A validation study of the Norwegian version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires

To explore the construct validity of the ASQ in relation to premature birth; maternal age, completeness of the family and level of education; and the child's gender.

Norwegian mothers' evaluations of 1172 children who completed age appropriate ASQs twice were statistically analysed by means of univariate and multivariate methods.

The developmental level of girls is on average higher than that of boys at both assessments and there is a substantial increase between follow-up assessments in all ASQ scores except for gross motor skills. The mother's level of education; whether the child was born prematurely or at full-term; and the interaction between the child's gender and his/her mother's level of education are important factors relating to the child's developmental status in both assessments.

The results that were derived by means of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires concerning the impact of maternal socio-demographical factors, the child's gender, and premature birth upon early childhood development largely confirm the findings in the literature supporting the construct validity of the ASQ. The ASQ was found to be an effective diagnostic tool of developmental delay and/or disturbances. The development of gender dependent norms is recommended.