Construction and Validation of a Measure of Children's Sleep Difficulties: The Nighttime Behaviors Questionnaire for Children - Parent-Reported (NBQC-P)

• Autores: Víctor Francisco Amorós Reche, Marina Serrano Ortiz, Ángela Belzunegui Pastor, David Pineda Sanchez, Mireia Orgilés Amorós
• Localización: Revista iberoamericana de psicología y salud, ISSN 2171-2069, Vol. 16, Nº. 2, 2025, págs. 86-94
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.70478/rips.2025.16.09
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Construcción y Validación de una Medida de Dificultades del Seño en Niños y Niñas: El Nighttime Behaviors Questionnaire for Children - Parent-Reported (NBQC-P)
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• Resumen
  • español

    Antecedentes/Objetivos: Los problemas de sueño en los niños afectan su calidad de vida y de sus familias. Sin embargo, las herramientas psicométricas existentes presentan ciertas limitaciones. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo desarrollar el Cuestionario de Comportamientos Nocturnos para Niños - Informado por los Padres (NBQC-P), y evaluar sus propiedades psicométricas. Método: Los padres de 386 niños de entre 3 y 8 años (52,3% niños) completaron el NBQC-P junto con medidas de habilidades en la oscuridad, miedos nocturnos y ansiedad. Resultados: Tras la eliminación de algunos ítems debido a bajas comunalidades y cargas cruzadas, el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio arrojó una solución de tres factores con 13 ítems. Esta estructura fue probada con Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio, con ajuste aceptable. El cuestionario abarca tres dimensiones: Necesidad de compañía para dormir, Problemas durante la noche y Problemas al irse a dormir. La consistencia interna fue buena para la primera dimensión y aceptable para las demás. La validez concurrente y discriminante se evaluó con otros constructos. Se estableció invarianza configural, métrica, escalar y de medias latentes para género y edad. Discusión: A pesar de algunas limitaciones, el NBQC-P es una herramienta válida y fiable para evaluar dificultades manifiestas del sueño comúnmente presentes en niños.

  • English

    Background/Objective: Sleep problems in children impair their quality of life and that of their families. However, existing psychometric tools have certain limitations, highlighting the need to develop new measures to assess specific behaviors. This study aimed to develop a new measure to assess sleep difficulties, the Nighttime Behavior Questionnaire for Children - Parent-reported (NBQC-P), and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Method: Parents of 386 children aged 3 to 8 years (52.3% boys) completed the NBQC-P along with measures of abilities in the dark, nighttime fears, and anxiety. Results: After the removal of some items due to low communalities and cross-loadings, Exploratory Factor Analysis yielded a three-factor solution with 13 items. This structure was subsequently tested in Confirmatory Factor Analysis, demonstrating acceptable fit indices. The questionnaire covers three dimensions: Need for company to sleep, Problems during the night, and Problems when going to sleep. Internal consistency was good for the first dimension and acceptable for the others. Concurrent and discriminant validity were assessed with other constructs. Configural, metric, scalar and latent mean measurement invariance was established for gender and age. Discussion: Despite some limitations, the NBQC-P is a valid and reliable tool for assessing overt sleep difficulties commonly present in children.

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