Investigating the factor structure of the Child Behavior Checklist in a large sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Medeiros, Kristen; Mazurek, Micah O.; Kanne, Stephen
• Is Part Of: Research in autism spectrum disorders. Volume 40(2017:Aug.)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Child behavior checklist -- Autism spectrum disorder -- Construct validity -- Factor analysis; Autism spectrum disorders -- Periodicals; 616.85882005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2017.06.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-9467

Abstract

Highlights: The behavioral constructs measured by the CBCL are different in children with ASD. The existing factor model is appropriate for use among younger children with ASD. The existing factor model is not appropriate for use among older children with ASD. Pre-existing syndrome scales may not yield useful information in this population. Practitioners should examine the item responses rather than subscale scores. Abstract: Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core impairments in social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors, with high rates of co-occurring emotional and behavioral problems. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is one of the most widely accepted rating scales used to assess childhood emotional and behavioral problems, and it has been used in many large-scale studies of children with ASD. However, it is not known whether the previously established factor model sufficiently accounts for symptom patterns in children with ASD. Method: We conducted two Confirmatory Factor Analyses for each of the two versions of the CBCL (ages 1.5–5 and ages 6–18) in a large sample of children with ASD: one on the established measurement model and one on the structural model produced from an Exploratory Factor Analyses. We used several model fit indices to determine the best fitting model. Results: We found that the established CBCL factor structure was the best fitting model for young children with ASD, but not for older children with ASD. Conclusions: Models produced from Exploratory Factor Analyses provided evidence that the underlying behavioral constructs measured by the CBCL for ages 6–18 are different in children with ASD than among the typically developing sample. The results of this study have implications regarding how the CBCL should be interpreted in children with ASD.