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The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory: Developing an Adaptation for Toddler-aged Children

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Abstract

Disruptive behavior problems among young children can result in long-term negative consequences, highlighting the importance of early interventions. While there have been recent developments in early interventions (e.g., Parent–Child Interaction Therapy-Toddler), there is a need for brief assessments for toddler disruptive behaviors. The current study aims to adapt the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) for toddler-aged children. Archival data from toddler- and preschool-aged children underwent a three-step process for data reduction (qualitative content validation, missing data and low variability exclusion, and criterion-related validation against the preschool version of the Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with measurement models on the reduced item set were conducted, with a final validation model against the CBCL. This procedure resulted in eight of the 36 items of the ECBI being retained. A metric measurement model of the 8 items, allowing for higher average scores for preschool children compared to toddlers, fit well (chi-square p = 0.13; SRMR = 0.07, GFI = 0.98, NFI = 0.94). This study provides evidence for a developmental factor of the ECBI for toddler-aged youth that can be used in future clinical and research work. Items included on this factor support previous research that suggests toddler behavior problems are partially due to undeveloped emotion regulation skills and parent–child attachment concerns.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department, of Psychology, West Virginia University, 53 Campus Drive, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6040, USA

    Sharon T. Phillips, Lindsay R. Druskin & Cheryl B. McNeil

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

    Christa Lilly

  3. Department of Psychology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA

    Felipa T. Chavez

  4. Karitane, Sydney, Australia

    Sue Morgan & Nancy Wallace

  5. Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia

    Sara Cibralic & Valsamma Eapen

  6. School of Psychology, Parent-Child Research Clinic, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Eva R. Kimonis

  7. School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    David J. Hawes

  8. Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Valsamma Eapen & Jane Kohlhoff

  9. Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia

    Valsamma Eapen

  10. Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Cheryl B. McNeil

  11. Research Department, Karitane, Sydney, Australia

    Jane Kohlhoff

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  1. Sharon T. Phillips
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Correspondence to Sharon T. Phillips.

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Conflict of Interest

Sharon T. Phillips, Lindsay R. Druskin, Christa Lilly, Felipa T. Chavez, Sue Morgan, Nancy Wallace, Sara Cibralic, Eva R. Kimonis, David J. Hawes, Valsamma Eapen, Cheryl B. McNeil, and Jane Kohlhoff declare that they have no conflict of interest..

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Phillips, S.T., Druskin, L.R., Lilly, C. et al. The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory: Developing an Adaptation for Toddler-aged Children. J Psychopathol Behav Assess (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-023-10078-0

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