Modeling of parent-rated psychopathology in children and adolescents using the Child Behavior Checklist

Research on modeling psychopathology in childhood and adolescence has proposed theoretical and empirical models, but these models have not yet been analyzed within a single clinical data set considering different methodological approaches. Therefore, the present study explores clinical child and adolescent psychopathology as rated by parents using the Child Behavior Checklist. The sample consisted of 2,848 children and adolescents (M_age = 11.74; SD_age = 3.5; 57.1% male) with a wide range of mental disorders, who had been referred to a university outpatient clinic for assessment and treatment. Confirmatory factor analyses and exploratory structural equation modeling were employed to test one-dimensional, correlated first-, second-, and third-order models and a fully symmetrical bifactor model. Additionally, the retained models were analyzed for measurement invariance across age and gender. Models that allow cross-loadings were superior. As expected, symptoms seem to be attributed to more than one dimension. The eight-factor exploratory structural equation modeling model provided a better factor structure than the more complex models such as the bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling model, showing consistent factor structure and loading patterns across age and gender. A higher order structure of internalizing and externalizing dimensions was demonstrated. In our clinical sample, parent-reported juvenile psychopathology seems to be better represented by several latent variables than by only one general factor of psychopathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).