Wei Siong Neo1, Takakuni Suzuki2, Bridgette L Kelleher2. 1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. Electronic address: wneo@purdue.edu. 2. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, 703 Third Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychologists routinely use the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL) to assess challenging behaviors of preschoolers with developmental disabilities. However, the CBCL has not been thoroughly validated in neurogenetic syndromes (NGS). AIM: We investigated the structural validity of the CBCL in NGS. METHODS: Based on 152 preschoolers with Angelman, fragile X, Prader-Willi, and Williams syndromes, we employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of CBCL narrowband, broadband, and DSM-oriented scales. RESULTS: CFA models largely supported the unidimensionality of most narrowband scales and the two-factor structure of internalizing and externalizing broadband scales. However, there was limited evidence for the unidimensionality of most DSM-oriented scales. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologists may consider using the CBCL as a psychometrically sound narrowband and broadband measure of challenging behaviors but should exercise caution when interpreting DSM-oriented scales for preschoolers with NGS. Our findings underscore a continued need to enhance assessment measures for identifying early precursors of child psychopathology in pediatric populations with atypical developmental trajectories.
BACKGROUND: Psychologists routinely use the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL) to assess challenging behaviors of preschoolers with developmental disabilities. However, the CBCL has not been thoroughly validated in neurogenetic syndromes (NGS). AIM: We investigated the structural validity of the CBCL in NGS. METHODS: Based on 152 preschoolers with Angelman, fragile X, Prader-Willi, and Williams syndromes, we employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of CBCL narrowband, broadband, and DSM-oriented scales. RESULTS: CFA models largely supported the unidimensionality of most narrowband scales and the two-factor structure of internalizing and externalizing broadband scales. However, there was limited evidence for the unidimensionality of most DSM-oriented scales. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologists may consider using the CBCL as a psychometrically sound narrowband and broadband measure of challenging behaviors but should exercise caution when interpreting DSM-oriented scales for preschoolers with NGS. Our findings underscore a continued need to enhance assessment measures for identifying early precursors of child psychopathology in pediatric populations with atypical developmental trajectories.
Authors: Alisa Mo; Leeanne G Snyder; Owen Babington; Wendy K Chung; Mustafa Sahin; Siddharth Srivastava Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2021-10-26 Impact factor: 5.449