Abstract
Background
Quality assessment of children’s functioning is critical for both research and service delivery. The Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief, publicly-available instrument that provides such assessment. Although the SDQ has strong psychometric
properties, less is known about its responsiveness or sensitivity to detecting change over time.
Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief, publicly-available instrument that provides such assessment. Although the SDQ has strong psychometric
properties, less is known about its responsiveness or sensitivity to detecting change over time.
Results
Paired samples t tests revealed statistically significant decreases in SDQ Conduct Problems and Emotional Symptoms scores, and McNemar’s tests
showed a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of Conduct Problems cases. Correlations between changes on the
SDQ scales and changes on corresponding CBCL scales ranged from .58 to .83. Results from receiver operating characteristic
curves indicated that the SDQ was relatively accurate in identifying changes in CBCL diagnostic cases, with overlap across
corresponding problem behavior domains ranging from 68 to 81 %.
showed a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of Conduct Problems cases. Correlations between changes on the
SDQ scales and changes on corresponding CBCL scales ranged from .58 to .83. Results from receiver operating characteristic
curves indicated that the SDQ was relatively accurate in identifying changes in CBCL diagnostic cases, with overlap across
corresponding problem behavior domains ranging from 68 to 81 %.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10566-012-9179-5
- Authors
- W. Alex Mason, Boys Town National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
- Mary B. Chmelka, Boys Town National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
- Ronald W. Thompson, Boys Town National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
- Journal Child and Youth Care Forum
- Online ISSN 1573-3319
- Print ISSN 1053-1890