Psychometric Properties of the French Version of the Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3)

Abstract

The purpose was to assess the psychometric properties of the French version of the Young Schema Questionnaire - Short Form 3 (YSQ-S3). The main non-clinical sample (N = 605, M = 20.63, 78% women) was divided into two subsamples: One was used for exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and the other was used for confirmatory analyses. Next, internal consistency, convergent validity and criterion-related validity were studied. The EFA to each of the five domains was similar to the theoretical structure postulated by Young. The confirmatory analysis of each of the five domains appeared to favor our solution over a single-factor solution and Young's solution. The confirmatory factor analyses of high-order structures did not give fully satisfactory results but appeared to favor our solution (RMSEA =.11, CFI =.76, TLI =.71, SRMR =.07, AIC = 58,566.44). In our best model, the reliability (> .70) was satisfactory for fourteen schemas. The relationships between the schemas and the neuroticism, extraversion and psychoticism scores went in the expected directions. Detrimental parental rearing behaviors were linked to high scores for the various schemas. Lastly, 4 schemas differentiated between the clinical and non-clinical groups. In conclusion, the overall psychometric qualities of the French version of the YSQ-S3 allow its use in clinical populations.

Keywords: Short Form 3; maladaptive schemas; reliability; the Young Schema Questionnaire; validity.