Scale of Emotional Development - Short: reliability and validity in adults with intellectual disability.
The 18-item SED-S gives BCBAs a reliable, one-page read of emotional development in adults with ID.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers tested a short form of the Scale of Emotional Development (SED-S) on the adults with intellectual disability. They used confirmatory factor analysis to see if the 18-item scale measured one clear emotional-development factor.
Participants had mild to severe ID and various comorbid conditions. The team checked if the scale stayed reliable across sex, ID level, and additional diagnoses.
What they found
The SED-S showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.93) and a clean single-factor structure. Fit indices met strict cut-offs, meaning all 18 items hang together well.
Reliability stayed high no matter the person's ID severity, sex, or extra diagnoses like autism or Down syndrome.
How this fits with other research
Kaiser et al. (2022) found the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) performed poorly in children with ID—weak reliability and poor factor fit. The new SED-S succeeds where the SDQ failed, giving practitioners a sound single-factor tool for adults.
Smith et al. (2010) validated two social-desirability scales for adults with ID and also reported good reliability. Both studies strengthen the case that well-designed self-report tools can work when items are short and concrete.
Chou et al. (2013) and Johnson et al. (2009) confirmed the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) is reliable for adults with ID. Together with the SED-S evidence, we now have psychometric green lights for measuring support needs (SIS) and emotional growth (SED-S) in the same population.
Why it matters
You now have an 18-item, single-score snapshot of emotional development that holds up across ID levels and comorbidities. Use it during intake, annual reviews, or before starting social-skills groups. Pair it with the SIS to link emotional level to support hours and show funders why services are needed.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is often associated with delays in emotional development (ED). The Scale of Emotional Development - Short (SED-S) was developed to assess the level of ED and to adapt treatment and care accordingly. METHODS: In a sample of 724 adults from five study sites in three countries, a confirmatory factor analysis with a one-factor model was conducted on the entire dataset as well as in different subgroups. Furthermore, internal consistency was investigated using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a single-factor model fits the SED-S data well. The subgroup analyses revealed good model fit, regardless of the severity of ID and irrespective of sex or the presence of autism spectrum disorder or psychiatric disorders. Internal consistency was excellent for the entire sample (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93) and various subgroups (0.869-0.938). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the SED-S is psychometrically sound and can be used to assess the level of ED in adults with ID.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2023 · doi:10.1111/jir.13080