title: Cross-national invariance of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder factors in Japanese and U.S. university students.
abstract: Prior research with children generally supports the two-dimensional structure of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD; inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive factors) of the DSM-IV-TR as well as invariance of the two-factor structure across nations and cultures. Research with adults supports either a two-factor or three-factor structure depending on reporting source and breadth of symptoms assessed. However, research with adults is limited and there are few studies addressing cross-national invariance in adults. The purposes of this study were to (1) assess relative fit of two- versus three-factor solutions for self-report of childhood and recent ADHD symptoms in adults; and (2) further establish cross-national invariance of factors. Participants included 271 U.S. and 712 Japanese university students who completed a rating scale assessing the 18 DSM-IV-TR ADHD symptoms. Confirmatory factor analysis using Mplus (Version 6) and the mean and variance-adjusted weighted least squares (WLSMV) procedure showed invariance of two- and three-factor models across U.S. and Japanese samples. The two- and three-factor models showed similar fit indices. Neither a two-factor or three-factor model was clearly superior. The two-factor model was favored, however, because it is more parsimonious and consistent with current theory, and because of high correlations between hyperactive and impulsive factors in the three-factor models. Invariance across nations is consistent with previous studies and supports ADHD as a universally valid syndrome rather than a cultural construct. These results add to the limited knowledge of assessment of ADHD symptoms in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Av Padre Tomas Pereira, Taipa, Macau. jmarkdavis@umac.mo
authors.forename: J Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Shu Fai
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Tomone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult