903382 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107319112090338

Author(s):

Louise Black ◽

Rosie Mansfield ◽

Margarita Panayiotou

Keyword(s):

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Age Groups ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

The Self ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Self Report ◽

Wide Range ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

The self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is widely used in clinical and research settings. However, the measure’s suitability for younger adolescents has recently been called into question by readability analysis. To provide further insight into the age-appropriateness of the self-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, readability was assessed at the item level alongside consideration of item quality criteria, its factor structure was analyzed, and measurement invariance between adolescents in Year 7 (age 11-12 years) versus Year 9 (age 13-15 years) was tested. The measure showed a wide range of reading ages, and the theorized factor structure was unacceptable. Measurement invariance was therefore considered for a flexible exploratory structural equation model, and no evidence of differences between age groups was found. Suggestions are made for the measure’s revision based on these findings.

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Psychometric Properties, Factor Structure, and Evidence for Measurement Invariance in the Greek Version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R)

Diseases ◽

10.3390/diseases7020033 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 33 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Theodoros Chalimourdas ◽

Silia Vitoratou ◽

Efstathia Matsouka ◽

Dimitra Owens ◽

Leto Kalogeraki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ◽

Greek Version ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

The Individual ◽

Three Factor

The Disgust Scale has been designed to measure disgust propensity—the individual ease in experiencing disgust. The present study aimed to explore the validity, reliability, the factor structure, and the measurement invariance of the Greek version of the Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R). A sample of 754 healthy participants completed the Greek version of the DS-R. A subset (n = 363) also completed the revised Symptom checked list and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, in order to examine the concurrent validity. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analyses in different subsets were used to examine the factor structure. Multiple indicators–multiple causes model (MIMIC) models were used to assess the measurement invariance across gender and age. Demographic influences were assessed using t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlations. Exploratory factor analysis concluded to two and three factor models, with a factor structure similar to the ones proposed in the literature. Confirmatory factor analysis and bi-factor analysis provided evidence in favor of the three-factor solution. Measurement invariance test revealed differences in six items across gender, and three items across age. The psychometric properties of the factors were satisfactory. Demographic influences on the responses were present, especially with respect to gender. The Greek version of the DS-R demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, making it suitable for use for the Greek population.

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Assessing the Measurement Invariance of the Gratitude Questionnaire–5 in Chinese and American Adolescents

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/sjp.2021.19 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

Author(s):

Yu Ling ◽

Qin Yang ◽

Yifang Zeng ◽

E. Scott Huebner

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Factor Analyses ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Configural Invariance ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Subsequent Comparison ◽

Latent Means

Abstract Given the possibility of cultural differences in the meaning and levels of gratitude among children, we evaluated the measurement invariance of the Gratitude Questionnaire–5 (GQ–5) and differences in latent means across adolescents from two distinct cultures, China and America. Data were obtained from 1,991 Chinese and 1,685 American adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the factor structure and the measurement equivalence across Chinese and American adolescents. The Cronbach’s alpha and Item-total Correlations of the GQ–5 were also evaluated. Results of confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the expected one-factor structure. Also, a series of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses supported full configural invariance, full metric invariance, and partial scalar invariance between the two groups. Furthermore, the findings suggested that the GQ–5 is suitable for conducting mean level comparisons. The subsequent comparison of latent means revealed that the Chinese adolescents reported significantly lower gratitude than American adolescents.

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Dimensionality and Measurement Invariance of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and Validity Comparison With Measures of Negative Emotionality

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644889 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Isabeau K. Tindall ◽

Guy J. Curtis ◽

Vance Locke

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

The State ◽

Positive And Negative Affect ◽

Divergent Validity ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Somatic Anxiety ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Anxiety Depression

This study explored the factor structure of the State-Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety (STICSA) and measurement invariance between genders. We also measured concurrent and divergent validity of the STICSA as compared to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A sample of 1064 (N Females = 855) participants completed questionnaires, including measures of anxiety, depression, stress, positive and negative affect. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original factor structure of the STICSA, which was invariant between genders. Overall, the STICSA had superior concurrent and divergent validity as compared to the STAI. The somatic subscales were also significantly less correlated with depression, and positive and negative affect. Further, the somatic, as compared to cognitive anxiety STICSA subscales were less correlated with depression. This suggests that the STICSA, especially the somatic anxiety subscales, might hold the key to distinguishing between different types of anxiety, as well as between anxiety and depression.

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The Bifactor Model of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000160 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 299-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Andrea Kóbor ◽

Ádám Takács ◽

Róbert Urbán

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Problems ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Community Sample ◽

Bifactor Model ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽

Measurement Models ◽

Childhood Mental Health ◽

Childhood Behavioral Problems ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a frequently used instrument developed for screening childhood mental health problems. The aim of this study is to clarify the structure of the Hungarian version of SDQ, to test previous measurement models, and to propose an alternative bifactor model. Data were collected from a community sample of 8–13-year-old children. We conducted a series of confirmatory factor analyses on parent (n = 383) and teacher ratings (n = 391). The classic five-factor, an alternative three-factor, and a bifactor model were estimated. In the bifactor model, specific components refer to the five SDQ-traits, and the General Problems factor refers to an impression about the problem severity of the child. For both informants, the bifactor model yielded the best fit to the data compared to other models. Childhood behavioral problems can be best described as a multidimensional construct, which has implications regarding the screening procedure in various samples.

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