The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Early evidence of its reliability and validity in a community sample of Italian children

The aim of this pilot study was to contribute to the validation of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1999; 2001) administered to a community sample of 1394 Italian children aged 8-10 years. Significant differences were found according to gender. The internal consistency of the Total Difficulties Score was good. The reliability of the self-report SDQ subscales was somewhat less satisfactory. A confirmatory factor analysis carried out on the overall sample led to three interpretable factors. While the self-report SDQ was designed for youths aged 11 years and over, the current data confirm that the scale may provide valid information about psychopathological symptoms in children as young as 8 years. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.