A psychometric analysis of the child behavior checklist for elementary school children in Qatar

Abstract

The Child Behavior Checklist for children 6 to 18 (CBCL/6-18) is a widely used, standardized parent rating scale. However, few studies have tested the psychometric properties of this instrument in the Arab world despite the great need for such instruments to support the identification and education of children with emotional, behavioral, and social problems in these countries. In this study, we examined the configural invariance and reliability of the core items of the CBCL present in both of its editions using the Arabic translation of the CBCL/6-18 and a sample of 1,360 elementary school children in Qatar. Results from the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the factor structure of Achenbach's eight-syndrome scales of the CBCL/6-18 for our sample in (a) its overall fit, (b) pattern of factor loadings, (c) syndrome correlations, and (d) comparability of results in other societies. Internal consistency was high. Categorization of the sample as normal, borderline, and clinical using standard scoring produces proportions roughly in line with expectations, but points to the need for local norms and validation of the instrument prior to its clinical use in Qatar. Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2016.