Exploring the Dimensionality of the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI): A Scoping Review of Its Structural Models Across Contexts.

Purpose: This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence on the factor structure and reliability of the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), a widely used measure of disruptive behavior in children. It specifically examined how the ECBI performs across diverse populations, linguistic adaptations, and analytic methods.

Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across four databases and 19 empirical studies were included following PRISMA guidelines. Studies using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), bifactor modeling, Rasch analysis, or ESEM were considered if they explicitly analyzed the ECBI's latent structure.

Results: While the ECBI demonstrated consistently high internal reliability (α > .90) across most samples and language versions, its factor structure varied considerably across contexts. Unidimensional, three-factor, and bifactor models were supported depending on population characteristics, item set (22 vs. 36 items), and analytic strategy. EFA studies often revealed culturally distinct factor patterns, and only one study evaluated bifactor-specific reliability. Measurement invariance testing was largely absent.

Discussion: Inconsistencies in factor structures across studies suggests that the ECBI's underlying dimensions may not generalize across populations without empirical validation. These inconsistencies raise concerns about the validity of subscale interpretation in diverse contexts.

Conclusion: The ECBI is psychometrically robust in terms of reliability, yet its factor structure demonstrates inconsistency across cultural and methodological contexts. Given its widespread application across culturally diverse settings, assessing factor structure and measurement invariance is essential for culturally appropriate use and accurate clinical interpretation.