Factor Structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a Canadian Elementary School Sample. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aitken, Madison; Martinussen, Rhonda; Wolfe, Richard G.; Tannock, Rosemary
• Is Part Of: Assessment for effective intervention. Volume 40:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: rating scales -- screening/benchmarking -- social-emotional; Educational tests and measurements -- Periodicals; Special education -- Periodicals; 371.2605
• DOI: 10.1177/1534508414560347
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1534-5084

Abstract

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a 25-item screening measure for emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents aged 4 to 16. Structural equation modeling was used to test the five-factor structure of teacher and parent ratings on the British version of the SDQ in a community sample of 501 Canadian children aged 6 to 9 years. The five-factor model fit the data well for both teacher and parent ratings. In addition, the SDQ demonstrated acceptable reliability based on internal consistency coefficients and inter-rater agreement. The findings provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the British version of the parent and teacher SDQ in a sample of early elementary school Canadian children.