STUDY OF THE MULTIDIMENSIONALITY OF THE MABC-2 (7 TO 10 YEARS OLD) IN CHILDREN FROM THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF RECIFE-PE

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the multidimensionality of the MABC-2 (7 to 10 years old) in children from Recife (PE). A total of 123 children (7 to 10 years old) from the metropolitan region of Recife (PE) were assessed, including 64 boys and 59 girls. The data were tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the adequacy of factor analysis (FA) was evaluated using the KMO measure of sampling adequacy, Bartlett’s sphericity test and individual measures of sampling adequacy (MSA). The main extraction method was principal axis factoring (varimax rotation). The number of factors was determined by parallel analysis (Monte Carlo simulation). The subtests showed low correlations between each other, with unsatisfactory individual measures in two of the subtests. Parallel analysis identified two factors that diverged from the MABC-2 grouping and subtests without significant loadings within factors. The exclusion of three subtests resulted in a better adjusted model. Although multidimensionality was confirmed, the structure diverged from that proposed by the authors, with problems in the correlation of the variables, in the number of factors extracted, and in the grouping of subtests. The exclusion of three subtests (MD3, AC2, and B3) resulted in a better fit of the model.