Construction, Validation and Reliability of Behavioral Problems Diagnosis Test in Tabriz Elementary School Children based on DSM-5

The aim of this study was to conduct a test for diagnosis of behavioral problems in male and female, elementary school students in Tabriz and to investigate its validity and reliability. The research method is descriptive of correlation type. The statistical population consisted of all male and female elementary school students who were studying during academic year 2019-2020. A total of 1374 elementary school male and female students were selected as sample members by available sampling method, then mothers of the same students answered the questions of children's behavioral problems diagnosis test and finally the test was constructed based on DSM-5 criteria using factor analysis method. The results of exploratory factor analysis introduced principal component analysis with independent varimax rotation of seven factors, respectively, with the titles of conduct problem, mere hyperactivity, mere attention deficit, academic learning, separation anxiety, oppositional defiance, and social communication, which together explained 32.30% of the total variance of variables. All seven factors and the whole questionnaire had appropriate validity. In addition to face and content validity, the Eigen value method was used more than 1 and the results showed that both the seven factors and the whole test had good validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.61 to 0.79 for the reliability of the seven test factors and for the whole test (α=0.90). The mean prevalence of behavioral problems in children in the sample group was 10.4% in the seven obtained factors. Due to the desirable behavioral characteristics of children's behavioral problems diagnosis test, this test can be used to diagnose the seven problems obtained for screen, prevention or treatment in clinical or research work.