Normative data and scale properties of the German parent SDQ

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Psychometric Evaluation
• Behavioral Assessment

Background:

• The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a widely used behavioral assessment tool for children and adolescents.
• Normative data for the German parent-rated SDQ has not been reported internationally.
• This study aims to provide German normative data and evaluate the psychometric properties of the parent-rated SDQ.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report normative data for the German parent-rated SDQ.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the German SDQ in a community-based sample.
• To compare findings with international SDQ data and clinical samples.

Main Methods:

• Collected parent ratings for 930 children and adolescents (ages 6-16) in a community sample.
• Conducted factor analysis to verify scale structure and assessed scale homogeneities.
• Analyzed age, gender, and social class effects; defined score bandings for normal, borderline, and clinical ranges.

Main Results:

• The German SDQ parent questionnaire demonstrated an exact replication of the original scale structure.
• Satisfactory internal reliabilities and expected associations with age and gender were observed.
• Significant differences in SDQ scores were found between community-based and clinical groups, highlighting the impact of psychiatric status.

Conclusions:

• The German SDQ parent form exhibits favorable psychometric properties.
• The German translation is a reliable and useful assessment tool, comparable to the original English version.
• Normative data and validated psychometric properties facilitate international comparisons and clinical utility.