Broad-band dimensions of psychopathology: factor scales for the Personality Inventory for Children.
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abstract
Broad-band factor scales were constructed from a factor analysis of the 313 inventory items that comprise the 12 consecutive Personality Inventory for Children clinical-profile scales (Achievement through Social Skills). Consecutive analyses extracted 12-, 10-, 8-, and 6-factor solutions using data from a sample of 1,226 behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents. The 6-factor solution provided sufficiently robust item clusters to develop scales reflecting the following 4 dimensions: Undisciplined/Poor Self-Control, Social Incompetence, Internalization/Somatic Symptoms, and Cognitive Development. These scales, normed using the original standardization sample of 2,582 6-26 yr olds obtained coefficients of internal consistency of .81-.92 and average estimates of test-retest reliability across 3 samples of .82-.92. Investigation of the scales' validity demonstrated their ability to separate meaningfully 6 homogeneous samples: delinquent, hyperactive, cerebral-dysfunction, somatizing, retarded, and psychotic children. The similarity between these scales and the broad-band dimensions identified by other investigators is discussed. Efforts to improve factor-scale utility are noted. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). 1982 American Psychological Association.
