Factor Structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: Fourth Edition in Children with ADHD.

Thaler, Nicholas S.; Barchard, Kimberly A.; Parke, Elyse; Jones, W. Paul; Etcoff, Lewis M.; Allen, Daniel N.

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is better explained by a five-factor model rather than the four-factor model in the standardization sample. The current study examined the WISC-IV's factor structure in a sample of children with ADHD.Method: Participants included 314 children and adolescents who were diagnosed with ADHD. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the 10 core subtests of the WISC-IV, and three models were examined including two based on Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory.Results: A five-factor model consisting of Gc, Gf, Gv, Gsm, and Gs factors provided the best fit for the data. The Perceptual Reasoning factor identified in the original four-factor model split into the two CHC factors, Gf and Gv, and cross-loaded the Symbol Search subtest onto the Gv factor.Conclusion: A five-factor model based on CHC theory provided superior fit for the WISC-IV in children with ADHD, as has been found with the standardization sample.

ATTENTION-deficit hyperactivity disorder; FACTOR analysis; INTELLECT; INTELLIGENCE tests; PSYCHOMETRICS; DIAGNOSIS; PSYCHOLOGY

Journal of Attention Disorders, 2015, Vol 19, Issue 12, p1013

1087-0547

Academic Journal

10.1177/1087054712459952