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Table 3 Standardised item loading coefficients for child behaviour checklist in a Kenyan preschool community sample

From: Evaluation of psychometric properties and factorial structure of the pre-school child behaviour checklist at the Kenyan Coast

Syndrome items

Standardised item loading coefficients (95 % CI)

Emotionally reactive

Overall: 0.47 (0.36–0.58)

 Disturbed by any change in routine

0.35 (0.23–0.47)

 Nervous movements or twitching

0.33 (0.21–0.45)

 Shows panic for no good reason

0.58 (0.48–0.68)

 Rapid shifts between sadness and excitement

0.23 (0.11–0.36)

 Sudden changes in mood or feelings

0.53 (0.42–0.63)

 Sulks a lot

0.63 (0.54–0.72)

 Upset by new people or situations

0.42 (0.30–0.53)

 Whining

0.59 (0.49–0.68)

 Worries

0.60 (0.50–0.70)

Anxious depressed

Overall: 0.53 (0.43–0.63)

 Clings to adults or too dependent

0.44 (0.32–0.55)

 Feelings are easily hurt

0.53 (0.43–0.63)

 Gets too upset when separated from parents

0.50 (0.40–0.61)

 Looks unhappy without good reason

0.68 (0.60–0.77)

 Nervous, high-strung, or tense

0.51 (0.41–0.59)

 Self-conscious or easily embarrassed

0.41 (0.29–0.52)

 Too fearful or anxious

0.59 (0.50–0.69)

 Unhappy, sad, or depressed

0.58 (0.48–0.68)

Somatic complaints

Overall: 0.46 (0.35–0.57)

 Aches or pains (without medical cause)

0.35 (0.24–0.48)

 Can’t stand having things out of place

0.31 (0.19–0.43)

 Constipated, doesn’t move bowels (when not sick)

0.51 (0.41–0.62)

 Diarrhoea or loose bowels (when not sick)

0.59 (0.49–0.68)

 Doesn’t eat well

0.27 (0.15–0.39)

 Headaches (without medical cause)

0.63 (0.54–0.72)

 Nausea, feels sick (without medical cause)

0.58 (0.48–0.68)

 Painful bowel movements (without medical cause)

0.49 (0.37–0.58)

 Stomach-aches or cramps (without medical cause)

0.70 (0.62–0.78)

 Too concerned with neatness or cleanliness

0.20 (0.07–0.32)

 Vomiting, throwing up (without medical cause)

0.44 (0.33–0.55)

Withdrawn

Overall: 0.38 (0.28–0.52)

 Acts too young for age

0.04 (0.00–0.18)

 Avoids looking other in the eye

0.42 (0.28–0.55)

 Doesn’t answer when people talk to him or her

0.38 (0.24–0.51)

 Refuses to play active games

0.32 (0.18–0.45)

 Seems unresponsive to affection

0.47 (0.33–0.61)

 Shows little affection toward people

0.58 (0.44–0.73)

 Shows little interest in things around her

0.48 (0.33–0.63)

 Withdrawn, doesn’t get involved with others

0.32 (0.17–0.47)

Sleep problems

Overall: 0.51 (0.40–0.61)

 Doesn’t want to sleep alone

0.22 (0.09–0.34)

 Has trouble getting to sleep

0.48 (0.37–0.59)

 Nightmares

0.51 (0.40–0.62)

 Resists going to bed at night

0.47 (0.36–0.58)

 Sleeps less than most kids during and/or night

0.49 (0.37–0.60)

 Talks or cries out in sleep

0.70 (0.61–0.80)

 Wakes up often at night

0.67 (0.57–0.76)

Attention problems

Overall: 0.45 (0.31–0.60)

 Can’t concentrate, can’t pay attention for long

0.59 (0.46–0.73)

 Can’t sit still, restless, or hyperactive

0.62 (0.48–0.76)

 Poorly coordinated or clumsy

0.39 (0.24–0.54)

 Quickly shifts from one activity to another

0.41 (0.27–0.55)

 Wanders away

0.26 (0.11–0.40)

Aggressive behaviour

Overall: 0.50 (0.40–0.59)

 Can’t stand waiting; wants everything now

0.53 (0.44–0.62)

 Defiant

0.52 (0.43–0.62)

 Demands must be met immediately

0.52 (0.43–0.61)

 Destroys things belonging to his/her family or other children

0.59 (0.51–0.68)

 Disobedient

0.36 (0.25–0.47)

 Doesn’t seem to feel guilty after misbehaving

0.49 (0.39–0.59)

 Easily frustrated

0.51 (0.42–0.61)

 Gets in many fights

0.62 (0.54–0.70)

 Hits others

0.67 (0.60–0.74)

 Hurts animals or people without meaning to

0.20 (0.08–0.31)

 Angry moods

0.62 (0.54–0.70)

 Physically attacks people

0.53 (0.44–0.63)

 Punishment doesn’t change his/her behaviour

0.30 (0.19–0.42)

 Screams a lot

0.61 (0.53–0.69)

 Selfish or won’t share

0.54 (0.44–0.63)

 Stubborn, sullen or irritable

0.60 (0.51–0.68)

 Temper tantrums or hot temper

0.52 (0.43–0.61)

 Uncooperative

0.27 (0.15–0.49)

 Wants a lot of attention

0.38 (0.27–0.49)

  1. Standardised item loading computed with confirmatory factor analysis implemented with structural equation modelling. Individual item loadings were averaged to produce mean loadings for a specific syndrome. Acceptable factor loadings were those >0.40 for the overall subscale