A Reexamination of Child Problem Behaviors as Measured by ECBI: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Two Parent Training Interventions.

The Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) is a widely used instrument that assesses disruptive problem behaviors via parent report. The present study compares three different conceptualizations of problem behaviors using traditional confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), a bifactor-CFA, and a bifactor exploratory structural equation model, whereof the latter two represent novel conceptualizations of disruptive problem behaviors. Data were derived from 353 Norwegian parents assigned to parent management training-the Oregon model (PMTO; = 137) or brief parent training (BPT; = 216), who rated their child's problem behavior (age 3-12 years). The factor models were estimated within the PMTO and BPT samples, and in the total sample. Results showed that the bifactor-CFA, with a general problem behavior factor and three specific factors representing oppositional defiant, conduct problem, and inattentive behavior provided the best model fit. Furthermore, factorial invariance across control/intervention groups and across time (pre/post intervention) was estimated within the PMTO and BPT samples. Results revealed properties of metric and intercept invariance across intervention/control groups and over time, within both interventions. Implications of the results are discussed.