Ivanova et al. (2015a, b) performed confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) on Adult Self-Reports (ASRs) and Adult Behavior Checklists (ABCLs) completed to assess 18-59-year-olds. The ASRs were completed by 17,152 adults in 29 societies. The ABCLs were completed by 8,582 adults in 18 societies to describe a person they knew, such as a spouse, partner, family member, or friend. ASR respondents rated 120 problem items, whereas ABCL respondents rated 115 of the same items, plus three non-ASR items. Many of the ABCLs were completed for people who completed ASRs to describe themselves. Each item was rated 0 = not true, 1 = somewhat or sometimes true,or 2 = very true or often true, based on the preceding 6 months.
The CFAs tested the degree to which ASR and ABCL ratings in each society fit the 8-syndrome model that was previously derived from ratings of U.S. 18-59-year-olds. The syndromes are designated as Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, Somatic Complaints, Thought Problems, Attention Problems, Aggressive Behavior, Rule-Breaking Behavior, and Intrusive. As shown by the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), ASR data from all 29 societies and ABCL data from all 18 societies fit the 8-syndrome model well (all RMSEAs were <.034). Support for the ASR-ABCL syndrome model in many societies is consistent with support found previously for ASEBA syndrome models for ages 1½-5 and 6-18. The findings thus support use of the ASEBA syndrome models to score ratings of ASEBA problem items by various informants for ages 1½-59 years in many societies. Achenbach & Rescorla (2007, 2010, 2015) provide details of multicultural norms that can be used to evaluate syndrome scores.
References
Achenbach, T.M., Rescorla, L.A. (2007). Multicultural supplement to the Manual for the ASEBA School-Age Forms & Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families.
Achenbach, T.M., & Rescorla, L.A. (2010). Multicultural supplement to the Manual for the ASEBA Preschool Forms & Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families.
Achenbach, T.M., & Rescorla, L.A. (2015). Multicultural supplement to the Manual for the ASEBA Adult Forms & Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families.
Ivanova, M.Y., Achenbach, T.M., Rescorla, L.A., Turner, L.V., Ahmeti-Pronaj, A., Au, A., et al. (2015a). Syndromes of self-reported psychopathology for ages 18-59 in 29 societies. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 37, 171-183.
Ivanova, M.Y., Achenbach, T.M., Rescorla, L.A., Turner, L.V., Árnadóttir, H.A., Au, A., et al. (2015b). Syndromes of collateral-reported psychopathology for ages 18-59 in 18 societies. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 15, 18-28.