A brief scale for measuring "behavioral inhibition to the unfamiliar" in children.

A.M.L. van Brakel*, P.E.H.M. Muris

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The behavioral inhibition scale (BIS) is a brief rating scale for measuring behavioral inhibition in children. The present study examined the test-retest stability of the BIS in a sample of 7-12-year-olds consisting of inhibited and non-inhibited children (N = 83). Results demonstrated that the BIS scores were fairly stable over a 2-year period, with a test-retest correlation of .77. Further, the BIS scores of inhibited children significantly increased over the 2-year period, whereas those of the non-inhibited comparison group significantly decreased. Finally, the BIS was in a theoretically meaningful way associated with temperamental traits as measured by the Rothbart scales. Altogether, these results provide support for the reliability and validity of the BIS.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)79-84
JournalJournal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
Volume28
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2006

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