Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2007):

Assessment of child problem behaviors by multiple informants: a longitudinal study from preschool to school entry.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children's early problem behavior that manifests in multiple contexts is often more serious and stable. The concurrent and predictive validity of ratings of externalizing and internalizing by four informants was examined at preschool and early school age in an at-risk sample. METHODS: Two hundred forty children were assessed by mothers and fathers (Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)), and teachers and laboratory examiners (Teacher Report Form (TRF)) at ages 3 and 5 years. RESULTS: All informants' ratings of externalizing converged on a common factor at ages 3 and 5 that showed strong stability over time (beta = .80). All informants' age 3 externalizing ratings significantly predicted the problem factor at age 5; mothers', fathers', and teachers' ratings were independently predictive. Ratings of internalizing (except by examiners at age 3) also converged at both ages; the problem factor showed medium stability (beta = .39) over time. Only fathers' ratings of age 3 internalizing predicted the age 5 problem factor. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the value of multi-informant assessment, uphold calls to include fathers in childhood research, and suggest that examiners provide valid, though non-unique assessment data. Examiner contributions may prove useful in many research contexts.

Author information

Author/s: Kerr, David C R (DC); Lunkenheimer, Erika S (ES); Olson, Sheryl L (SL);

Affiliation: Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene, OR 97401, USA. davidk(-atsign-)oslc.org

Grants: R01 MH57489 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines (J Child Psychol Psychiatry), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Oct; vol 48 (issue 10) : pp 967-75

Dates: Created 2007/10/04; Completed 2008/02/06;

PMID: 17914997, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; epidemiology; psychology Child, Preschool Female Humans Internal-External Control Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal Studies Male Observer Variation Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data Reproducibility of Results

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