Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reliability and Validity of Preschool Feelings Checklist

  • Published:
Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Preschool Feelings Checklist (PFC) is a 16-item parent report measure of depressive symptoms in young children. However, data on its reliability and validity are limited. We examined the internal consistency and convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the PFC in an unselected community sample of 490 3-year old children. Child psychopathology was assessed using semi-structured diagnostic interviews conducted with a parent at ages 3 and 6 (the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment) and with the child and a parent at ages 9, 12, and 15 (the Kiddie Schedule for the Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime Version). The PFC exhibited good internal consistency. It was concurrently associated with depression, as well as a wide range of other psychiatric disorders and functional impairment. Similarly, the PFC at 3 years independently predicted depression and a range of other disorders and global functioning in subsequent assessments later in childhood and in adolescence. Finally, the PFC outperformed the longer Child Behavior Checklist in predicting diagnoses and functioning. Results support the concurrent and predictive validity of the PFC in preschoolers. However, it also exhibited concurrent and predictive associations with a number of other disorders, suggesting that it indexes a broad transdiagnostic liability for psychopathology and impairment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of Data and Material

All data, syntax for analyses, and research materials are available upon request to the senior author.

Code Availability

All data, syntax for analyses, and research materials are available upon request to the senior author.

References

  • Achenbach, T.M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2000). Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1 1/2–5. ASEBA. University of Vermont.

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. (2001). Aseba school-age forms & profiles. ASEBA.

  • Barch, D. M., Gaffrey, M. S., Botteron, K. N., Belden, A. C., & Luby, J. L. (2012). Functional Brain Activation to Emotionally Valenced Faces in School-Aged Children with a History of Preschool-Onset Major Depression. Biological Psychiatry, 72(12), 1035–1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.009

  • Bufferd, S., Dougherty, L., Carlson, G., & Klein, D. (2011). Parent-reported mental health in preschoolers: findings using a diagnostic interview. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 52(4), 359–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.08.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bufferd, S., Dougherty, L., Carlson, G., Rose, S., & Klein, D. (2012). Psychiatric disorders in preschoolers: Continuity from ages 3 to 6. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(11), 1157–1164. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12020268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, A.S., & Briggs-Gowan, M. (2000). The Infant–Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA). Unpublished Manual. Univer- sity of Massachusetts Boston Department of Psychology, Boston, MA. Yale University, New Haven, CT.

  • Copeland, W., Shanahan, L., Costello, E. J., & Angold, A. (2011). Cumulative Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders by Young Adulthood: A Prospective Cohort Analysis From the Great Smoky Mountains Study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(3), 252–261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.12.014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuijpers, P., & Smit, F. (2004). Subthreshold depression as a risk indicator for major depressive disorder: a systematic review of prospective studies. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 109(5), 325–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, C. E., & Luby, J. L. (2008). Depression and Social Functioning in Preschool Children with Chronic Medical Conditions. The Journal of Pediatrics, 153(3), 408–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.03.035.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Denham, S., Caverly, S., Schmidt, M., Blair, K., DeMulder, E., Caal, S., et al. (2002). Preschool understanding of emotions: contributions to classroom anger and aggression. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43, 901–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denham, S., Blair, K., DeMulder, E., Levitas, J., Sawyer, K., Auerbach-Major, S., & Queenan, P. (2003). Preschool emotional competence: pathway to social competence? Child Development, 74, 238–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domènech-Llaberia, E., Viñas, F., Pla, E., Jané, M. C., Mitjavila, M., Corbella, T., & Canals, J. (2009). Prevalence of major depression in preschool children. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 18(10), 597–604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-009-0019-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dougherty, L., Bufferd, S., Carlson, G., Dyson, M., Olino, T., & Klein, D. (2011). Preschoolers’ observed temperament and psychiatric disorders assessed with a parent diagnostic interview. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40, 295–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egger, H. L., Ascher, B. H., & Angold, A. (1999). The Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment: Version 1.1. Durham, NC: Center for Developmental Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center.

  • First, M. B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M., & Williams, J. B. W. (1996). The structured clinical interview for DSM–IV Axis I disorders – Non-patient edition. New York, NY: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuhrmann, P., Equit, M., Schmidt, K., & Gontard, A. V. (2013). Prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated developmental disorders in preschool children: a population-based study. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 23(4), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-013-0452-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gadow, K. D., & Sprafkin, J. (1997). Childhood Symptom Inventory-4 screening and norms manual. Stony Brook, NY: Checkmate Plus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffrey, M. S., Barch, D. M., Bogdan, R., Farris, K., Petersen, S. E., & Luby, J. L. (2018). Amygdala Reward Reactivity Mediates the Association Between Preschool Stress Response and Depression Severity. Biological Psychiatry, 83(2), 128–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.08.020.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffrey, M. S., Barch, D. M., Singer, J., Shenoy, R., & Luby, J. L. (2013). Disrupted Amygdala Reactivity in Depressed 4- to 6-Year-Old Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(7), 737–746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2013.04.009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffrey, M. S., Tillman, R., Barch, D. M., & Luby, J. L. (2018). Continuity and stability of preschool depression from childhood through adolescence and following the onset of puberty. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 86, 39–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.07.010.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • IBM Corp. Released 2017. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

  • Kaufman, J., Birmaher, B., Brent, D., Rao, U., Flynn, C., Moreci, P., et al. (1997). Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL): Initial Reliability and Validity Data. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(7), 980–988. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199707000-00021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, D. N., Goldstein, B. L., & Finsaas, M. (2017). Depressive disorders. In T. P. Beauchaine & S. P. Hinshaw (Eds.), Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (3rd ed., pp. 610–641). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, D. N., Shankman, S. A., Lewinsohn, P. M., & Seeley, J. R. (2009). Subthreshold depressive disorder in adolescents: Predictors of escalation to full syndrome depressive disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48, 703–710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1992). Children’s depression inventory: manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lavigne, J. V., Lebailly, S. A., Hopkins, J., Gouze, K. R., & Binns, H. J. (2009). The Prevalence of ADHD, ODD, Depression, and Anxiety in a Community Sample of 4-Year-Olds. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 38(3), 315–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/1537441090285138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Belden, A. C., Pautsch, J., Si, X., & Spitznagel, E. (2009). The clinical significance of preschool depression: Impairment in functioning and clinical markers of the disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 112(1–3), 111–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2008.03.026.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Gaffrey, M. S., Tillman, R., April, L. M., & Belden, A. C. (2014). Trajectories of Preschool Disorders to Full DSM Depression at School Age and Early Adolescence: Continuity of Preschool Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(7), 768–776. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13091198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Heffelfinger, A., Koenig-Mcnaught, A. L., Brown, K., & Spitznagel, E. (2004). The Preschool Feelings Checklist: A Brief and Sensitive Screening Measure for Depression in Young Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(6), 708–717. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.chi.0000121066.29744.08.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Heffelfinger, A. K., Mrakotsky, C., Hessler, M. J., Brown, K. M., & Hildebrand, T. (2002). Preschool Major Depressive Disorder: Preliminary Validation for Developmentally Modified DSM-IV Criteria. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(8), 928–937. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200208000-00011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Heffelfinger, A., Mrakotsky, C., Brown, K., Hessler, M., & Spitznagel, E. (2003). Alterations in Stress Cortisol Reactivity in Depressed Preschoolers Relative to Psychiatric and No-Disorder Comparison Groups. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(12), 1248. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.60.12.1248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luby, J. L., Si, X., Belden, A. C., Tandon, M., & Spitznagel, E. (2009). Preschool depression: Homotypic continuity and course over 24 months. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(8), 897. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.97.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lyneham, H., & Rapee, R. (2005). Agreement between telephone and in-person delivery of a structured interview for anxiety disorders in children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 44(3), 274–282. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200503000-00012.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moffitt, T. E., Caspi, A., Taylor, A., Kokaua, J., Milne, B. J., Polanczyk, G., & Poulton, R. (2010). How common are common mental disorders? Evidence that lifetime prevalence rates are doubled by prospective versus retrospective ascertainment. Psychological Medicine, 40(6), 899–909. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291709991036.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L.K. and Muthén, B.O. (1998–2017). Mplus User’s Guide. Eighth Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén

  • R Core Team (2013). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org/.

  • Rice, M. E., & Harris, G. T. (2005). Comparing effect sizes in follow-up studies: ROC Area, Cohen’s d, and r. Law and Human Behavior, 29(5), 615–620. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10979-005-6832-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, C. E., Lenze, S. N., & Luby, J. L. (2013). Late Preterm Birth, Maternal Depression, and Risk of Preschool Psychiatric Disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(3), 309–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2012.12.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, D. (1983). A Childrens Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Archives of General Psychiatry, 40(11), 1228. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1983.01790100074010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wesselhoeft, R., Sørensen, M. J., Heiervang, E. R., & Bilenberg, N. (2013). Subthreshold depression in children and adolescents–a systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 151(1), 7–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wichstrøm, L., Berg-Nielsen, T. S., Angold, A., Egger, H. L., Solheim, E., & Sveen, T. H. (2011). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in preschoolers. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(6), 695–705. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02514.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Support for this research was provided by funding through NIMH R01 MH069942 (Klein) and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, grant NSF 16-588 (Silver)

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Jamilah Silver, Mariah H. Hawes & Daniel N. Klein

  2. Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Thomas M. Olino

  3. School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Joan Luby

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Gabrielle A. Carlson

Authors
  1. Jamilah Silver
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas M. Olino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joan Luby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mariah H. Hawes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gabrielle A. Carlson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Daniel N. Klein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors whose names appear on the submission made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; or the creation of new software used in the work; drafted the work or revised it critically for important intellectual content; approved the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jamilah Silver.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of Interest

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethics Approval

The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Silver, J., Olino, T.M., Luby, J. et al. Reliability and Validity of Preschool Feelings Checklist. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 49, 367–379 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00746-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00746-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation