Factorial validity, reliability, and standardization of the self- and parent report form for 4- to 18-year-olds

The Giessen Physical Complaint List for Children and Adolescents (German abbreviation: GBB-KJ) is the only German questionnaire specifically designed for children and adolescents that allows a multidimensional measurement of self- and parent-reported physical complaints. This study reports data on factorial validity, cross-sectional reliability, agreement of the self- and parent report, as well as standardization in a sample of 4- to 18-year-old children and adolescents, representative for Germany (N = 1,950). Among other methods, linear structural equation modelling was used. In a population based sample, the five-factor version of the GBB-KJ offered acceptable to good factorial validity and satisfying reliability. The main problem was the high difficulty of items or floor effects, respectively, especially of the scale,cardiovascular problems". Parental assessment could replace self-assessment to a limited degree only and, whenever possible, should be supplemented by self-report data. Further investigation of criterion and construct validity, test-retest reliability, and sensitivity to change is recommended, also in clinical samples.