Discriminators of clinically defined emotional maladjustment. Predictive validity of the Behavior Problem Checklist and Devereux scales.

From a population of 130 boys between 7 and 14 years of age who had been clinically diagnosed as aggressive, hyperactive, or withdrawn, 32, 31, and 32 Ss, respectively, were randomly selected. All Ss were rated on the Behavior Problem Checklist (BPC) and the Devereux Elementary School Behavior rating scales (DESB) during the 1971-72 academic year. A descriptive intercorrelation matrix was generated for the 4 BPC scales and the 14 DESB scales. Three stepwise discriminant analyses were run: (a) BPC scales only, (b) DESB scales only, and (c) BPC and DESB scales combined. In terms of statistical and practical considerations, the four BPC subscales by themselves attained the optimal predictive accuracy (65%, or 62 of 95 children correctly identified).