Testing the structure of the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 using confirmatory factor analysis

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the factor structure of T. M. Achenbach's eight cross-informant syndrome scales of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18) using data generated on a sample of 631 youngsters, ages 8 to 18 years (M = 14.02, SD = 2.39), who had been classified as having serious emotional disturbances. Results of the CFA (overall fit, pattern of factor loadings, and syndrome correlations) support Achenbach's eight-correlated-factor model and provide additional evidence of the construct validity of the scores obtained from the CBCL/4-18.