Higher- and lower-order factor analyses of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire in early and middle childhood.

Abstract

The Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ; Rothbart, Ahadi, & Hershey, 1994), a 195-item parent-report questionnaire, is one of the most widely used measures of child temperament, with previous analyses of its scales suggesting that three broad factors account for the overarching structure of child temperament (Rothbart, Ahadi, Hersey, & Fisher, 2001). However, there are no published item-level factor analyses of the CBQ, meaning that it is currently unclear whether items clearly load onto CBQ scales as proposed by its developers. Additionally, although the CBQ is intended to cover a broad window of development (i.e., ages 3–7), little is known about whether the structure of the CBQ differs depending on child age. The present study used a bottom-up approach to examine the lower- and higher-order structure of the CBQ in a large community sample of children at ages 3 (N=944) and 5/6 (N=853). Item-level exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) identified 88 items at age 3 and 87 items at age 5/6 suitable (i.e., with loadings ≥.40) for constructing lower-order factors. Of the lower-order factors derived at ages 3 and 5/6, fewer than half resembled original CBQ scales (Rothbart et al., 1994; 2001). Higher-order EFAs of the lower-order factors suggested that a four-factor structure was the best fit at both ages 3 and 5/6. Thus, results indicate that a substantial number of CBQ items do not load well on a lower-order factor and that more than three factors are needed to account for its higher-order structure.

Higher and Lower Order Factor Analyses of the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire

“…These item-level results are not surprising. A previous study from our group (Kotelnikova et al, 2016) showed that less than half of the original 195 CBQ items loaded onto lower-order scales. The TMCQ was developed via a top-down approach as an adaptation of the CBQ for older children, and approximately a third of the TMCQ items were taken verbatim from the CBQ.…”

“…The fourth factor, labeled Sociability/Affiliation, combines Agreeableness and Openness to Experience. In the study of the CBQ previously mentioned (Kotelnikova et al, 2016), higher-order factor analyses yielded a model that showed only minimal resemblance to that proposed by Rothbart and colleagues (2001); in particular, while NA-like and Extraversion/Surgency-like factors were found, no clear EC factor was recovered (Kotelnikova et al, 2016). Given the item overlap between the TMCQ and CBQ noted earlier, and the lack of extensive factor-analytic work on the TMCQ, further analyses of its higher-order structure are clearly needed.…”

Measurement invariance and child temperament: An evaluation of sex and informant differences on the Child Behavior Questionnaire.

“…Kotelnikova et al, 2015). Typically, the Effortful Control dimension includes the facets of attentional focusing, inhibitory control, low intensity pleasure, and perceptual sensitivity (Rothbart et al, 2001).…”

Future Research Directions in the Positive Valence Systems: Measurement, Development, and Implications for Youth Unipolar Depression

“…However, across developmental periods and specific instruments, there are several key constructs assessed that are directly applicable to and fill the gaps that are left by other measures in assessing the PVS. Finally, although original Rothbart scales are described below, there may be alternative formulations of the items that better explain those data (Kotelnikova, Olino, Klein, Krysti, & Hayden, in press). However, these also may be useful for understanding PVS function.…”