Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Chinese Children: Teacher Reports for Ages 6 to 11

Abstract

This study examined the applicability of the Chinese Version of Teacher's Report Form (TRF-CV) and estimated the prevalence of behavioral problems in a general population sample of 2936 children aged 6 through 11 years in the Shandong Province of China. Teachers completed the TRF-CV and the Conners Hyperkinesis Index (CHI). The TRF-CV total scale showed satisfactory 2-week test–retest reliability (r = .83) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .94). The TRF-CV Total Problems, Attention Problems, Delinquent Behavior, and Aggressive Behavior had acceptable concurrent validity with the CHI (mean r = .62). With the TRF-CV Total Problems score of 26 as a cutoff, an overall correct classification rate of 90% for clinical sample and nonreferral required children was obtained. Exploratory factor analysis yielded six syndromes: Aggressive/Delinquent Behavior, Withdrawn/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Attention Problems, Social Problems, and Thought Problems, with significant correlations with corresponding American cross-informant syndromes (mean r = .84). The overall prevalence rate of behavioral problems was 15.5% (95% CI = 14.2–16.8%), with a boy-to-girl ratio of 2.0: 1 (χ² = 59.70, p < .001). Younger boys exhibited more externalizing problems. These findings indicate that the TRF-CV is applicable for Chinese children, and the prevalence of behavioral problems shown by it among Chinese children seems comparable to that found in other countries. Although most of the American syndromes were well replicated, the differences in the present subjects, when submitted to principal components analysis, from American samples from whom the original syndromes were derived, could have prevented the study from replicating distinctions between aggressive vs. delinquent and depressed vs. withdrawn syndromes.