Concurrent validation of a behavior problems scale to use with 3-year-olds.

Abstract A 12-item behavior questionnaire adapted for a parent interview is shown to represent a valid index of current behavioral adjustment in preschool children. The validity of the questionnaire is checked against the clinical judgment of six psychiatrists and psychologists using data derived from a total population sample of 3-year-old children. The data are comprised of information gathered in parent interviews and home-based play sessions with the children. Using an epidemiologic approach, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaire are determined. Recommendations are made regarding the use of the questionnaire for different public health and clinical purposes.

[1]  F. Earls.  Temperament Characteristics and Behavior Problems in Three‐year‐old Children , 1981, The Journal of nervous and mental disease.

[2]  F. Earls.  Prevalence of behavior problems in 3-year-old children. A cross-national replication. , 1980, Archives of general psychiatry.

[3]  F. Earls,et al.  The prevalence of behavior problems in three-year-old children of West Indian-Born parents. , 1980, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[4]  F. Earls,et al.  Behavior problems in pre-school children of West Indian-born parents: a re-examination of family and social factors. , 1980, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[5]  R. Wiggins,et al.  Validity and Uses of a Screening Questionnaire (GHQ) in the Community , 1979, British Journal of Psychiatry.

[6]  A. Leighton,et al.  Research directions in psychiatric epidemiology , 1979, Psychological Medicine.

[7]  J. Fleiss,et al.  Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability. , 1979, Psychological bulletin.

[8]  M. Weissman,et al.  Epidemiology of mental disorders: emerging trends in the United States. , 1978, Archives of general psychiatry.

[9]  Alan R. Shapiro,et al.  The Evaluation of Clinical Predictions: A Method and Initial Application , 1977 .

[10]  A. Elstein.  Clinical judgment: psychological research and medical practice. , 1976, Science.

[11]  J. Stevenson,et al.  Prevalence of behaviour problems in 3-year-old children: an epidemiological study in a London borough. , 1975, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[12]  R. Priest.  Measurement and Classification of Psychiatric Symptoms , 1975 .

[13]  A. Tversky,et al.  Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases , 1974, Science.

[14]  J. Herson,et al.  Treatment of psychological disorders among urban children. , 1974, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[15]  B. Dohrenwend,et al.  Psychiatric disorders in general populations: a study of the problem of clinical judgment. , 1971, The American journal of psychiatry.

[16]  M. Shepherd,et al.  CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOUR DISORDERS AND THE CHILD‐GUIDANCE CLINIC: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY , 1966 .

[17]  T J Vecchio,et al.  Predictive value of a single diagnostic test in unselected populations. , 1966, The New England journal of medicine.

[18]  M. Rutter.  Classification and categorization in child psychiatry. , 1965, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[19]  J. Block,et al.  The Role of Ego-Control and Ego-Resiliency in the Organization of Behavior , 1980 .

[20]  P. Graham.  Epidemiological approaches in child psychiatry , 1977 .

[21]  N. Richman,et al.  A behavioural screening questionnaire for use with three-year-old children. Preliminary findings. , 1971, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[22]  M. Rutter,et al.  Education, Health and Behaviour , 1970 .