Dimensions of Psychopathology in Middle Childhood

Abstract

Factorial studies of psychopathology of childhood have revealed from 2 to 14 factors. To be useful, some consensus as to the appropriate number of factors or a means of relating factors must be found. A method is proposed which relates major and minor factors in a meaningful and logical way. 8 principal component factors were extracted and converted to scales from checklist protocols of 263 disturbed male children between 5 and 12 yr. of age. The 8 scales were re-factored to reveal 3 second-order factors. The first-order factors were shown to be psychologically and statistically related to the second-order factors. Second-order factoring appears to provide a method for: relating broad and narrow band factors, permitting the addition of new factors, and setting an upper limit to the number of factors which can be obtained. Implications of the findings for the development of a nosology are considered.