Version Of Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire Research Articles

Children emotional and behavioural problems and its association with maternal depression in Jimma town, southwest Ethiopia

BackgroundIn sub-Saharan countries, one in five children and one in three women experiences emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs) and depression, respectively. While various factors were reported to affect the mental...

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Psychometric properties of the self-report version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in the Ecuadorian context: an evaluation of four models

BackgroundThis study evaluates the psychometric properties of four models of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in a sample of 1470 children and adolescents from Biblián, Ecuador. The instrument has been used by researchers and students. However, there are not reports that show that the instrument is valid or reliable in the Ecuadorian context.MethodsReliability was evaluated through Cronbach’s Alpha, McDonald’s Omega, Intra-class Correlations and Greatest Lower Bound (GLB). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with polychoric correlation matrix and Diagonally Weighted Least Square (DWLS) estimator is performed in each model. Due to possible readability problems, CFA was performed in three age groups. Measurement invariance analysis across biological sex and two groups of age is carried out.ResultsCFA and reliability analysis revealed poor construct validity of the original version of SDQ. Three additional factor structures were tested. A version that includes a prosocial subscale, and ҅ internalizing ҆ subscale and an ҅ externalizing ҆ subscale has the best yet insufficient construct validity properties among the four models (CFI = .858, TLI = .844, RMSEA = .055, WRMR = 1.588). Cronbach’s Alpha for the subscales ranged from .44 to .71, McDonald’s Omega from .22 to .606, GLB from .612 to .693, and ICC from .385 to .63. Measurement invariance analysis found no evidence of invariance across sex groups and evidence of partial invariance across age groups.ConclusionsThe four tested models have questionable psychometric properties. Consequently, the use of the SDQ in the Ecuadorian context is not advisable. The three-factor first-order model of the SDQ that shows the best validity and reliability properties does not have undisputed psychometric properties. Comparisons across groups of age and/or sex using the SDQ should not be made.

Mental health among children and adolescents: Construct validity, reliability, and parent-adolescent agreement on the 'Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire' in Chile.

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening tool used to measure psychological functioning among children and adolescents. It has been extensively used worldwide, but its psychometric properties, such as internal structure and reliability, seem to vary across countries. This is the first study exploring the construct validity and reliability of the Spanish version of SDQ among early adolescents (self-reported) and their parents in Latin America. A total of 1,284 early adolescents (9–15 years) and their parents answered the SDQ. We also collected demographic variables. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the latent structure of the SDQ. We also used the multitrait-multimethod analysis to separate the true variance on the constructs from variance resulting from measurement methods (self-report vs. parent report), and evaluated the agreement between adolescents and their parents. We found that the original five-factor model was a good solution and the resulting sub-scales had good internal consistency. We also found that the self-reported and parental versions of SDQ provide different information, which are complementary and provide a better picture of the emotional, social, and conduct problems of adolescents. We have added evidence for the construct validity and reliability of the Spanish self-reported and parental SDQ versions in a Chilean sample.

Psychometric Properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in a Sample of Albanian Elementary School Children.

Introduction:The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a 25-item screening measure for emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents ages 4 to 17.Aim:To evaluate the reliability and factor structure of SDQ teacher version in a sample of Albanian elementary school children.Material and Methods:Teachers of children (N = 542) from three elementary schools of Tirana city, Albania, (aged 6 to 12 years, grade 1-4) completed the Albanian version of SDQ. Internal consistency reliability was determined by calculation of the Cronbach-α coefficient and average inter-item correlation. Both Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) examined the underlying factor structure of the questionnaire.Results:Internal consistency reliability of subscales ranged from “acceptable” to “good” with α values that ranged from α =.68 (prosocial) to α = .83 (hyperactivity-inattention) and average inter-item correlation ranged from 0.5 for hyperactivity scale to 0.20 for total difficulties scale. Confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm the five factor structure of the teacher version of SDQ in Albanian, with values of incremental fit indices (X2(265)= 1562.72, p<.0001; Comparative Fit index, (CFI) =.814; Tucker-Lewis Index, (TLI) =.772) and Root Mean-Square Error of Approximation ( RMSEA) =.095 indicating a misfit. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a different pattern of factor loadings for items of hyperactivity and conduct scale suggesting a non-one-dimensional contribution of the items.Conclusion:The SDQ demonstrated satisfying reliability based on internal consistency coefficients but must be used with caution when screening for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder in Albanian elementary school children.

Psychometric properties of online administered parental strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), and normative data based on combined online and paper-and-pencil administration

ObjectiveTo examine the psychometric properties of the online administered parental version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and to provide parental norms from a nationwide Swedish sample.MethodsA total of 1443 parents from of a national probability sample of 2800 children aged 10-13 years completed the SDQ online or as usual (i.e., using paper-and-pencil).ResultsThe SDQ subscales obtained from the online administration showed high internal consistency (polychoric ordinal alpha), and confirmatory factor analysis of the SDQ five factor model resulted in excellent fit. The Total Difficulties score of the SDQ and its other subscales were significantly related to the Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) rating scale. Norms for the parent version of SDQ obtained from the Internet were identical to those collected using paper-and-pencil. They were thus combined and are presented sorted by child gender and age.ConclusionsThe SDQ seems to be a reliable and valid instrument given its high internal consistency, clear factor structure and high correlation with other instruments capturing the intended constructs. Findings in the present study support its use for online data collection, as well as using norms obtained through paper-and-pencil-administration even when SDQ has been administrated online.

The Bifactor Model of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

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.

Flexor reflex afferent nerve fibres in man

Flexor reflex afferent nerve fibres have been identified in the mixed peripheral nerve and measurement of their conduction velocity has been carried out. It has been demonstrated that the flexor reflex afferent fibres have a higher threshold of stimulation than the motor fibres supplying the foot muscles. The effect of conditioning volleys in the flexor reflex afferent fibres on the H reflex has been determined and reciprocal inhibition of extensor motoneurones has been found to be related to the second component of the flexor reflex.