Latent Structure and Item Functioning of Self-Referent Encoding Task Word Stimuli in Preadolescent Youth.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Self-concept is crucial for mental health, with the Self-Referent Encoding Task (SRET) measuring it via trait word endorsement.
• SRET endorsement scores are linked to depression severity, highlighting the need for psychometric evaluation in youth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural validity and item functioning of SRET endorsement scores in preadolescent youth.
• To identify psychometrically sound and developmentally sensitive SRET items for assessing youth self-concept and depression risk.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory were employed.
• 508 preadolescent youth (average age 12.39 years) rated the self-descriptiveness of positive and negative trait adjectives.

Main Results:

• The SRET demonstrated a robust two-factor structure, comprising positive and negative self-concept dimensions.
• Positive items best estimated low levels of positive self-concept, while negative items best estimated high levels of negative self-concept.

Conclusions:

• The SRET is a psychometrically valid tool for assessing self-concept structure in preadolescent youth.
• Standardized SRET items can reliably measure self-concept, aiding in the early identification of depression risk.