The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Early evidence of its reliability and validity in a community sample of Italian children

The aim of this pilot study was to contribute to the validation of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1999 and Goodman, 2001) administered to a community sample of 1394 Italian children aged 8–10 years. Significant differences were found according to gender. The internal consistency of the Total Difficulties Score was good. The reliability of the self-report SDQ subscales was somewhat less satisfactory. A confirmatory factor analysis carried out on the overall sample led to three interpretable factors. While the self-report SDQ was designed for youths aged 11 years and over, the current data confirm that the scale may provide valid information about psychopathological symptoms in children as young as 8 years.