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Equivalency for Father and Mother Ratings of the ADHD Symptoms

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Abstract

The study used multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) procedures to examine the measurement and construct equivalencies for father and mother ratings of ADHD symptoms, recoded as binary scores. Fathers (N = 387) and mothers (N = 411) rated their primary school-aged children on the Disruptive Behavior Rating Scale (Barkley & Murphy, 1998). For the multiple-group CFA analyses, the results involving differences in practical fit indices supported full measurement and construct equivalencies, whereas the chi-square difference test showed lack of equivalency in five symptoms for factor loadings, four symptoms for error variance, and the variance and mean scores for the hyperactivity-impulsivity factor. For the MIMIC analyses, six symptoms lacked equivalency for thresholds. These findings extend existing data in this area. The theoretical, psychometric and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

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Notes

  1. The fit values for the 2-factor ADHD model of the DBRS for the original ratings for fathers were WLSMVχ 2 (df = 49) = 504.43, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.155; CFI = 0.82; and TLI = 0.92. For mothers, they were WLSMVχ 2 (df = 47) = 333.43, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.109; CFI = 0.89; and TFI = 0.97. For both father and mother ratings together, the fit values were WLSMVχ 2 (df = 67) = 663.89, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.106; CFI = 0.86; and TLI = 0.96. Test of the configural model using the original ratings showed the fit to be WLSMVχ 2 (df = 49) = 1,055.76, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.140; CFI = 0.81; and TLI = 0.94. Together, these values indicated poor fit for all three models.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 30, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    Rapson Gomez

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Gomez, R. Equivalency for Father and Mother Ratings of the ADHD Symptoms. J Abnorm Child Psychol 38, 303–314 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9370-9

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