NCJ Number
230059
Journal
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 102-109
Date Published
June 2010
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the construction of a schema questionnaire for children that takes into account the multiple facets present in early maladaptive schemas (EMSs).
Abstract
A Schema Inventory for Children (SIC) was developed, based on Young's schema model. Its psychometric properties were investigated in a non-clinical multi-ethnic sample of children, aged 8-13 years. The latent structure of the SIC was explored using a cross-validation design. Confirmatory factor analyses yielded satisfying fits for a modified model, that included 8 of the original 15 schema factors, as well as 3 new factors, each containing a theoretically meaningful combination of 2 or 3 original schema factors. Our data suggest that, to a certain extent, children present with the same schemas as identified in adolescents and adults, although some unique, children-specific schemas occurred. SIC item loadings were moderate to good, and all factors showed adequate discriminant validity. However, factor reliability estimates were mediocre, but in most cases still acceptable. Furthermore, results suggest adequate stability for all SIC scales. Finally, strong relations between most of the SIC scales and measures of psychopathology were found, although an opposite pattern of associations emerged for two scales (i.e., Enmeshment and Self-Sacrifice), suggesting that these schemas are not maladaptive -yet- at this young age. Tables, appendix, and references (Published Abstract)