In Australia, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been implemented in several national studies, including the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). However, three previous state-level validations indicated problems with instrument dimensionality, warranting further research. To address this gap, the current study employed exploratory graph analysis to investigate dimensionality of the caregiver-completed SDQ version 4 to 10 years in a nationally representative sample of Australian children. Data were from a dual cohort cross-sequential study (LSAC) that included more than 20,000 responses. Gaussian graphical models were estimated in each study wave and exploratory graph analysis applied. Structural consistency, item stability and network loadings were evaluated. The findings provided mixed support for the original SDQ five-factor structure. The Peer Problem scale displayed low structural consistency since items clustered with the Emotional Symptoms and Prosocial behavior, generating four-dimensional structures. Implications for future use of the SDQ version 4 to 10 years in Australia are provided.

在澳大利亚，优势和困难问卷 (SDQ) 已在多项国家研究中实施，包括澳大利亚儿童纵向研究 (LSAC)。然而，之前的三个州级验证表明仪器维度存在问题，需要进一步研究。为了解决这一差距，目前的研究采用探索性图表分析来调查具有全国代表性的澳大利亚儿童样本中看护者完成的 4 至 10 年的 SDQ 版本的维度。数据来自一项双队列交叉序列研究 (LSAC)，其中包括 20,000 多个响应。在每个研究波中估计高斯图形模型并应用探索性图形分析。对结构一致性、项目稳定性和网络负载进行了评估。研究结果为最初的 SDQ 五因素结构提供了不同的支持。同伴问题量表显示低结构一致性，因为项目与情绪症状和亲社会行为聚集在一起，产生四维结构。提供了对未来在澳大利亚使用 SDQ 版本 4 至 10 年的影响。