Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Child Self-Report

Can N., Calisir Ö., Oksuz E. E., YALÇIN S.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COUNSELLING, vol.46, no.2, pp.369-384, 2024 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 46 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10447-024-09544-5
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COUNSELLING
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Educational research abstracts (ERA), ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Psycinfo, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.369-384
  • Keywords: Child and adolescent mental health, Depression, MFQ, Psychometrics, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-Child Self Report (SMFQ-C; 13-item) was developed to assess depression among children and adolescents. The SMFQ-C is one of the widely used instruments due to its easy administration, open-access feature, and good psychometric properties. The present study attempted to investigate psychometric properties of the Turkish translated version of the SMFQ-C with a total of 428 children and adolescents, between ages 9 and 17. To analyze data, independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, Cronbach's alpha statistics, Pearson's correlations, and confirmatory factor analysis were utilized. Our study findings suggested that the test-retest reliability of the 13-item Turkish SMFQ-C was significant, and there were favorable evidences for both convergent and discriminant evidence. Confirmatory factor analysis supported that the Turkish version of the SMFQ-C has appropriate psychometric properties for utilization, including reasonably good fit of the model with a Cronbach's alpha value of .89. Group comparison analyses revealed that female students and high school students scored significantly higher on the Turkish SMFQ-C. We concluded that the Turkish translated version of the SMFQ-C is a reliable and valid tool for rapid screening of depression among non-clinical, Turkish-speaking children and youth.