ASEBA Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)

The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) offers a comprehensive approach to assessing adaptive and maladaptive functioning. The ASEBA provides useful information to design and monitor intervention. The competencies component examines a child’s participation and skills in certain activities, whereas the adaptive and maladaptive functioning component examines problem behaviours such as aggression, hyperactivity, bullying and defiance.

Both parents/caregivers and teachers are encouraged to complete the four-page questionnaire for children aged one-and-a-half to five years.

Skills and behaviours assessed with CBCL

Syndrome Scales

  • Emotionally Reactive
  • Anxious/Depressed
  • Somatic Complaints
  • Withdrawn
  • Sleep Problems (CBCL only)
  • Attention Problems
  • Aggressive Behaviour

The forms provide scores on each of these syndromes.

DSM-Oriented Scales

  • Depressive Problems
  • Anxiety Problems
  • Autism Spectrum Problems
  • Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems
  • Oppositional Defiant Problems

Forms for children and youth aged six to 18 years are completed by parents/caregivers and teachers online. There is also a Youth Self Report for 11 to 18-year-olds.