Structural validity of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for preschoolers with neurogenetic syndromes.
CBCL narrowband and broadband scores are valid for preschoolers with neurogenetic syndromes, but skip the DSM-oriented scales for now.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Neo et al. (2021) checked if the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) measures the same traits in preschoolers with neurogenetic syndromes.
They ran a confirmatory factor analysis on parent forms from this group.
The goal was to see if the usual narrowband, broadband, and DSM-oriented scales still hold together.
What they found
The narrowband and broadband scales kept their expected structure.
The DSM-oriented scales did not hang together well in this young, syndromic sample.
Bottom line: use regular CBCL scores, but skip the DSM-oriented ones for now.
How this fits with other research
De Kegel et al. (2016) looked at older, clinically referred kids and found the CBCL gave too many false positives for ASD.
That sounds opposite, but the kids were school-age and already in clinics, while Siong’s group were preschoolers with known syndromes.
Neely et al. (2015) also worked with preschoolers and showed the Korean CBCL/1½-5 DSM-PDP scale screened ASD well.
Together the picture is: CBCL structure works for syndromic preschoolers, yet screening power drops once kids are older or clinically mixed.
Why it matters
You can keep using standard CBCL narrowband and broadband scores for young children with genetic disorders.
Do not lean on the DSM-oriented scales at this age—they may mislead you.
If you need a quick screen, pair the CBCL with a syndrome-specific tool rather than trusting the DSM scales alone.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychologists routinely use the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1½-5 (CBCL) to assess challenging behaviors of preschoolers with developmental disabilities. However, the CBCL has not been thoroughly validated in neurogenetic syndromes (NGS). AIM: We investigated the structural validity of the CBCL in NGS. METHODS: Based on 152 preschoolers with Angelman, fragile X, Prader-Willi, and Williams syndromes, we employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of CBCL narrowband, broadband, and DSM-oriented scales. RESULTS: CFA models largely supported the unidimensionality of most narrowband scales and the two-factor structure of internalizing and externalizing broadband scales. However, there was limited evidence for the unidimensionality of most DSM-oriented scales. CONCLUSIONS: Psychologists may consider using the CBCL as a psychometrically sound narrowband and broadband measure of challenging behaviors but should exercise caution when interpreting DSM-oriented scales for preschoolers with NGS. Our findings underscore a continued need to enhance assessment measures for identifying early precursors of child psychopathology in pediatric populations with atypical developmental trajectories.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103834