Andreia Fernandes Azevedo

Qualidades psicométricas da escala de atividade de Werry-Weiss-Peters: estudo preliminar da versão portuguesa

EnglishEarly screening and referral of children at risk for Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder are a challenge for primary care physicians, pediatricians, psychologists, and child psychiatrists aiming to interrupt deviant developmental trajectories. This p aper analyses psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Werry - Weiss - Peters Activity Scale (Routh, 1978), that assesses children’s activity level in family context. Based on a normative sample of 340 children aged 3 to 11, and a sample o f 157 children aged 3 to 6 at risk for disruptive behavior problems, the validity of a single scale score was demonstrated, as well as high internal consistency, stability across time and capacity to discriminate between children with and without disruptiv e behavior. Results were analyzed according to children’s gender and age. The Portuguese version of the WWP Scale shows evidence of good reliability and validity, and may therefore be a potentially useful screening measure of hyperactivity for professional s and researchers. portuguesO rastreio e encaminhamento precoces de criancas em risco de Perturbacao de Hiperatividade/ Defice de Atencao constituem desafios para medicos de cuidados primarios, pediatras, psicologos e pedopsiquiatras, interessados em interromper trajetorias de desenvolvimento desadaptativas. Este artigo analisa caracteristicas psicometricas da versao portuguesa da Werry - Weiss - Peters Activity Scale (Routh, 1978), que avalia o nivel de atividade de criancas em contexto familiar. Com base numa amostra normativa de 340 criancas (3 - 11 anos) e numa amostra de 157 criancas (3 - 6 anos) em risco de pro blemas de comportamento disruptivo, foi demonstrada a validade de uma pontuacao unica para o conjunto da escala, elevada consistencia interna, estabilidade temporal e capacidade para discriminar entre criancas com e sem problemas de comportamento. Os resul tados foram analisados em funcao do sexo e idade. A versao portuguesa da Escala WWP demonstrou bons indices de precisao e validade, sendo um instrumento de rastreio da hiperatividade potencialmente util para profissionais e investigadores.

Do Portuguese Preschoolers With High Hyperactive Behaviors Make More Progress Than Those With Low Hyperactivity After Parental Intervention

Improvement over 12 months of two groups of Portuguese preschoolers is analyzed after a parental intervention with the Incredible Years Basic Parent Program (IY). The groups were defined by the children’s initial levels of hyperactive behaviors (high hyperactivity, n = 34; low hyperactivity, n = 18). Changes in the children’s reported hyperactive behaviors and in mothers’ self-reported parental practices and mood were evaluated from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Preschoolers with higher initial hyperactivity levels seem to have benefitted more from the IY intervention compared to children with lower baseline levels. However, this low-hyperactivity group improved as well. Findings also indicate high levels of maternal acceptance and satisfaction with the intervention in both groups, although some differences were observed. Overall, findings suggest that IY is equally suitable for parents of Portuguese preschoolers with high- and low-hyperactive behaviors at baseline, highlighting the usefulness of the program for children with different risk levels.