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Validity of the Amsterdam Child Behavior Checklist: a short rating scale for children.

The Amsterdam Child Behavior Checklist is a short behavior checklist meant to distinguish between attention problems and several other common behavioral and emotional problems of children in primary education. The list has four scales, Attention Behavior, Restlessness, Aggressive Behavior, and Fear/Uncertainty. We examined the relationships among the scores on the scales and similar scales of the Teacher Report Form, the teachers' version of the Child Behavior Checklist. Teachers from 94 schools rated 454 children on both lists. Analysis showed that the associations between the scores of the scales of the Amsterdam Child Behavior Checklist and of similar scales of the Teacher Report Form ranged from moderate to strong. These data support the validity of the scales of the Amsterdam Child Behavior Checklist.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

The effect of fathers or father figures on child behavioral problems in families referred to child protective services.

This study examines some possible effects of the presence and quality of parent-child interaction of fathers and father figures on the behavior of young children in a sample of families reported to child protective services. Whereas the presence or absence of a father or father figure seemed to make little difference in child behavioral problems at age 4, lower levels of aggression and depression were observed for children by age 6 if an adult male in some form of father-like relationship was present in the child's life. When controlling for mother's ethnicity, child's gender, the number of referrals to child protective services, and the presence of domestic violence, the direct effect of a father/father figure was no longer significant but remained in the multivariate models as a significant interaction term.

Adult↗

Evaluation of emotional and behavioral problems in language impaired children using the Child Behavior Checklist.

Speech and language impaired children are at special risk for developing psychiatric disorders. Attention deficit, aggressive behaviour as well as overanxiety and excessive shyness have been reported in speech and language impaired children. The purpose of this study was to determine how the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) could be used as a screening instrument in language impaired children. In a sample of 83 language impaired children, emotional and behavioural problems were evaluated using the CBCL. Independent of this assessment, DSM-IV diagnoses were established for all children. Sixty-six of the 83 children had a psychiatric diagnosis. The use of the Total Behavior Problem score (TBP) as a global measure of behavioural disturbance showed that children with a psychiatric diagnosis had significantly higher scores on the TBP score than children without a psychiatric diagnosis. The specificity of the TBP was 88.2%, the sensitivity 75.8%, and the false classification rate 21.6%. The most frequently reported behavioural disturbances were problems on scale VI ("Attention Problems"-39 children) and on scale I ("Withdrawn"-32 children). A small group of children with a receptive language disorder and pronounced compulsive behavioural problems had elevated scores on scale V ("Thought Problems").

Affect↗

A mediational model for the impact of exposure to community violence on early child behavior problems.

This study examined how maternal distress mediates the link between exposure to community violence (CV) and the development of early child behavior problems. Research was conducted among 160 children, 3,0 to 5,11 in age, who resided in high-crime neighborhoods. Using structural equation modeling, latent variables were constructed to identify model components: maternal socioeconomic status (SES) and public assistance status, exposure to CV (maternal perceptions of local violence, social disorder, and fear of crime; and frequency of child cowitnessing violent events), family aggression (partner aggression toward mother and partner aggression toward child), maternal distress (global distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms), and early child behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing). Bivariate correlations indicated that CV, maternal distress, and early child behavior problems were significantly intercorrelated. A series of structural equation models was specified to estimate the direct and indirect effect of CV on early child behavior problems. A direct model indicated a significant path from CV to early child behavior problems, after controlling for maternal SES and family aggression. The direct CV-early child behavior problems path diminished, however, when maternal distress was included in the model, after controlling for maternal SES and family aggression. Results are consistent with a mediation model of the impact of maternal distress symptoms on the link between CV and early child behavior problems.

Black or African American↗

Child behavior problems: prevalence and correlates in rural minority areas of China.

BACKGROUND: Ethnicity may possibly associate with different maternal child-rearing practices and child developmental problems. The aim of this study was to better understand epidemiological features and correlates of child behavior problems in a large sample of children in economically disadvantaged rural minority areas of China and to provide reference data for subsequent intervention of child developmental problems. METHODS: A total of 1222 rural mother-child pairs belonging to Hani, Yi, Hui, Miao and Han were drawn from four economically disadvantaged minority counties in Yunnan Province of China. Well-trained investigators completed child physical examination and measurements (height and weight) in village clinics and interviews of mothers at respondents' homes using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Child behavior problems were prevalent in children aged 2-6 years: 71.4% for temper tantrums; 48.2% for swearing; 36.0% for nocturnal bed-wetting; 29.9% for disobedience; 29.5% for difficulty initiating sleep; and 17.0% for picky eating. Child behavior problems significantly differed across Hani, Yi, Hui, Miao and Han ethnic groups. Logistic regression indicated that ethnicity of Hui compared with Han, younger children, prenatal risk factors, being a twin, ineffective child-rearing behaviors such as pampering, corporal punishment, swaddling, family disagreement among child-rearing contributed independently to the risk for child behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS: The child behavior problems were prevalent in children aged 2-6 years in rural minority children of China. Ineffective family child-rearing practices increase risk for child behavior problems.

Child↗

ADHD and parental psychological distress: role of demographics, child behavioral characteristics, and parental cognitions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relative roles of demographic, child behavioral, and parental characteristics in understanding the psychological distress suffered by parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was hypothesized that a combination of child and parent demographics, severity of child behavioral disturbance, low knowledge of ADHD, causal and controllability attributions internal to the child, along with lower perceived parental control, would be associated with more severe psychological distress, as measured by parenting stress and depression. METHOD: One hundred mothers were interviewed and provided ratings of behavioral disturbance, severity of ADHD, knowledge of ADHD, attributions of cause and controllability of ADHD-related behaviors, parenting stress and depression. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that the combination of these variables was significantly associated with parental psychological distress, accounting for 24% and 21% of the variance in parenting stress and depression, respectively. Unique contributions were evident for severity of behavioral disturbance and perceived parental control over child behaviors. Child's age, gender, medication status, and maternal education were controlled in the analyses. CONCLUSION: Results support the view that interventions for ADHD aimed only at child behavior are unlikely to alter long-term outcome.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Assessment of behavioral problems in children with intellectual disability: the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form].

Epidemiological data show a high prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in children with intellectual disability. However there is a lack of standardized instruments designed to assess emotions and behaviors typically seen in mentally handicapped children. The results of a survey using the "Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form" are presented. Reliability coefficients, concordance of parent and teacher ratings, convergent and differential validity data are satisfactory to suggest its clinical use to identify problem areas which deserve special attention in the mental health care of children with intellectual disability.

Adolescent↗

Neglected children: mothers' report of child behavior problems and observed verbal behavior.

This laboratory investigation assessed situational differences in observed maternal verbal behavior and the report of child behavior problems between groups of low-income Caucasian mothers and their neglected, behavior problem, or nonproblem children. Relative to controls, the interactions of neglect mothers were most negative and controlling during child-directed play. Behavior-problem mothers were most negative and as controlling as neglect mothers during parent-directed play. Both groups reported more difficult child behavior than controls. The results indicate the importance of considering situational variability and mode of analysis (i.e., frequency and/or percentage) when behavior differences between groups are being determined.

Adult↗

Lead exposure and child behavior.

OBJECTIVES: Unlike cognitive impairments associated with lead exposure, lead-associated child behavior problems have been difficult to specify, particularly in young children. METHODS: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used as the outcome and confounding variables, respectively, of major interest. These measures were examined with respect to blood lead levels of 201 African-American children aged 2 through 5 years. RESULTS: In comparison with the low exposed group, the high exposed group (two consecutive blood lead levels greater than or equal to 15 micrograms/dL) had a significantly higher mean CBCL Total Behavior Problem Score (TBPS) and Internalizing and Externalizing scores; when other factors, including maternal depressive symptomatology, were controlled for, regression procedures indicated a .18-point TBPS increase for each unit increase in lead and a 5.1-point higher TBPS in the high exposed group; children in this group were 2.7 times more likely to have a TBPS in the clinical range. CONCLUSIONS: Through its use of a standardized parent-report measure of behavior and its consideration of maternal morale in multiple linear and logistic regression procedures, this study provides further evidence of lead's detrimental effect on child behavior at levels typical of present-day exposure.

Academies and Institutes↗

The utility of tracking child behavior.

To assess the impact of observation training and tracking of child behavior, each of 20 elementary school teachers participating in a behavior modification practicum was assigned to either an experimental or a control group. For each teacher, a disruptive, distractible child was identified as appropriate for behavioral intervention. All teachers were taught identical intervention strategies, but the two groups differed in the degree to which teachers were initially trained and subsequently required to observe and record discrete child behaviors. Multiple measures were used to assess the influence of monitoring child behaviors. These included observed child behavior, observed teacher behavior, teacher ratings, and correspondence between teacher perception and child behavior. Results showed that tracking the behavior of children had little or no effect on any measure.

Acting Out↗

Terrible ones? Assessment of externalizing behaviors in infancy with the Child Behavior Checklist.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the occurrence, cross-informant agreement, 1-year stability, and context characteristics of externalizing behaviors in 12-month-old children, as compared to 24- and 36-month-olds. METHOD: In a general population sample of 786 12-month-olds, 720 24-month-olds, and 744 36-month-olds, the CBCL/ 1(1/2)-5 was obtained from mothers and fathers and again one year later for a subsample of 307 children. Mothers of 1,831 children also provided complete data on child, mother, and family characteristics. RESULTS: Over three-fourths of the externalizing behaviors occurred in more than 10% of 12-month-olds, over one-third of the items in more than 25%. For almost all externalizing behaviors, the occurrence was significantly lower in 12-month-olds compared to 24- and 36-month-old children. Mother-father agreement and 1-year stability of externalizing behaviors in 12-month-old children were significant, but generally somewhat lower than in 24- and 36-month-olds. Context characteristics were related to externalizing behaviors in 12-month-olds as well as in older children. Some associations were less pronounced in 12-month-old children, but the overall pattern of correlates was similar across age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that externalizing behaviors in 12-month-old children merit further research and can be assessed with the CBCL in a valid way.

Age Factors↗

Effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on child behavior problems at age 10.

This is a prospective study of the effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on child behavior problems at age 10. The sample consisted of low-income women attending a prenatal clinic. Half of the women were African-American and half were Caucasian. The majority of the women decreased their use of marijuana during pregnancy. The assessments of child behavior problems included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher's Report Form (TRF), and the Swanson, Noland, and Pelham (SNAP) checklist. Multiple and logistic regressions were employed to analyze the relations between marijuana use and behavior problems of the children, while controlling for the effects of other extraneous variables. Prenatal marijuana use was significantly related to increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention symptoms as measured by the SNAP, increased delinquency as measured by the CBCL, and increased delinquency and externalizing problems as measured by the TRF. The pathway between prenatal marijuana exposure and delinquency was mediated by the effects of marijuana exposure on inattention symptoms. These findings indicate that prenatal marijuana exposure has an effect on child behavior problems at age 10.

Adult↗

Associations between expressed emotion and child behavioral inhibition and psychopathology: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between behavioral inhibition and child psychopathology and measures of family adversity indexed through "expressed emotion." METHOD: Maternal expressed emotion was assessed via Five-Minute-Speech-Sample in two samples of children evaluated for prevalence of DSM-III disorders and assessed via laboratory observations for behavioral inhibition. The at-risk sample (N = 30) consisted of 4- to 10-year-old children of mothers with and without panic disorder (psychiatric controls). The Kagan sample (N = 41) consisted of children selected at age 21 months as behaviorally inhibited or uninhibited and followed through age 11. RESULTS: In the at-risk sample, child behavioral inhibition was associated with high/borderline maternal criticism, independent of other measures of child psychopathology. In both samples combined, high/borderline maternal criticism was associated with child externalizing symptoms and with the number of child mood and behavior disorders. Emotional overinvolvement was significantly associated with child separation anxiety disorder in the at-risk sample. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that child behavioral inhibition may be associated with maternal criticism/dissatisfaction and confirm other reports of associations between criticism and child behavior and mood disorders and between emotional overinvolvement and child separation anxiety.

Adult↗

Relation between maternal characteristics and child behavior ratings. Implications for interpreting behavior checklists.

The present study examined the extent to which mothers' ratings of their psychological distress, marital adjustment, and negative life events were related to maternal ratings of child behavior problems. Data were collected from mothers of 110 children (ages 2 to 12 years) who were referred to a pediatric clinic for a variety of common behavioral concerns. Maternal psychological distress and marital adjustment were significantly correlated with mothers' ratings on a child behavior checklist. Maternal psychological distress also accounted for a significant amount of the variance in maternal child behavior ratings over and above that accounted for by fathers' ratings of the same behaviors. Given that maternal characteristics co-vary significantly with reports of child behavior problems, pediatricians should interpret findings derived from child behavior rating scales within the overall family context.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Child behavior problems and maternal symptoms of depression: a mediational model.

PROBLEM: The relationship between maternal depression and child behavior problems has been consistently demonstrated, but not the impact of child behavior problems on maternal depression. METHODS: Mothers of 3- to 6-year-old children (N=69) reported regarding their depression, parenting competence, attachment to the child, the child's impact on the family, and behavior problems. FINDINGS: Child behavior problems were positively associated with maternal depression, an association explained by mediating variables: impact of the child on the family, mother's parenting competence, and attachment to the child. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depression should be considered when providing clinical services to children, given the potential for exacerbation of symptoms in the face of child behavior problems.

Adult↗

The impact of the big five personality traits on reports of child behavior problems by different informants.

The present study compared ratings of a standardized sample of child behavior problems across informants and examined the effects of informant personality traits on child behavior ratings by mothers, teachers, and group-care workers. Participants were 55 clinic-referred children, aged 6-12 years. All informants watched and rated the same 17-min videotaped behavior sample of a familiar target child. Independent trained observers rated the same videotapes to provide criterion ratings. Informants' personality traits were assessed using the NEO Five Factor Personality Inventory. Results showed that mothers reported fewer behavior problems than did the professionals, that the informants who were familiar with the child reported more behavior problems than did the independent observers, and that higher levels of informant neuroticism were related to higher ratings of child behavior problems in the case of the professionals, but not in the case of the mothers. In addition, group-care workers who were less extraverted and open were likely to report more child behavior problems than group-care workers with normal levels of extraversion and openness. Finally, no relations were found between agreeableness or conscientiousness and ratings of child behavior. Findings suggest that professionals who work with children are not immune to distortions based on their own personality.

Adolescent↗