The Reliability of Interparental and Peer
Reports on Adolescent Delinquency
Martin Ho and Farah Williams
University of Virginia
Acknowledgements:
We gratefully acknowledge support provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant # R01
MH58066) to Joseph Allen, Principal Investigator, for the conduct and write-up of this study.
Society for Research on Adolescence, April 2002
Abstract
This study examines the reliability of interparental and peer ratings of
adolescent delinquency with adolescent self-reported delinquent behaviors,
assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist, Problem Behavior Inventory,
and Youth Self-Report of delinquency. Data were collected from a sample of
184 teens and their parents (177 mothers, 108 fathers), as well as three peer
groups (closest friend, close friend, acquaintance). Simple correlations were
conducted between adolescent self-reported delinquency and the multireporters’ ratings. An analysis on gender of adolescent effects are also
highlighted. Results reveal significant differences in interparental rating
reliability on adolescent delinquency. The peer’s level of closeness with the
adolescent also affects their rating reliability. Gender effects were clearly
present, with differences in parent by gender of adolescent ratings. These
findings illustrate the differences in reliability among multiple reporters, both
between parents and types of friends.
Introduction
A crucial issue in interpreting ratings of adolescent delinquent behavior by
parents and peers is the reliability of those ratings with adolescent selfreported delinquency.
Previous studies have suggested agreement between parent and child
ratings of delinquency using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Youth Self
Report (YSR), and Problem Behavior Inventory (PBI) (Rey, Schrader, &
Morris-Yater, 1993).
Modest reliability between adolescent self-reported delinquency and peer
ratings have also been shown (Achenbach, McConaughy, & Howell, 1987).
The agreement between interparental ratings of adolescent delinquency is
less clear.
Some studies have found interparental agreement to be low
(Christensen, Margolin, & Sullaway, 1992), with mothers reporting
more problem behavior than fathers (Jensen, Taylor, Xehakis, &
Davis, 1988; Thurber & Osborn, 1993).
Individual studies examining interparental agreement often report conflicting
patterns of results.
Some studies found that mothers report more adolescent problem
behaviors than fathers (Christensen et al., 1992; Jensen, Taylor,
Xenakis, & Davis, 1988; Thurber & Osborn, 1993).
Others studies have found a parent by gender of adolescent
interaction, with mothers reporting more problem behaviors for sons
and fathers reporting more problem behaviors for daughters
(Friedlander, Weiss, & Taylor; 1986 & Graham & Stevenson, 1985).
During adolescence, friendships themselves become increasingly important
in adolescent development, making this relationship particularly important
for examining the validity of peer reports.
Very little research has examined the reliability of peer reports of adolescent
delinquency with only modest correlations between peer ratings and
adolescent self-reports (Achenbach, McConaughy, & Howell, 1987).
This study used multi-reporter data to examine the reliability of parent and
peer reports as indicators of adolescent delinquent behavior as well as the
reliability of interparental ratings of adolescent delinquency.
Methods
Participants
Multi-reporter data were collected from a sample of 184 adolescents (87
males, 97 females), their parents (177 mothers, 108 fathers), and their peers
(182 Close Friends, 151 Good Friends, and 146 Acquaintances).
Adolescent Race/Ethnicity (self-identified; missing=3)
Caucasian
105
African American
52
Other Minority Group
24
Mean Age (SD)
Teen
13.36 (0.66)
Peers
13.40 (0.82)
Family Income
Median $40,00-$59,000 (range=$5,000 to > $60,000)1
1Assessed
in categories: A. Under $5,000; B. $5,000-$9,999; C. $10,000-$14,999; D. $15,000-$19,999; E. $20,000-$29,999; F. $30,000-$39,999; G. $40,000$59,999; H. $60,000 or more.
Measures
Child Behavior Checklist. The original CBCL (Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1981)
contains 113 items which load on 9 main scales. Parents and peers
answered questions regarding the target adolescents’ behavior on the
externalizing scales: aggression, hostility, delinquency, hyperactivity, and
immaturity. For this study, the short forms taken from Lizotte, ChardWierschem, Loeber, & Stern (1992) were used.
Problem Behavior Inventory. Originally developed as an open-ended
interview, a modified rating form was administered to adolescents and their
peers (Elliot & Ageton, 1980). The modified version uses the following scale
for each item (in the past 6 months): “How often have you…” Never, Once or
Twice, 3 or 4 Times, Once a Month, 2-3 Times a Month, Once a Week, 2-3
Times a Week, Once a Day.
Youth Self-Report. The YSR is designed to obtain adolescent reports of their
own competencies and problems in a standardized format. The original form
(Achenbach, 1991) contained 112 items divided into 9 major scales. For this
study, the short form for both the externalizing scale (aggressive behavior,
delinquent behavior, hostile/withdrawn, and hyperactive) and immaturity
scale were used.
Results
Table 1 shows correlations between multi-reporter ratings (mother, father,
closest friend, good friend, acquaintance) of teen delinquency behaviors and
teen’s self-reported behaviors.
Interparental ratings of adolescent delinquency
Mother ratings of delinquency (YSR and PBI), aggression, hostility, and
hyperactivity were significantly related to teens’ self-reported
delinquent behaviors.
Father ratings of delinquency (YSR only), hostility, and hyperactivity were
significantly related to teens’ self-reported delinquent behaviors.
Mothers were significantly more reliable than fathers in their ratings of
teen delinquency (YSR and PBI) and aggression, while fathers were
significantly more reliable than mothers in their ratings of teen
hostility.
Peer ratings of adolescent delinquency
Teen’s closest friend and good friend’s ratings were significantly related to
teens’ self-reported delinquent behaviors.
Aquaintances’ ratings on all types of delinquency were not related to teen
self-reported delinquent behaviors.
Table 2 shows correlations between multi-reporter ratings of teen
delinquency behaviors by teen’s gender. Results show significant
differences in ratings by the adolescent’s gender.
Interparental ratings of adolescent delinquency by gender
Mothers were significantly more reliable than fathers in their ratings for
both male and female teens.
Mother ratings on teen delinquency and aggression were more reliable for
female teens than male teens; however, mother ratings on teen
hostility were more reliable for male teens than female teens.
Interparental ratings of adolescent delinquency by gender (cont’d)
Father ratings of teen delinquency were not significantly related to teen’s
self-reported delinquency for males on both the YSR and PBI.
Mothers were significantly more reliable in their ratings of teen aggression
and hostility in males than females.
In Table 1, fathers were more reliable than mothers in their ratings of teen
hostility and hyperactivity; however in Table 2, we see that:
Mothers were more reliable in reporting male teen hostility and
female teen hyperactivity.
Fathers were more reliable in reporting female teen hostility and
male teen hyperactivity.
Peer ratings of adolescent delinquency by gender
Closest friends were significantly more reliable in rating teen’s delinquency
for both males and females on the YSR, but only for males on the PBI. Their
ratings were also significantly more reliable than father ratings.
Conclusions
The findings highlight clear differences in interparental ratings of adolescent
delinquency. More importantly, the adolescent’s gender interacts with
mothers’ and fathers’ rating reliability.
Overall, mothers are more consistent and reliable raters of both male
and female adolescent delinquency.
Overall, fathers are more consistent and reliable raters of female
adolescent delinquency, aggression, and hostility.
Peer ratings of teen delinquency also vary by the closeness of the friendship.
Overall, closest friends are better reporters of teen delinquency than
good friends and acquaintances.
Gender of adolescent also interacts with peers’ rating reliability.
Table 1. Correlations between multireporter ratings of teen delinquency
Table 2. Gender differences in multireporter ratings of teen delinquency
References
Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profile.
VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.
Burlington,
Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1981). Behavioral problems and competencies
reported by parents of normal and disrupted children aged four through sixteen.
Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 46, 1-82.
Achenbach, T. M., McConaughy, S. H., & Howell, C. T. (1987). Child/adolescent
and emotional problems: Implications of cross-informant correlations
situational specificity. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 213-232.
behavioral
for
Christensen, A., Margolin, G., & Sullaway, M. (1992). Interparental agreement on child
behavior problems. Psychological Assessment, 4, 419-425.
Elliot, D. S. & Ageton, S. S. (1980). Reconciling race and class differences in selfreported and official estimates of delinquency. American Sociological Review 45,
95-110.
Friedlander, S., Weiss, D. S., & Traylor, J. (1986). Assessing the influence of
maternal
depression on the validity of the Child Behavior Checklist. Journal of Abnormal Child
Psychology, 14, 123-133.
Graham, P., & Stevenson, J. (1985). A twin study of genetic influences in behavioral
deviance. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent
Psychiatry, 24, 33-41.
Jensen, P. S., Taylor, J., Xenakis, S. N., & Daviss, H. (1988). Child psychopathology
rating scales and interrater agreement: I. Parents’ gender and psychiatric
symptoms. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
27, 442-450.
Lizotte, A. J., Chard-Wierschem, D. J., Loeber, R., & Stern, S. B. (1992). A shortened
Child Behavior Checklist for delinquency studies. Journal of Quantitative
Criminology, 8, 233-245.
Rey, J. M., Schrader, E., & Morris-Yates, A. (1993). Parent-child agreement on children’s
behaviors reported by the Child Behavior Checklist. Journal of Adolescence, 15,
219-230.
Thurber, S., & Osborn, R. A. (1993). Comparisons of parent and adolescent
perspectives on deviance. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 154, 25-32.