Brazilian version of the DABS: Adaptation process and validity evidence based on the internal structure.
The Brazilian DABS keeps its one-factor shape, so you can safely measure adaptive skills in Portuguese-speaking youth.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Marceliano et al. (2025) translated the Daily Adaptive Behavior Scale into Brazilian Portuguese. They call the new form DABS-B.
The team ran item-response tests on each domain. They wanted to know if the scale keeps its one-factor shape in Brazilian kids.
Participants were a mixed group: some had clinical diagnoses, some were neurotypical. Ages covered preschool through high school.
What they found
Every DABS-B domain held together as a single factor. The numbers say the Brazilian version measures the same skills as the original.
Because the structure is clean, clinicians can now trust the scores to flag adaptive-skill gaps in Brazilian youth.
How this fits with other research
Nijs et al. (2016) did the same math on the CAPES-DD, a parent scale for kids with developmental disability. Both studies used factor checks and got positive results, showing the method works across cultures.
Adams et al. (2022) tried the SRAS-R in autistic kids and the factor map fell apart; parents said the items missed autism reasons. Marceliano’s clean results hint that adaptive behavior may be easier to capture cross-culture than school-refusal motives.
Yang et al. (2026) also adapted a scale (Chinese GARS-3) and found strong fit. Together, these papers form a set: careful translation plus item-response testing gives ready-to-use tools.
Why it matters
You now have a free, psychometrically sound way to track adaptive living skills in Portuguese-speaking clients. Add the DABS-B to your intake packet, set baselines, and show parents clear growth graphs. No extra cost, no language barrier.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) is an American standardized instrument that provides reliable and valid information to determine whether an individual has significant limitations in adaptive behavior. This study aimed to develop a transculturally adapted version of the DABS for Brazil (DABS-B) and examine the validity evidence based on the internal structure of this adaptation. The adaptation involved translation of the items, consolidation of the translation by a committee, validation of the preliminary translation by a committee, adjustments by the research group, pilot testing, post-test adjustments, and a final version test. The DABS-B was administered to 422 respondents aged between 20 and 73 years (M=40.41; SD=8.12) who provided information about the adaptive behavior of 477 Brazilians aged between 4 and 21 years (M=10.31; SD=4.35). The participants included clinical and non-clinical groups. Data analysis was conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT). Results provided strong evidence of unidimensionality within each DABS-B domain, suggesting that the construct is well-defined and consistent across both domains and age groups. Good adjustments indicated that the adaptation of the measure was well executed.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105041