Parent Ratings of ADHD Symptoms in Chinese Urban Schoolchildren

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese ADHD Rating Scale–IV (ADHD RS-IV): Home Version and to explore parent ratings of ADHD symptoms in a large sample of urban schoolchildren in China. Method: Parents of a representative sample of 1,616 schoolchildren (aged 6-17) in 12 Chinese cities completed the ADHD RS-IV: Home Version. Results: The Chinese ADHD RS-IV: Home Version demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, test–retest reliability, parent–teacher correlation, discriminant validity, and convergent validity. Factor analysis revealed the DSM-IV two-factor model with “inattention” and “hyperactivity-impulsivity” dimensions, accounting for equal variances. Parent ratings revealed lower/similar scores for Chinese schoolchildren compared with the U.S. study. Conclusion: The ADHD RS-IV: Home Version is a reliable and valid ADHD rating scale in China. The factor structure is similar but not identical to the U.S. study. Normative data reveal cultural differences in some aspects of the parent ratings of ADHD.