Validation of the Malay Version of the Self-rated Strength and Difficulties (SDQ) Questionnaire

Abstract

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening questionnaire that measures children's problems. The Malay self-rated version psychometric properties had not been investigated. Objective: The present study aims to translate the English self-report version of Strengths and Difficulties (SDQ) Questionnaire into Malay language and investigate its psychometric properties. Methods: Two forward and backward translations were done. Face validity was carried out and followed by reliability and validation process. A total of 300 secondary school adolescents participated in the validation study. Preliminary data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics while the theoretical structure of the SDQ was assessed using EFA and CFA. Model fits were assessed using Chi-square test and other fit indices at 5% significance level. Results: A total of 281 fully complete questionnaires were assessed. Cronbach's Alpha was acceptable with value of 0.70. The mean age of participants was 14.8±1.45 years. Results of the EFA and CFA revealed a model using the original 5-factor structure with total of 17 items as the best model (χ 2/ df =1.34) with all fit indices yielding the best results.