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Psychometric Properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N)

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Title: Psychometric Properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N)
Language: English
Authors: Maria Cañas (ORCID 0000-0002-4269-7497), Maria Usacheva, Lindsay F. Armendariz, Susan Goff Timmer (ORCID 0000-0002-1005-952X)
Source: Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. 2026 34(1):17-29.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Psychometrics, Child Behavior, Measures (Individuals), Behavior Problems, Item Response Theory, Factor Analysis, Pretests Posttests, Test Reliability, Test Validity, Diagnostic Tests, Cutting Scores, Screening Tests, Progress Monitoring, Correlation, Functional Behavioral Assessment, Mental Health, Stress Variables, Child Rearing, Likert Scales
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, Parenting Stress Index
DOI: 10.1177/10634266251343620
ISSN: 1063-4266
1538-4799
Abstract: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N), a brief, nine-item caregiver-reported assessment designed for screening and progress monitoring of externalizing behavior problems in children of ages 2-10 years. The psychometric properties of the WACB-N were examined across two non-overlapping samples: a clinical population of caregiver-child dyads referred for outpatient mental health services (Sample 1; n = 164) and resource parent-foster child dyads participating in a preventive parenting program (Sample 2; n = 151). Data were analyzed using item response theory, factor analyses, test--retest reliability, convergent validity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Item response theory and factor analyses supported the unidimensionality, item-level properties, and internal consistency of WACB-N subscales. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent over 3-week intervals (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.82--0.92). The WACB-N demonstrated strong convergent validity with established measures of child behavioral problems, socioemotional competencies, and parenting stress. The ROC analyses identified optimal WACB-N cutoff scores between 35.5 and 37.5 for detecting children with externalizing behavior problems. The WACB-N's brief structure and strong psychometric properties support its utility for screening and monitoring progress in interventions and treatment outcome research. The measure's public availability and simple scoring and interpretation facilitate its implementation in community settings, allowing practitioners and researchers to effectively track behavioral changes, guide clinical decision-making, and foster collaborative care with caregivers. As a brief and cost-effective measure for assessing and monitoring child behavior problems, the WACB-N has the potential to improve the quality of services for children exhibiting behavior problems and their families.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499797
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Psychometric Properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maria+Cañas%22">Maria Cañas</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4269-7497">0000-0002-4269-7497</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maria+Usacheva%22">Maria Usacheva</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lindsay+F%2E+Armendariz%22">Lindsay F. Armendariz</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Goff+Timmer%22">Susan Goff Timmer</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1005-952X">0000-0002-1005-952X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Emotional+and+Behavioral+Disorders%22"><i>Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2026 34(1):17-29.
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  Data: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychometrics%22">Psychometrics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Behavior%22">Child Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measures+%28Individuals%29%22">Measures (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+Problems%22">Behavior Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Item+Response+Theory%22">Item Response Theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Analysis%22">Factor Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pretests+Posttests%22">Pretests Posttests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diagnostic+Tests%22">Diagnostic Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cutting+Scores%22">Cutting Scores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Screening+Tests%22">Screening Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Progress+Monitoring%22">Progress Monitoring</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Correlation%22">Correlation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Functional+Behavioral+Assessment%22">Functional Behavioral Assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+Variables%22">Stress Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Rearing%22">Child Rearing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Likert+Scales%22">Likert Scales</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/10634266251343620
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  Data: 1063-4266<br />1538-4799
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  Data: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N), a brief, nine-item caregiver-reported assessment designed for screening and progress monitoring of externalizing behavior problems in children of ages 2-10 years. The psychometric properties of the WACB-N were examined across two non-overlapping samples: a clinical population of caregiver-child dyads referred for outpatient mental health services (Sample 1; n = 164) and resource parent-foster child dyads participating in a preventive parenting program (Sample 2; n = 151). Data were analyzed using item response theory, factor analyses, test--retest reliability, convergent validity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Item response theory and factor analyses supported the unidimensionality, item-level properties, and internal consistency of WACB-N subscales. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent over 3-week intervals (intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.82--0.92). The WACB-N demonstrated strong convergent validity with established measures of child behavioral problems, socioemotional competencies, and parenting stress. The ROC analyses identified optimal WACB-N cutoff scores between 35.5 and 37.5 for detecting children with externalizing behavior problems. The WACB-N's brief structure and strong psychometric properties support its utility for screening and monitoring progress in interventions and treatment outcome research. The measure's public availability and simple scoring and interpretation facilitate its implementation in community settings, allowing practitioners and researchers to effectively track behavioral changes, guide clinical decision-making, and foster collaborative care with caregivers. As a brief and cost-effective measure for assessing and monitoring child behavior problems, the WACB-N has the potential to improve the quality of services for children exhibiting behavior problems and their families.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1499797
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        Value: 10.1177/10634266251343620
    Languages:
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        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 17
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychometrics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Measures (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavior Problems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Item Response Theory
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      – SubjectFull: Factor Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Pretests Posttests
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      – SubjectFull: Test Reliability
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      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
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      – SubjectFull: Diagnostic Tests
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      – SubjectFull: Cutting Scores
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      – SubjectFull: Functional Behavioral Assessment
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      – SubjectFull: Likert Scales
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      – SubjectFull: Devereux Early Childhood Assessment
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      – SubjectFull: Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parenting Stress Index
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Psychometric Properties of the Weekly Assessment of Child Behavior--Negative Form (WACB-N)
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