The reliability and validity of the Malay parent-report version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire

Abstract

Background: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a screening questionnaire that measures children’s emotional and behavioural problems. This study examines the reliability and validity of the Malay parent-report version of the SDQ. Methods: The Malay adult-report version of the SDQ was administered to 495 parents and 432 teachers, respectively. At the same time, a newly translated Malay child-report version of the SDQ was also administered to 150 children aged 13 to 14 years old in this community study. W e measured internal reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha for all reported data. Construct validity of the parent-report data was assessed using factor analysis. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was also subsequently perform on parent-report data to explain the model fit indices of this questionnaire. Result: Cronbach’s Alpha was acceptable for all parent, teacher and child-report data with values of 0.74, 0.77 and 0.78, respectively. Factor analysis of the parent’s report showed a fivefactor solution, which was consistent with other psychometric evaluations of the SDQ in other languages. CFA showed good model fit of the original five factor model which consists of emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, peer problem and pro-social scale. Conclusion: This study shows that the psychometric properties of the Malay parent-report version of the SDQ were similar to other parent-report version of the SDQ questionnaires in other languages, although cross-cultural differences may still exist.