Developmentally and culturally appropriate screening in primary care: Development of the behavioral health checklist

Thomas J. Power, Anson J. Koshy, Marley W. Watkins, Michael C. Cassano, Andrea C. Wahlberg, Jennifer A. Mautone, Nathan J. Blum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the construct validity of the Behavioral Health Checklist (BHCL) for children aged from 4 to 12 years from diverse backgrounds. Method The parents of 4-12-year-old children completed the BHCL in urban and suburban primary care practices affiliated with a tertiary-care children's hospital. Across practices, 1,702 were eligible and 1,406 (82.6%) provided consent. Children of participating parents were primarily non-Hispanic black/African American and white/Caucasian from low-to middle-income groups. Confirmatory factor analyses examined model fit for the total sample and subsamples defined by demographic characteristics. Results The findings supported the hypothesized 3-factor structure: Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems, and Inattention/Hyperactivity. The model demonstrated adequate to good fit across age-groups, gender, races, income groups, and suburban versus urban practices. Conclusion The findings provide strong evidence of the construct validity, developmental appropriateness, and cultural sensitivity of the BHCL when used for screening in primary care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1155-1164
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of pediatric psychology
Volume38
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2013

Keywords

  • Behavior problems
  • Mental health
  • Primary care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Developmentally and culturally appropriate screening in primary care: Development of the behavioral health checklist'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this