SDQ

CHILD_ADOLESCENT

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

Brief behavioural screening questionnaire for children and adolescents

25 questions·en
Response Scale
0Not True
1Somewhat True
2Certainly True
Questions

For each item, please mark the box for Not True, Somewhat True, or Certainly True. Please answer all items as best you can even if you are not absolutely certain.

1

Considerate of other people's feelings

2

Restless, overactive, cannot stay still for long

3

Often complains of headaches, stomach-aches or sickness

4

Shares readily with other children

5

Often has temper tantrums or hot tempers

6

Rather solitary, tends to play alone

7

Generally obedient, usually does what adults request

8

Many worries, often seems worried

9

Helpful if someone is hurt, upset or feeling ill

10

Constantly fidgeting or squirming

11

Has at least one good friend

12

Often fights with other children or bullies them

13

Often unhappy, down-hearted or tearful

14

Generally liked by other children

15

Easily distracted, concentration wanders

16

Nervous or clingy in new situations, easily loses confidence

17

Kind to younger children

18

Often lies or cheats

19

Picked on or bullied by other children

20

Often volunteers to help others

21

Thinks things out before acting

22

Steals from home, school or elsewhere

23

Gets on better with adults than with other children

24

Many fears, easily scared

25

Sees tasks through to the end, good attention span

Scoring
Method: Subscale Scoring

Subscales

peer
5 items
conduct
5 items
emotional
5 items
prosocial
5 items
hyperactivity
5 items

Prosocial items (0, 3, 8, 16, 19) are scored normally (higher = more prosocial) and NOT included in Total Difficulties. Items 6, 10, 13, 20, 24 are reverse-scored (new = 2 - old). Total Difficulties = sum of Emotional + Conduct + Hyperactivity + Peer subscales (max 40).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SDQ?
The SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) is a 25-item behavioral screening questionnaire for children and adolescents aged 2–17. It covers emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial behavior.
Who completes the SDQ?
The SDQ has parent, teacher, and self-report versions. The parent version is suitable for children aged 2–17, the teacher version for 2–17, and the self-report version for children aged 11 and above.
How is the SDQ scored?
Each subscale (except prosocial) is scored 0–10. A Total Difficulties Score (0–40) is computed by summing the four problem subscales. Scoring bands classify scores as close to average, slightly raised, high, or very high.

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