Racial and Ethnic Invariance of HiTOP Dimensions in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) has gained significant traction in clinical psychological science. However, whether this emerging model of psychopathology is generalizable to diverse populations has been understudied. This study tested measurement invariance – the degree to which latent constructs are measured with equivalence across groups – in HiTOP across racial and ethnic groups using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Comparing across non-Hispanic white (n=7,166), Hispanic (n=2,411), and non-Hispanic Black (n=1,862) youths, the five-factor model comprising of Externalizing, Neurodevelopmental, Internalizing, Somatoform, and Detachment dimensions demonstrated configural, metric, scalar, and strict measurement invariance. Furthermore, each of the five factors demonstrated evidence of concurrent and convergent validity, reinforcing HiTOP’s utility in research with respect to diverse racial and ethnic groups. Establishing measurement invariance has critical scientific and clinical implications, particularly if latent dimensions of the HiTOP are to be used in addressing mental health disparities in minoritized populations.