Measuring early maladaptive schemas (EMS): preliminary development of a brief Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-Brief)

Although the Young Schema Questionnaire and its current variants have been widely used, its continued use would be strengthened practically if a briefer version was available for clinical assessment and research. This study aimed to provide an assessment of the psychometric properties of the original YSQ-S3 and to create a brief version (YSQ-Brief) with equal or superior psychometric properties to the YSQ-S3. A non-clinical sample of university students (<i>N</i> = 800) completed an online test battery of questionnaires. Diagnostic groups were created based off current self-report of a mental health diagnosis (e.g. generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder), and an eating disorder symptomatic subgroup created based on Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire scores. Psychometric evaluations were conducted, including confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency and validity analyses (criterion and construct). Further, group differences and relationships between mental health symptomatology and early maladaptive schemas (EMS) were examined. Both the YSQ-S3 and the revised YSQ-Brief displayed good model fit. Further, using both measures, all 18 EMS dimensions displayed acceptable internal consistency, good construct validity, ability to discriminate between diagnostic groups, and relationships with depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorder symptomatology. The results of this study suggest that both the YSQ-S3 and the revised YSQ-Brief are valid, reliable and clinically useful measures. However, the YSQ-Brief provides greater efficiency and reduced burden, as well as equal psychometric soundness as compared to the original measure. <b>What is already known about this topic:</b>The Young Schema Questionnaire is widely used but has significant clinician and respondent burden.A psychometric evaluation of the YSQ-S3 is yet to be conducted in a young adult Australian sample.The relationship between anxiety and schema dimensions has not been studied in this population nor the relationship between disordered eating symptomatology “approval seeking”, “negativity/pessimism”, and “punitiveness”. The Young Schema Questionnaire is widely used but has significant clinician and respondent burden. A psychometric evaluation of the YSQ-S3 is yet to be conducted in a young adult Australian sample. The relationship between anxiety and schema dimensions has not been studied in this population nor the relationship between disordered eating symptomatology “approval seeking”, “negativity/pessimism”, and “punitiveness”. <b>What this topic adds</b>:
The YSQ-S3 displayed good validity and reliability in young adult Australian population.The newly revised YSQ-Brief displayed equal psychometric soundness, but with greater efficiency and reduced burden.The YSQ-Brief can discriminate young adults with various self-reported mental health diagnoses and displayed relationships with depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorder symptomatology. The YSQ-S3 displayed good validity and reliability in young adult Australian population. The newly revised YSQ-Brief displayed equal psychometric soundness, but with greater efficiency and reduced burden. The YSQ-Brief can discriminate young adults with various self-reported mental health diagnoses and displayed relationships with depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorder symptomatology.