Effects of life events on parent and teacher-rated behavioral problems in Singapore.

Stressful life events in the family were identified in a sample of 1009 children and adolescents in Singapore through exploratory factor analysis. Using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18) and Teacher Rating Form (TRF/4-18), impact of life event factors on parent-rated and teacher-rated children/adolescents’ total, internalizing and externalizing problems were subsequently examined. Parent reports on problem behaviors proved more superior; statistical significance was found in the correlations of life events with overall models for CBCL internalizing, externalizing and total behaviors, but not with overall models for TRF internalizing, externalizing and total behaviors. Life events were better predictors of parent-rated internalizing problems. The results suggest that parents are more inclined than teachers to detect both overt and covert behaviors in children.Bachelor of Art