LAUSR

OBJECTIVE. The Child's Challenging Behavior Scale, Version 2 (CCBS‐2), measures maternal rating of a child's challenging behaviors that compromise maternal mental health. The CCBS‐2, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were compared in a sample of typically developing young Australian children. METHOD. Criterion validity was investigated by correlating the CCBS‐2 with “gold standard” measures (CBCL and SDQ subscales). Data were collected in a cross‐sectional survey of mothers (N = 336) of children ages 3–9 yr. RESULTS. Correlations with the CBCL externalizing subscales demonstrated moderate (&rgr; = .46) to strong (&rgr; = .66) correlations. Correlations with the SDQ externalizing behaviors subscales were moderate (&rgr; = .35) to strong (&rgr; = .60). CONCLUSION. The criterion validity established in this study strengthens the psychometric properties that support ongoing development of the CCBS‐2 as an efficient tool that may identify children in need of further evaluation.