Ten-Year Comparisons of Problems and Competencies for National Samples of Youth

Abstract

The Youth Self-Report (YSR;Achenbach, 1995), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL;Achenbach,2001),and Teacher's Report Form (TRF; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) were used to compare U.S. national samples of 11- to 18-year-olds assessed in 1989 and 1999. Reports by all informants concurred in showing small improvements in competencies and adaptive functioning and small declines in problems from 1989 to 1999. Correlations of .98 to .99 between mean problem item scores in 1989 and 1999 indicated very high stability for assessment via self-reports, parent reports, and teacher reports over 10 years. Cross-informant correlations were (a) YSR × CBCL = .38, (b) CBCL ×TRF = .36, and (c) TRF ×YSR = .20. No scales showed significant differences between scores obtained from any type of informant for youths assessed shortly before and after the Columbine High School shootings.