title: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): Factor Structure and Gender Equivalence in Norwegian Adolescents.
abstract: Although frequently used with older adolescents, few studies of the factor structure, internal consistency and gender equivalence of the SDQ exists for this age group, with inconsistent findings. In the present study, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the five-factor structure of the SDQ in a population sample of 10,254 16-18 year-olds from the youth@hordaland study. Measurement invariance across gender was assessed using multigroup CFA. A modestly modified five-factor solution fitted the data acceptably, accounting for one cross loading and some local dependencies. Importantly, partial measurement non-invariance was identified, with differential item functioning in eight items, and higher correlations between emotional and conduct problems for boys compared to girls. Implications for use clinically and in research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Regional centre for child and youth mental health and child welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Tormod
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0968-7537
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bøe
authors.affiliation: Regional centre for child and youth mental health and child welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hysing
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health, Department of Public Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.|Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Jens Christoffer
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Skogen
authors.affiliation: Regional centre for child and youth mental health and child welfare, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Kyrre
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breivik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires