Parent and Child Discrepancies in Reporting Severity of Problem Behaviors in Three Out-of-Home Settings

This study compared scores on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) for samples of youths in 3 out-of-home placements with varying levels of restrictiveness. Mean CBCL T scores were more than a standard deviation higher than mean YSR T scores on the broadband scales and about 2/3 of a standard deviation higher on the syndrome scales. The magnitude of the discrepancy varied between placements for several scales, with the least restrictive placements having the largest difference between CBCL and YSR ratings for the Externalizing scale. For the Internalizing scale, the discrepancy was larger for older youths (ages 15-18) than for younger youths (ages 11-14). These results support previous findings that in clinical samples, adults rate children's behavioral and emotional problems as more severe than do children themselves. This study extends prior research by demonstrating the occurrence of this discrepancy across a continuum of care.