A dimensional approach to the assessment of social competence in boys.

Abstract

Mothers of 93 7-11-year-old boys seeking treatment for their sons' peer relationship problems completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; T. M. Achenbach & C. S. Edelbrock, 1983). Factor analysis was used to identify subscales that tap social competence within the CBCL, the Social Skills Rating System (F. M. Gresham & S. N. Elliott, 1990) for parents, and the Pupil Evaluation Inventory (E. Pekarik, R. Prinz, D. Liebert, S. Weintraub, & J. Neil, 1976) for teachers. Among the CBCL scales, only the Social Withdrawal scale and 1 Social Competence subscale tapped a Social Competence factor in common with Social Competence subscales from the other instruments. Combinations of CBCL scales resulted in improved classification of social competence over base rates