Cross-Cultural Validity of the Child and Adolescent Dispositions Model in a Clinical Sample of Children With Externalizing Behavior Problems.

Teresa Del Giudice,Manfred Döpfner,Daniel Walter,Janina Tervoort,Christopher Hautmann

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00641

Teresa Del Giudice, Manfred Döpfner + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00641

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Abstract

Background: The Child and Adolescent Dispositions Scale—parent rating (CADS-P) explores three emotional dispositions that may enlarge the probability of future externalizing problem behavior. The English version has proven its psychometric quality within a population-based sample of children and adolescents. The presents study investigates the German version of the CADS-P by examining a clinically referred sample of children with externalizing behavior problems.Methods:The sample included 132 children aged 4–11 years with a diagnosis of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The factor structure of the CADS-P was evaluated using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Reliability was estimated using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Validity was assessed through linear regression analyses, with symptoms of externalizing [conduct disorder (CD), ODD, ADHD] and internalizing behavior problems (anxiety, depression) as criterion variables and the three CADS-P factor scores as predictors.Results:After eliminating eight items due to insufficient psychometric properties, EFA and CFA supported a three-factor solution for the German CADS-P. Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeded α = 0.70 for all subscales. Mostly, as predicted, the CADS-P dimensions were associated with symptoms of ODD/CD and ADHD and symptoms of anxiety and depression.Conclusions:The present study provides evidence for the cross-cultural validity of the CADS- P in a non-English-Speaking country. Results show that the German version of the CADS-P is a reliable and valid parent questionnaire for assessing prosociality, negative emotionality and daring as emotional dispositions that may enlarge the probability to develop externalizing problem behavior.Trial Registration: The study was approved by the review board of the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne (ID 09-123) and was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT01350986).

Highlights

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) represent the most common forms of childhood disorders and can be subsumed under the term externalizing behavior problems
As predicted, the Child and Adolescent Dispositions Scale—parent rating (CADS-P) dimensions were associated with symptoms of ODD and CD score (ODD/CD) and ADHD and symptoms of anxiety and depression
Results show that the German version of the CADS-P is a reliable and valid parent questionnaire for assessing prosociality, negative emotionality and daring as emotional dispositions that may enlarge the probability to develop externalizing problem behavior

Summary

Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) represent the most common forms of childhood disorders and can be subsumed under the term externalizing behavior problems. The model suggests that there are three relatively stable and uncorrelated emotional dispositions that partly explain children’s propensity to develop conduct behavior problems: prosociality (i.e., “sympathetic concern for others, helping and sharing, respect for social rules, and guilt over wrongdoings”), negative emotionality (i.e., “ and intensely upset by frustrations, threats, and losses”), and daring (i.e., “enjoyment of brave, adventurous and risky activities”). According to the CAD model, children who are low in prosociality, high in daring and high in negative emotionality are considered to be at high risk for the development of aggressive behavior problems, especially when confronted with maladaptive environmental influences (Lahey and Waldman, 2003, 2005; Lahey et al, 2008). The presents study investigates the German version of the CADS-P by examining a clinically referred sample of children with externalizing behavior problems

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