Testing a Hierarchical Structural Model of Youth Psychopathology Symptoms Over Time and Across Informants, Gender, and Pubertal Status

OBJECTIVE: Predominant psychopathology classification systems (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) exhibit multiple limitations. Alternative, empirically based dimensional approaches (eg, the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology [HiTOP]) have been examined mostly with adults, with less structural research in youth, and even less incorporating youth personality dysfunction alongside "common" symptoms. Exploratory, descriptive work among youth is needed to organize an empirically based, comprehensive structure of psychopathology that is also generalizable across time, informant, gender, and development. METHOD: Exploratory factor analyses were conducted using data from a general community sample of 588 youth (baseline, mean age = 13.58 years, range = 9.3-17.5 years; 55.5% female) and parent informants on youth psychopathology symptoms. Additional exploratory analyses evaluated hierarchical structure models across time (18 months apart), informant (youth- and parent-report), gender, and pubertal status. RESULTS: Hierarchical factor analyses revealed a structure unfolding from one general psychopathology factor down to 9 interpretable narrowband symptom factors. Intermediate factors replicated 3 broadband spectra found in prior research on child psychopathology structure (internalizing, disinhibited externalizing, and personality dysregulation). This structure was largely consistent at the broadband spectra level across informants. Narrowband symptom structure exhibited some consistencies and nuanced differences across gender and pubertal status for both informants and across time for youth-reports. Parent-report structure was more consistent than child-report across time, gender, and pubertal status. CONCLUSION: Results yield new insights on the empirically based organization of youth mental health symptoms. We discuss (dis)continuities across informants, youth gender, and developmental stage. Findings highlight the importance of considering developmental considerations when planning and evaluating alternative diagnostic models of mental health. STUDY REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Testing a Hierarchical Structural Model of Youth Psychopathology Symptoms Over Time and Across Informants, Gender, and Pubertal Status; https://osf.io/9agvs/.