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To examine and compare the psychometric properties of two short screening instruments for children and adolescents suffering from attention deficit-/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The Conners’ Hyperactivity Index consists of ten items that assess symptoms of hyperactivity through self-report and parents’ proxy. The German ADHD Rating scale (FBB-HKS/ADHS) consists of 20 items that assess the severity and perceived burden of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness as defined by the ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Within the BELLA module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), the parents of 2,863 children and adolescents rated the Conners’ Hyperactivity Index and the FBB-HKS. The internal consistency of item responses was assessed via Cronbach’s α and showed that both instrument scores were able to obtain a reliable measurement. The factorial validity of the FBB-HKS measurement model as well as the unidimensionality of the Conners’ scale was tested by means of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA), indicating satisfactory goodness of fit for the FBB-HKS (RMSEA = 0.06) and some deviation from the unidimensionality assumption of the Conners’ scale. Stability of results across age could be confirmed with few exceptions. Mean scores differences were found between both sexes, age groups, and different socioeconomic status groups (Winkler-Index) with males, younger respondents, and children with low socioeconomic status displaying more ADHD-related behaviour. Correlation coefficients between the two instruments’ scores and other scales assessing emotional and behavioural problems hinted at convergent validity. Both instruments’ scores showed reliability as well as factorial and convergent / discriminant validity. The pros and cons of the two instruments as well as for which purpose and under which circumstances one of the measures can be favoured must be considered prior to applying such a measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief screening instrument that addresses negative and positive behavioural attributes of children and adolescents in the age range of 4–16 years and can be completed by parents, teachers, and as a self-report. Furthermore, the impact supplement of the extended SDQ surveys for perceived problems, impact, and burden. This paper aims to examine the psychometric properties of the parent form and to investigate differences in the SDQ scores for sociodemographic and socioeconomic subgroups. Patterns of association with other measures of mental health and descriptive comparison with the first normative sample are also reported. Within the BELLA study module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), a total of 2,406 children and adolescents aged 7–16 years as well as their parents answered the items of the SDQ and the additional impact supplement. The internal consistency of scale responses was assessed via Cronbach’s α (alpha). Likert scale assumptions of sufficient and similar item-total correlation and item variance were investigated. The factorial validity of the SDQ measurement model was tested by means of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Mean score differences between males and females, age groups (7–10 years vs. 11–16 years), and socioeconomic status groups (Winkler index) were examined via ANOVA. Factor analysis provided an exact replication of the original five-factor SDQ subscale structure. All subscales were sufficiently homogeneous. The mean total difficulties and SDQ subscale scores of the BELLA sample did not differ from the first German normative data. Younger children were more impaired on various SDQ scales than older children, girls were more emotionally affected, and boys showed more externalising problems. The present study confirmed the validity and reliability of the parent-reported SDQ scale structure. The SDQ was found to be a valid and helpful questionnaire for use in the framework of an epidemiological survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]