The General Factor of Psychopathology in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study: A Comparison of Alternative Modeling Approaches

Abstract

Many models of psychopathology include a single general factor of psychopathology (GFP) or “ p factor” to account for covariation across symptoms. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study provides a rich opportunity to study the development of the GFP. However, a variety of approaches for modeling the GFP have emerged, raising questions about how modeling choices affect estimated GFP scores. We used the ABCD baseline assessment (ages 9–10 years old; N = 11,875) of the parent-rated Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to examine the implications of modeling the GFP using items versus scales, using a priori CBCL scales versus data-driven dimensions, and using bifactor, higher order, or single-factor models. Children’s rank-ordering on the GFP was stable across models, and GFP scores were similarly related to criterion variables. Results suggest that although theoretical debates about modeling the GFP continue, the practical implications of these choices for rank-ordering children and assessing external associations will often be modest.