Validation of child behavior inventory for children ages 1 1/2 to 5 years (CBCL 1 1/2-5) at the Santiago de Chile City Validación del inventario de conductas infantiles para niños de entre 11/2-5 años (CBCL 11/2-5) en la Ciudad de Santiago de Chile

Abstract

Prevalence studies in infant and preschool mental health have been scarce and insufficient. Considering the ample neurobiological, psychological, economical and social evidence that has demonstrated that intervening in early years may be a highly effective strategy for lowering the rates of mental health problems, is urgent to find prevalence data about early emotional and behavioral problems. To validate an instrument called Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 (CBCL 1-5-5). The study was made through a process with expert judges, and subsequently, reliability and validation results were obtained in a sample of 418 children from Region Metropolitana. Data from a Chilean sample confirmed the bi-factorial model originally proposed by the authors who create the instrument. Internalizing dimension account for anxious-depression symptoms', somatic complaints, and withdrawal in children, and Externalizing dimension account for atentional and behavioral problems. The CBCL 1.5-5 is a valid