title: The Children's Behavior Questionnaire very short scale: psychometric properties and development of a one-item temperament scale.
abstract: Little research has been conducted on the psychometrics of the very short scale (36 items) of the Children's Behavior Questionnaire, and no one-item temperament scale has been tested for use in applied work. In this study, 237 United States caregivers completed a survey to define their child's behavioral patterns (i.e., Surgency, Negative Affectivity Effortful Control) using both scales. Psychometrics of the 36-item Children's Behavior Questionnaire were examined using classical test theory, principal factor analysis, and item response modeling. Classical test theory analysis demonstrated adequate internal consistency and factor analysis confirmed a three-factor structure. Potential improvements to the measure were identified using item response modeling. A one-item (three response categories) temperament scale was validated against the three temperament factors of the 36-item scale. The temperament response categories correlated with the temperament factors of the 36-item scale, as expected. The one-item temperament scale may be applicable for clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. ester.sleddens@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Ester F C
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Sleddens
authors.forename: Sheryl O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Teresia M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Janice C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Nicklas
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baranowski
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013694:Temperament; D014481:United States