Description of the Questionnaire

The CBCL 1½–5 questionnaire is part of the ASEBA system (Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment) for preschool-aged children. It includes 99 statements related to emotional and behavioral problems in children aged 1½ to 5 years, which the parent or caregiver is asked to evaluate based on the frequency or intensity of occurrence. The questions cover three main levels: the normal level, which corresponds to 39% of the population, the borderline area, which concerns 5% of the population, and the clinical range, which includes 20% of the population.

Data Analysis and Use

The standardization of the questionnaire was based on a sample of 683 individuals from various geographical regions of Greece. The data analysis was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis, which verified the factorial structure of the instrument in accordance with the original design of its creators. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability index ranged from 0.52 to 0.87 across the seven subscales. For the two broad-band syndromes — internalizing and externalizing problems — the reliability values ranged from 0.82 to 0.94. Furthermore, test-retest reliability over a four-week period showed high consistency, with values ranging from 0.80 to 0.93.

Purpose

This specific questionnaire is used to assess the emotional and cognitive adjustment of preschool-aged children. Its aim is to provide a valid and reliable picture of the child’s emotional functioning and behaviors in daily life, contributing to the early identification of potential difficulties and timely intervention.

Scoring

The respondent must answer 99 problem-items using a three-point rating scale, where 0 indicates the statement is not true at all, 1 means it is somewhat or sometimes true, and 2 indicates it is very true or often true. The responses are grouped into two broad-band scales: the internalizing problems scale, which includes syndromes such as emotional reactivity, anxiety/depression, withdrawal, and somatic complaints, and the externalizing problems scale, which includes syndromes such as aggressive and oppositional behavior. In addition, a total problem score is calculated based on the sum of all item responses.

References

Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Integrative Guide to the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR, and TRF Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychology.
Achenbach, T. M., & Howell, C. T. (1993). Are American children’s problems getting worse? Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32, 1145–1154.
Tsaousis, I. (2009). Handbook for the Questionnaires and Profiles of Preschool Age of the ASEBA System. Athens: Ellinika Grammata.