The trait impulsivity theory suggests that a single, highly heritable externalizing liability factor, expressed as temperamental trait impulsivity, represents the core vulnerability for externalizing disorders. The present study sought to test the application of latent factor models derived from this theory to a clinical sample of children. Participants were 474 German children (age 6-12 years, 81% male) with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and externalizing behavior problems participating in an ongoing multicenter intervention study. Using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), we evaluated several factor models of externalizing spectrum disorders (unidimensional; first-order correlated factors; higher-order factor; fully symmetrical bifactor; bifactor S-1 model). Furthermore, we assessed our prevailing factor models for measurement invariance across raters (clinicians, parents, teachers) and assessment modes (interview, questionnaires). While both CFA and ESEM approaches provided valuable insights into the multidimensionality, ESEM solutions were generally superior since they showed a substantially better model fit and less biased factor loadings. Among the models tested, the bifactor S-1 CFA/ESEM models, with a general hyperactivity-impulsivity reference factor, displayed a statistically sound factor structure and allowed for straightforward interpretability. Furthermore, these models showed the same organization of factors and loading patterns, but not equivalent item thresholds across raters and assessment modes, highlighting cross-situational variability in child behavior. Our findings are consistent with the assumption of the trait impulsivity theory that a common trait, presented as hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, underlies all externalizing disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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使用多种措施和线人解开儿童外化障碍的症状。

特质冲动理论表明，一个单一的、高度遗传的外化责任因素，表现为气质特质冲动，代表了外化障碍的核心脆弱性。本研究试图测试从该理论得出的潜在因素模型对儿童临床样本的应用。参与者是 474 名有注意力缺陷/多动障碍症状和外化行为问题的德国儿童（6-12 岁，81% 为男性），他们参与了一项正在进行的多中心干预研究。使用验证性因子分析 (CFA) 和探索性结构方程模型 (ESEM)，我们评估了外化谱系障碍的几种因子模型（一维；一阶相关因子；高阶因子；完全对称双因子；双因子 S-1 模型）。此外，我们评估了我们在评估者（临床医生、家长、教师）和评估模式（访谈、问卷）之间测量不变性的主要因素模型。虽然 CFA 和 ESEM 方法都提供了对多维性的宝贵见解，但 ESEM 解决方案通常更优越，因为它们显示出更好的模型拟合和更少的偏差因子载荷。在测试的模型中，双因子 S-1 CFA/ESEM 模型具有一般的多动冲动参考因子，显示了统计上合理的因子结构，并允许直接解释。此外，这些模型显示了相同的因素组织和负载模式，但在评估者和评估模式之间没有等效的项目阈值，突出了儿童行为的跨情境可变性。我们的研究结果与特质冲动理论的假设一致，即一个共同的特质，表现为多动冲动症状，是所有外化障碍的基础。（PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2021 APA，保留所有权利）。