Abstract
Objectives
To examine the psychometric properties of the French version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), compare estimates of child mental health problems and SDQ scores across France, US and UK.
Methods
The French version of the parent-reported SDQ was administered to the parents of a representative sample of 1,348 French children aged 6–11 years old. The response rate was 57.6%. We performed three scoring methods and examined their association with socio-demographic data. French SDQ scores were compared with SDQ scores from US and UK national surveys.
Results
The French cut-off points for the scoring bands were similar to those of the UK and US, with a few exceptions (peer relationship problems, prosocial behaviour). The internal consistency of the SDQ subscales was acceptable with Cronbach α coefficients ranging from 0.46 for peer relationship problems to 0.74 for hyperactivity/inattention. Known socio-demographic risk factors were associated with SDQ scoring method. For most SDQ scores, differences between France and the UK were smaller (5%) than those between France and the US.
Conclusion
The study provided good support for the validity of the parent-reported SDQ in France as well as evidence for the usefulness of the SDQ as a promising screening instrument for epidemiological research and clinical purposes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach TM, Edelbrock C (1983) Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington
American Psychiatric Association (1994) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn (DSM-IV). American Psychiatric Press, Washington
Bijl RV, van Zessen G, Ravelli A, de Rijk C, Langendoen Y (1998) The Netherlands mental health survey and incidence study (NEMESIS): objectives and design. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 33:581–586
Bourdon KH, Goodman R, Rae DS, Simpson G, Koretz DS (2005) the strengths and difficulties questionnaire: US normative data and psychometric properties. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:557–564
Capron C, Therond C, Duyme M (2007) Psychometric properties of the French version of the self-report and teacher strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Eur J Psychol Assess 23:79–88
Cohen J (1988) Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd edn. Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, Hillsdale
Costello EJ, Egger H, Angold A (2005) 10-Year research update review: the epidemiology of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders: I. Methods and public health burden. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:972–986
Costello EJ, Foley DL, Angold A (2006) 10-Year research update review: the epidemiology of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders: II developmental epidemiology. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 45:8–25
Fombonne E (1994) The Chartres study: I. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among French school-age children. Br J Psychiatry 164:69–79
Glazebrook C, Hollis C, Heussler H, Goodman R, Coates L (2003) Detecting emotional and behavioural problems in paediatric clinics. Child Care Health Dev 29:141–149
Goodman R (1997) The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: a research note. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 38(5):581–586
Goodman R (1999) The extended version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire as a guide to child psychiatric caseness and consequent burden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 40:791–799
Goodman R, Scott S (1999) Comparing the strengths and difficulties questionnaire and the child behavior checklist: is small beautiful? J Abnorm Child Psychol 27:17–24
Goodman R, Ford T, Simmons H, Gatward R, Meltzer H (2000) Using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) to screen for child psychiatric disorders in a community sample. Br J Psychiatry 177:534–539
Goodman R, Renfrew D, Mullick M (2000) Predicting type of psychiatric disorder from strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) scores in child mental health clinics in London and Dhaka. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 9:129–134
Goodman R (2001) Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 40:1337–1345
Goodman R, Slobodskaya H, Knyazev G (2005) Russian child mental health—a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 14:28–33
Hawes DJ, Dadds MR (2004) Australian data and psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 38:644–651
INSEE (2005) Provence Alpes-Côtes d’Azur: La région en faits et en chiffres. http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/provence/rfc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=poptc001&tab_id=5
Koskelainen M, Sourander A, Kaljonen A (2000) The strengths and difficulties questionnaire among Finnish school-aged children and adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 9:277–284
Klasen H, Woerner W, Wolke D, Meyer R, Overmeyer S, Kaschnitz W, Rothenberger A, Goodman R (2000) Comparing the German versions of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ-Deu) and the child behavior checklist. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 9:271–276
Malmberg M, Rydell AM, Smedje H (2003) Validity of the Swedish version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ-Swe). Nord J Psychiatry 57:357–363
Marzocchi GM, Capron C, Di Pietro M, Duran Tauleria E, Duyme M, Frigerio A et al (2004) The use of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) in Southern European countries. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13(Suppl 2):II40–II46
Mathai J, Anderson P, Bourne A (2003) Use of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire as an outcome measure in a child and adolescent mental health service. Australas Psychiatry 11:334–337
Mathai J, Anderson P, Bourne A (2002) The strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) as a screening measure prior to admission to a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Aust e-J Adv Mental Health 1:(3)
Mathai J, Anderson P, Bourne A (2004) Comparing psychiatric diagnoses generated by the strengths and difficulties questionnaire with diagnoses made by clinicians. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 38:639–643
Meltzer H, Gatward R, Goodman R, Ford T (2003) Mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain. Int Rev Psychiatry 15:185–187
Meltzer H, Gatward R, Goodman R, Ford F (2000) Mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain. The Stationery Office, London
Mullick MSI, Goodman R (2001) Questionnaire screening for mental health problems in Bangladeshi children: a preliminary study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 36:94–99
Obel C, Heiervang E, Rodriguez A, Heyerdahl S, Smedje H, Sourander A et al (2004) The strengths and difficulties questionnaire in the Nordic countries. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13(Suppl 2):II32–II39
Ronning JA, Handegaard BH, Sourander A, Morch WT (2004) The strengths and difficulties self-report questionnaire as a screening instrument in Norwegian community samples. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13:73–82
Smedje H, Broman J-E, Hetta J, von Knorring A-L (1999) Psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the “strengths and difficulties questionnaire”. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 8:63–70
Van de Vijver FJ, Leung K (2001) Personality in cultural context: methodological issues. J Pers 69:1007–1031
Van de Vijver FJ, Leung K (1997) Methods and data analysis of comparative research. In: Berry JW, Poortinga YH, Pandey J (eds) Handbook of cross-cultural psychology, 2nd edn, vol 1. Allyn & Bacon, Boston, pp 257–300
Van de Vijver FJ, Leung K (1997) Methods and data analysis for cross-cultural research. Sage, Newbury Park
Van Widenfelt BM, Goedhart AW, Treffers PDA, Goodman R (2003) Dutch version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 12:281–289
Woerner W, Fleitlich-Bilyk B, Martinussen R, Fletcher J, Cucchiaro G, Dalgalarrondo P et al (2004) The strengths and difficulties questionnaire overseas: evaluations and applications of the SDQ beyond Europe. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13(Suppl 2):II47–II54
Woerner W, Becker A, Rothenberger A (2004) Normative data and scale properties of the German parent SDQ. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry II3(Suppl 2):3–10
World Health Organization (1994) The ICD-10 classification of Mental and behavioural disorders: diagnostic criteria for research Geneva. WHO, Switzerland
Acknowledgments
We are indebted to Christine Chan-Chee, Robert Goodman, Jean-Pierre Valla, the French Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, PACA Regional Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Aix-Marseille and Nice Educational Authority, children, parents, teachers and principals of participating schools. The study was funded by MGEN Foundation for Public Health, MAE, MAIF Foundation, FNMF and PACA Regional Directorate for Health and Social Affairs (DRASS Provence-Alpes Côte-d’Azur region).
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shojaei, T., Wazana, A., Pitrou, I. et al. The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: validation study in French school-aged children and cross-cultural comparisons. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 44, 740–747 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0489-8
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0489-8