The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) self-report: Factor structure of the self-report form in Latinx youth

ABSTRACT

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) self-report form is a brief 25-item measure that assesses the psychological adjustment of youth. Although widely utilized as a screening tool, a lack of consistent psychometric evidence undermines the SDQ’s utility as a sound diagnostic tool for all youth. This study focused on examining the psychometric evidence for the use of the SDQ with Latinx youth, the fastest-growing minority population in the United States and one of the most underserved. Three competing models were tested with a confirmatory factor approach in a sample of 771 sixth-grade English-speaking Latinx youth. Model fit was unsatisfactory in all three models, therefore an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on an additional sample of Latinx youth, N = 422. EFA results suggested a two-factor model. Overall, results suggest that there is not yet adequate psychometric evidence for use of the SDQ self-report with Latinx youth. Future directions for research and implications for practice are highlighted.

KEYWORDS:

• Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
• Latinx
• factor analysis
• construct validity
• universal screening

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer M. Twyford

Dr. Jennifer Twyford is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Psychology at California Lutheran University.

Lara Buckley

Lara Buckley is an advanced graduate student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at California Lutheran University.

Kathryn Moffa

Kathryn Moffa is a doctoral candidate in the Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology program at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Erin Dowdy

Dr. Erin Dowdy is an Associate Professor of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.