title: Measuring Effortful Control Using the Children's Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form: Modeling Matters.
abstract: Effortful control (EC) is an important concept in the research on self-regulation in children. We tested 2 alternative factor models of EC as measured by the Children's Behavior Questionnaire-Very Short Form (CBQ-VSF; Putnam & Rothbart, 2006 ) in a large sample of preschoolers (N = 1,007): 1 lower order and 1 hierarchical second-order structure. Additionally, convergent and predictive validity of EC as measured by the CBQ-VSF were investigated. The results supported a hierarchical model. Moderate convergent validity of the second-order latent EC factor was found in that it correlated with compliance and observed EC tasks. Both CBQ-VSF EC measures were also negatively correlated with child physical aggression. The results have implications for the measurement, modeling, and interpretation of EC applying the CBQ.
authors.affiliation: a The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Agathe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Backer-Grøndahl
authors.affiliation: a The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Ane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nærde
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology , University of Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ulleberg
authors.affiliation: a The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janson
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament