Differences in the factor structure of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Northern Irish children.

Abstract

This study presents the psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in a sample of 386 Northern Irish adolescents. Structural validity was evaluated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Agreement was found with 3 of the 5 original factor structures: Emotional Problems, Prosocial, and Hyperactivity. However, unlike in the original SDQ, there appeared to be 2 distinct and separate Conduct factors, an Aggressive Conduct and an Antisocial Conduct factor. Furthermore, there appeared to be a Good Behavior factor, which is not present in the original factor structure. The findings imply that when using the SDQ with children and adolescents exposed to community and political conflict, results should be interpreted with caution. Further research is warranted to explore the reliability of the original factor structure with these young people who experience unique developmental trajectories compared with their peers who do not grow up in such an environment.