Abstract
This study investigated the prediction of signs of disturbance in 946 children originally aged 4 to 11 years from the general population across a 6-year period. Parents' and teachers' ratings obtained via the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher's Report Form (TRF) were tested as predictors of (a) academic problems, (b) school behavior problems, (c) receipt of mental health services, (d) child's need for professional help, (e) suicidal behavior, and (f) police contacts. Total problem scores in the deviant range on the CBCL or TRF were significantly associated with poor outcomes 6 years later. The combination of deviant scores on both the CBCL and TRF was a powerful predictor of poor outcomes with 56% of the girls, and 36% of the boys with total problem scores in the deviant range on both instruments maladjusted 6 years later. The CBCL syndromes Attention Problems and Delinquent Behavior, and the TRF syndromes Delinquent Behavior, Somatic Complaints, and Social Problems significantly predicted poor outcomes. Teachers' reports predicted poor outcomes equally well or even somewhat better than parents' reports. It is important to include teacher information in the diagnostic assessment of children.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M. (1982).Developmental psychopathology. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Achenbach, T. M. (1985).Assessment and taxonomy of child and adolescent psychopathology. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Achenbach, T. M. (1991a).Integrative guide for the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR, and TRF profiles. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M. (1991b).Manual for the CBCL/4-18 and 1991 profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M. (1991c).Manual for the TRF and 1991 profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., & Howell, C. T. (1987). Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: Implication of cross-informant correlations for situational specificity.Psychological Bulletin, 101, 213–332.
American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Bird, H., 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.
Klein, R., & Manuzza, S. (1991). Long-term outcome of hyperactive children: A review.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 383–387.
Loeber, R. (1982). The stability of antisocial and delinquent child behavior: A review.Child Development, 53, 1431–1446.
Loeber, R., Green, S. M., & Lahey, B. B. (1990). Mental health professionals' perception of the utility of children, mothers and teachers as informants on childhood psychopathology.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 136–143.
Loeber, R., Green, S. M., Lahey, B. B., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (1990). Optimal informants on childhood disruptive behaviors.Development and Psychopathology, 1, 317–337.
McConaughy, S. H., Stanger, C., & Achenbach, T. M. (1992). Three-year course of behavioral/emotional problems in a national sample of 4- to 16-year-olds: I. Agreement among informants.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 932–940.
Mehta, C. R., & Patel, N. R. (1983). A network algorithm for performing Fisher's Exact Test inr × c contingency tables.Journal of the American Statistical Association, 78, 427–434.
Reich, W., & Earls, F. (1987). Rules for making psychiatric diagnoses in children on the basis of multiple information: Preliminary strategies.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 601–616.
Schachar, R., Rutter, M., & Smith, A. (1981). The characteristics of situationally and pervasively hyperactive children: Implications for syndrome definition.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22, 375–392.
Stanger, C., Achenbach, T. M., & McConaughy, S. H. (1993). Three-year course of behavioral/emotional problems in a national sample of 4- to 16-year-olds: III. Predictors of signs of disturbance.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 839–848.
Stanger, C., McConaughy, S. H., & Achenbach, T. M. (1992). Three-year course of behavioral/emotional problems in a national sample of 4- to 16-year-olds: II. Predictors of syndromes.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 941–950.
Van Westerlaak, J. M., Kropman, J. A., & Collaris, J. W. M. (1975).Beroepenklapper [Index of occupations]. Nijmegen, Holland: Instituut voor Toegepaste Sociologie.
Verhulst, F. C., & Akkerhuis, G. W. (1986). Mental health in Dutch children: III. Behavioral-emotional problems reported by teachers of children aged 4–12.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (Suppl. 330),74.
Verhulst, F. C., & Akkerhuis, G. W. (1989). Agreement between parents' and teachers' ratings of behavioral/emotional problems of children aged 4–12.Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 123–136.
Verhulst, F. C., Akkerhuis, G. W., & Althaus, M. (1985). Mental health in Dutch children: I. A cross cultural comparison.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (Suppl. 323),72.
Verhulst, F. C., Berden, G. F. M., & Sanders-Woudstra, J. A. R. (1985). Mental health in Dutch children: II. Prevalence of psychiatric disorder and relationships between measures.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (Suppl. 324),72.
Verhulst, F. C., Koot, J. M., & Berden, G. F. M. J. (1990). Four-year follow-up of an epidemiological sample.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 440–448.
Verhulst, F. C., & Van der Ende, J. (1991a). Four-year follow-up of teacher-reported problem behaviors.Psychological Medicine, 21, 965–977.
Verhulst, F. C., & Van der Ende, J. (1991b). Assessment of child psychopathology: Relationships between different methods, different informants and clinical judgment of severity.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 84, 155–159.
Verhulst, F. C., & Van der Ende, J. (1992a). Six-year developmental course of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 924–931.
Verhulst, F. C., & Van der Ende, J. (1992b). Six-year stability of parent reported problem behavior in an epidemiological sample.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 20, 595–610.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We wish to thank Dr. Thomas Achenbach for his helpful advice. This research was supported by grants from the Sophia Foundation for Medical Research, and the Health Research Promotion Program.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verhulst, F.C., Koot, H.M. & Van der Ende, J. Differential predictive value of parents' and teachers' reports of children's problem behaviors: A longitudinal study. J Abnorm Child Psychol 22, 531–546 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168936
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168936