Term: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2020-07-06

Definition:

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is one of the most commonly used instruments for screening psychopathology in children and adolescents. In Brownell et al. (2018), they evaluated the hypothesized five-factor structure of the SDQ and examined its convergent validity against comprehensive clinical diagnostic assessments.

NOTE: The SDQ dataset is a subset of the PAX program dataset.

There are five domains that are measured using SDQ:

1. Emotional Problems (item numbers 3, 8, 13, 16, 24);
   
2. Conduct Problems (item numbers 5, 7, 12, 18, 22);
   
3. Hyperactivity (item numbers 2, 10, 15, 21, 25);
   
4. Peer Problems (item numbers 6, 11, 14, 19, 23); and
   
5. Prosocial (item numbers 1, 4, 9, 17, 20).

Related terms 

• PAX

References 

• Brownell M, Chartier M, Au W, Schultz J, Stevenson D, Mayer T, Young V, Thomson T, Towns D, Hong S, McCulloch S, Burchill S, Jarmasz J. The PAX Program in Manitoba: A Population-Based Analysis of Children's Outcomes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2018. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)