Parents and teachers as raters of children's problem behaviors

The present study explores the relationships between parents and teachers as raters of children's behavior using Achenbach and Edelbrock's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL, 1983) and Teacher Report Form (TRF, 1984). Internalizing and externalizing behavior scores from these two instruments revealed a significant relationship between mothers' and teachers' reports for externalizing behaviors only, consistent with other studies in the literature (Achenbach, McConaughy, & Howell, 1987). When the sample was divided into abusive, distressed, and non-clinical groups, the correlation between mother and teacher on externalizing behavior remained significant for the non-clinical group only. It also may be the case that children with internalizing behaviors are misrated by either parents or teachers, even in the non-clinical group, again pointing to the need for multiple raters. From these results, it appears that familial dysfunction can contribute to rater bias and that both parents and teachers, as well as trained professionals, should be used to rate problematic behavior in children.