title: Behavioural assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C): an examination of construct validity.
abstract: Children's success with participating in life depends heavily on intact executive function (EF) skills. The Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C) was developed to address the need for a standardised ecologically valid test of children's EF performance. This study aimed to establish the construct validity of the BADS-C in relation to socio-demographic parameters. Participants were 208 Israeli children, aged 8-15 years, who were divided into three age groups (8 years to 9 years and 11 months; 10 years to 11 years and 11 months; 12 to 15 years) and tested with the BADS-C. The older age groups achieved significantly better scores than the younger groups. No significant differences were found between genders in any of the BADS-C scores. Similar results were found for familial socio-economic status and parents' education. Construct validity was demonstrated for the BADS-C by providing a profile for different age groups. Additional studies are needed to examine further the validity and reliability of the BADS-C and the relationships between socio-demographic factors and EF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel. batya@research.haifa.ac.il
authors.forename: Batya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engel-Yeger
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Josman
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenblum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001519:Behavior; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors