Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Informant Variability in the Assessment of Childhood Depression

  • Chapter
Handbook of Depression in Children and Adolescents

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

Abstract

In the assessment of childhood dysfunction, multiple methods of assessment are routinely used. Method of assessment can refer to a variety of characteristics of the measure, including the source of information (e. g., parent, teacher, child), modalities of assessment (e. g., global ratings, projective techniques, “objective” personality tests), assessment format within a given modality (e. g., true/false, multiple choice, forced choice), and the extent to which the subject is aware of the assessment procedures and purposes (e. g., obtrusive vs. unobtrusive assessment), to mention a few. To assess childhood dysfunction, typically information is sought from several sources or informants. Parents, teachers, children, peers, clinicians, and others may be asked to provide information in a standardized way (e. g., psychological tests) regarding child functioning (see Mash & Terdal, 1988; Rutter, Tuma, & Lann, 1988). Understandably, not all informants will provide the same information, which is a primary reason for seeking input from diverse sources. The extent to which alternative sources of information vary in their views of the child is referred to here as informant variability.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., & Howell, C. T. (1987). Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: Implications of cross-informant correlations for situational specificity. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 213–232.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Altmann, E. O., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). The social behavior of depressed children: An observational study Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 29–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th ed. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angold, A., Weissman, W., John, K., Wickramaratne, P., & Prusoff, B. (1991). The effects of age and sex on depression ratings in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 67–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 53–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, H. R., Gould, M. S., & Staghezza, B. (1992). Aggregating data from multiple informants in child psychiatry epidemiological research. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 78–85.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, G. H., & Forehand, R. (1986). Maternal perceptions of child maladjustment as a function of the combined influence of child behavior and maternal depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 237–240.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D. T., & Fiske, D. (1959). Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 56, 81–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D. A. (1987). Utility of confirmatory factor analysis in test validation research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 584–594.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L J., & Meehl, P. E. (1955). Construct validity in psychological tests. Psychological Bulletin, 52, 281–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edelbrock, C. S., Costello, A. J., Dulcan, M. K., Conover, N. C., & Kalas, R. (1986). Parent-child agreement on child psychiatric symptoms assessed via structured interview. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 27, 181–190.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fauber, R., Forehand, R., Long, N., Burke, M., & Faust, J. (1987). The relationship of young adolescent CDI scores to their social and cognitive functioning. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 9, 161–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fergusson, D. M., Lynskey, M. T., & Horwood, L. J. (1993). The effect of maternal depression on maternal ratings of child behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 21, 245–269.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forehand, R., Brody, G., Slotkin, J., Fauber, R., McCombs, A., & Long, N. (1988). Young adolescent and maternal depression: Assessment, interrelations, and family predictors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 422–426.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forehand, R., Lautenschlager, G. J., Faust, J., & Graziano, W. G. (1986). Parent perceptions and parent-child interactions in clinic-referred children: A preliminary investigation of the effects of maternal depressive moods. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24, 73–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedlander, S., Weiss, D., & Traylor, J. (1986). Assessing the influence of maternal depression on the validity of the Child Behavior Checklist. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 123–133.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gurney, B. G., Jr., Shapiro, E. B., & Stover, L. (1968). Parental perceptions of maladjusted children: Agreement between parents and relation to mother-child interaction. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 113, 215–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, G., Fine, S., Marriage, K., Moretti, M., & Freeman, R. (1985). Cognitive bias and depression in psychiatrically disturbed children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 535–537.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herjanic, B., & Reich, W. (1982). Development of a structured psychiatric interview for children: Agreement between child and parent on individual symptoms. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 307–324.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinshaw, S. P., Han, S. S., Erhardt, D., & Huber, A. (1992). Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in preschool children: Correspondence among parent and teacher ratings and behavior observations. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 21, 143–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ines, T. M., & Sacco, W. P. (1992). Factors related to correspondence between teacher ratings of elementary student depression and student self-ratings. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 140–142.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivens, C., & Rehm, L. P. (1988). Assessment of childhood depression: Correspondence between reports by child, mother, and father. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 738–741.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, T., Grounds, L., & Haley, R. (1982). Correspondence between parents’ reports on the Behavior Problem Checklist. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 593–608.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, R. H., Lahey, B. B., & Strauss, C. C. (1983). Correlates of depressed mood in normal children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 29–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, P. S., Traylor, J., Xenakis, S. N., & Davis, H. (1988a). Child psychopathology rating scales and interrater agreement. I. Parents’ gender and psychiatric symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 442–450.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, P. S., Xenakis, S. N., Davis, H., & DeGroot, J. (1988b). Child psychopathology rating scales and interrater agreement. II. Child and family characteristics. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 451–461.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kashani, J. H., Orvaschel, H., Burk, J. A., & Reid, J. C. (1985). Informant variance: The issue of parent-child disagreement. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 437–441.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1989a). Developmental differences in depression. In B. B. Lahey & A. E. Kazdin (Eds.), Advances in clinical child psychology, Vol. 12 (pp. 193–219). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1989b). Identifying depression in children: A comparison of alternative selection criteria. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 431–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1992). Research design in clinical psychology, 2nd ed. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Colbus, D., & Rodgers, A. (1986). Assessment of depression and diagnosis of depressive disorder among psychiatrically disturbed children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 499–515.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., & Loar, L. (1983a). Correspondence of teacher ratings and direct observations of classroom behavior of psychiatric inpatient children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 549–564.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., Sherick, R. B., & Colbus, D. (1985). Assessment of overt behavior and childhood depression among psychiatrically disturbed children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 201–210.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., Unis, A. S., & Rancurello, M. D. (1983b). Child and parent evaluations of depression and aggression in psychiatric inpatient children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 401–413.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., & Unis, A. S. (1983c). Child, mother, and father evaluations of depression in psychiatric inpatient children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 167–180.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., Unis, A. S., & Esveldt-Dawson, K. (1983d). Assessment of childhood depression: Correspondence of child and parent ratings. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22, 157–164.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., French, N. H., Unis, A. S., Esveldt-Dawson, K., & Sherick, R. B. (1983e). Hopelessness, depression and suicidal intent among psychiatrically disturbed inpatient children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 504–510.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Heidish, I. E. (1984). Convergence of clinically derived diagnoses and parent checklists among inpatient children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 421–436.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Moser, J., Colbus, D., & Bell, R. (1985). Depressive symptoms among physically abused and psychiatrically disturbed children. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 298–307.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E., Sherick, R. B., Esveldt-Dawson, KL, & Rancurello, M. D. (1985). Nonverbal behavior and childhood depression. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 303–309.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolko, D. J., & Kazdin, A. E. (1993). Emotional/behavioral problems in clinic and nonclinic children: Correspondence among child, parent, and teacher reports. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 991–1006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1981). Rating scales to assess depression in school aged children. Acta Paedopsychiatrica, 46, 305–315.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • LaGreca, A. M. (Ed.) (1990). Through the eyes of the child: Obtaining self-reports from children and adolescents. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langford, L. M., & Alm, O. W. (1954). A comparison of parent judgments and child feelings concerning the self adjustment and social adjustment of twelve-year-old children. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 85, 39–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ledingham, J. E., Younger, A., Schwartzman, A., & Bergeron, G. (1982). Agreement among teacher, peer, and self-ratings of children’s aggression, withdrawal, and likability. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 363–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, M. M., & Tesiny, E. P. (1980). Assessment of childhood depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 43–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lefkowitz, M. M., & Tesiny, E. P. (1984). Rejection and depression: Prospective and contemporaneous analyses. Developmental Psychology, 20, 776–785.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R., Green, S. M., Lahey, B. B., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1990). Optimal informants on childhood disruptive behaviors. Development and Psychopathology, 1, 317–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loeber, R., Green, S. M., Lahey, B. B., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1991). Differences and similarities between children, mothers, and teachers as informants on disruptive child behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 19, 75–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson, D. (Ed.) (1981). Toward a psychology of situations: An interactional perspective. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mash, E., & Terdal, L. (Eds.) (1988). Behavioral assessment of childhood disorders, 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattison, R. E., Bagnato, S. J., & Strickler, E. (1987). Diagnostic importance of combined parent and teacher ratings on the Revised Problem Checklist. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 617–628.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCauley, E., Mitchell, J. R., Burke, P., & Moss, S. (1988). Cognitive attributes of depression in children and adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 903–908.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moretti, M. M., Fine, S., Haley, G., & Marriage, K. (1985). Childhood and adolescent depression: Child-report versus parent-report information. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 298–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Offord, D. R., Boyle, M. H., & Racine, Y (1989). Ontario Child Health Study. Correlates of disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 856–860.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Orvaschel, H., Puig-Antich, J., Chambers, W., Tabrizi, M. A., & Johnson, R. (1982). Retrospective assessment of prepubertal major depression with the Kiddie-SADS-E. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 21, 392–397.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phares, V., Compas, B. E., & Howell, D. C. (1989). Perspectives on child behavior problems: Comparisons of children’s self-reports with parent and teacher reports. Psychological Assessment, 1, 68–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piacentini, J. C., Cohen, P., & Cohen, J. (1992). Combining discrepant diagnostic information from multiple sources: Are complex algorithms better than simple ones?. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 20, 51–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piers, E. V. (1972). Parent prediction of children’s self-concepts. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 38, 428–433.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reich, W., & Earls, F. (1987). Rules for making psychiatric diagnosis in children on the basis of multiple sources of information: Preliminary strategies. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 601–616.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, W. M. (Ed.) (1992). Internalizing disorders in children and adolescents. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, W. M., Anderson, G., & Barteil, N. (1985). Measuring depression in children: A multi-method assessment investigation. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 513–526.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romano, B. A., & Nelson, R. O. (1988). Discriminant and concurrent validity of measures of children’s depression. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 17, 255–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Tuma, A. H., & Lann, I. S. (Eds.) (1988). Assessment and diagnosis of child psychopathology. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacco, W. P., & Graves, D. J. (1984). Childhood depression, interpersonal problem-solving, and self-ratings of performance. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 13, 10–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saylor, C. F., Finch, A. J., Baskin, C. H., Furey, W., & Kelly, M. M. (1984a). Construct validity for measures of childhood depression: Application of multitrait-multimethod methodology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 977–985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saylor, C. F., Finch, A. J., Jr., Spirito, A., & Bennett, B. (1984b). The Children’s Depression Inventory: A systematic evaluation of psychometric properties. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 955–967.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shoemaker, O. S., Erickson, M. T., & Finch, A. J., Jr. (1986). Depression and anger in third-and fourth-grade boys: A multimethod assessment approach. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 15, 290–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slotkin, J., Forehand, R., Fauber, R., McCombs, A., & Long, N. (1988). Parent-completed and adolescent-completed CDIs: Relationship to adolescent social and cognitive function. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 207–217.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smucker, M. R., Craighead, W. E., Craighead, L. W., & Green, B. J. (1986). Normative and reliability data for the Children’s Depression Inventory. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 25–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanger, C., & Lewis, M. (1993). Agreement among parents, teachers, and children on internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22, 107–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, C. C., Forehand, R. L., Frame, C., & Smith, K. (1984). Characteristics of children with extreme scores on the Children’s Depression Inventory. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 13, 227–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesiny, E. P., & Lefkowitz, M. M. (1982). Childhood depression: A 6-month follow-up study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 778–780.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tesiny, E. P., Lefkowitz, M. M., & Gordon, N. H. (1980). Childhood depression, locus of control, and school achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72, 506–510.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Touliatos, J., & Lindholm, B. W. (1981). Congurence of parents’ and teachers’ ratings of children’s behavior problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 9, 347–354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Treiber, F. A., & Mabe, P. A., III (1987). Child and parent perceptions of children’s psychopathology in psychiatric outpatient children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 115–124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verhulst, F. C., & Koot, H. M. (1992). Child psychiatric epidemiology: Concepts, methods, and findings. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victor, J. B., Halverson, C. E., Jr., & Wampler, K. S. (1988). Family-school context: Parent and teacher agreement on child temperament. Journal of Consulting and Clinical psychology, 56, 573–577.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster-Stratton, C. (1988). Mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of child deviance: Roles of parent and child behaviors and parent adjustment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 909–915.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster-Stratton, C., & Hammond, M. (1988). Maternal depression and its relationship to life stress, perceptions of child behavior problems, parenting behaviors, and child conduct problems. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 299–315.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, M. M., Orvaschel, H., & Padian, N. (1980). Children’s symptom and social functioning self-report scales: Comparison of mothers’ and children’s reports. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168, 736–740.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welner, Z., Reich, W., Herjanic, B., Jung, K. G., & Amado, H. (1987). Reliability, validity, and parent-child agreement studies of the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents (DICA). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 649–653.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, V. Y., Finch, A. J., Jr., Saylor, C. F., Blount, R. L., Pallmeyer, T. P., & Carek, D. J. (1987). Negative affectivity in children: A multitrait-multimethod investigation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 245–250.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520-8205, USA

    Alan E. Kazdin

Authors
  1. Alan E. Kazdin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    William M. Reynolds

  2. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, Canada

    Hugh F. Johnston

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kazdin, A.E. (1994). Informant Variability in the Assessment of Childhood Depression. In: Reynolds, W.M., Johnston, H.F. (eds) Handbook of Depression in Children and Adolescents. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1510-8_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1510-8_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1512-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-1510-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation