Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ – Goodman, 1997, 2001)

The SDQ has been used with almost all previous waves of Growing Up in Ireland,

including Cohort 08 at age 3 (but not Cohort 24 at 9 months). It comprises four

‘difficulties’ subscales and one positive ‘prosocial’ subscale. The difficulties subscales

– conduct, peer problems, hyperactivity, and emotional symptoms - can be summed

to give a ‘total difficulties’ score. The SDQ is one of the most widely used measures

in existing Growing Up in Ireland waves and it would be important to include it for

Cohort 24 at 3 years to facilitate cross-cohort comparisons and future longitudinal

consistency. The SDQ is also widely used by other international studies. Although

the SDQ could be asked of both parents where applicable, only inclusion on the

primary caregiver instrument would be needed for consistency with previous waves.

Temperament measure