Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): An update of the literature and instrumental study with schoolchildren. An update of the literature and instrumental study with schoolchildren

Introduction: Considering the current controversy regarding the factorial structure of the SDQ, this paper aimed to analyse the dimensionality and reliability of the parents’ version for children from 4 to 16 years of age, and to present descriptive data according to so-ciodemographic variables. Method: The factor structure of the original five-and three-factor models, and the reliability of the SDQ were examined among a sample of 621 parents of Uru-guayan children between 7 and 12 years of age (52% girls) from different socioeconomic levels. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses did not provide support for the five-and three-factor models. Data adjusted to three factors (prosociality, externalising symptoms, internalising symptoms) in an exploratory analysis with adequate reliability indices. Conclusions: The results of this study show the relevance of continued investigation of the SDQ internal structure, and further analysis of the behaviour of several of its items.