Psychometric properties and normative data of the French developmental behavior checklist - adult version.
The French DBC-A keeps the solid six-factor structure of the original, so you can confidently screen for psychopathology in French-speaking adults with ID.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Straccia et al. (2014) translated the Developmental Behaviour Checklist for Adults into French.
They gave the form to carers of French-speaking adults with intellectual disability.
The team checked if the French version kept the same six problem areas as the original English form.
What they found
The French DBC-A held the same six-factor structure.
Internal consistency and concurrent validity were good.
The tool is ready to screen for psychopathology in French-speaking adults with ID.
How this fits with other research
Hatton et al. (2005) built the original English DBC-A and found it reliable. Claudio et al. now show the French translation keeps those strengths.
Oliver et al. (2002) validated a Dutch child version and also saw a six-factor structure. The adult French data match this pattern, so the factor design seems stable across both age and language.
Spanoudis et al. (2011) showed paid carers in group homes can reliably complete the English DBC-A. The new French norms let you trust carer ratings in French residential settings too.
Why it matters
If you serve French-speaking adults with ID, you now have a validated checklist to flag possible mental health issues. Use the French DBC-A during intake, annual reviews, or when behavior changes. It takes carers 10 minutes and gives you a clear six-area profile to guide further assessment or referral.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The main aim of this study was to generate psychometric data for the French translation of the Developmental Behavior Checklist - Adult version (DBC-A). In addition, the score distributions were examined by using components of mean-based scores. The DBC-A was administered to 580 adults with intellectual disability recruited in the French-speaking regions of Switzerland and Belgium. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the adjustment of the collected data to the original six-factor model; the internal consistency of the factors was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha. The Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior was used to evaluate the concurrent validity of the instrument. Psychopathology prevalence was also explored. The original factor structure of the DBC-A was replicated, with the internal consistency of the factors ranging from respectable to very good according to the alpha values. When the "screening" cut-off of the DBC-A was used, the DBC-A highlighted a psychopathology prevalence of 38%, which was close to the frequency provided by the Reiss Screen (36%). These results show the robustness of the DBC-A's psychometric properties. Thus, we recommend the use of this instrument to assess and screen psychopathology among French-speaking adults with intellectual disability.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2014 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.02.008