YSQ‐GeMS: Development of a Short Form of the Young Schema Questionnaire for Geriatric Mental Health Care Using Item Response Theory

TL;DR

A shorter version of a questionnaire for assessing psychological schemas was developed for older adults in mental health care.

Contribution

A 75-item shortened version of the Young Schema Questionnaire was developed for geriatric mental health care using item response theory.

Findings

The YSQ-GeMS showed strong concordance with the original questionnaire.

Excluded items improved suitability for cognitively vulnerable older adults.

The shorter form reduces respondent burden while maintaining psychometric robustness.

Abstract

Schema therapy is effective for older adults with personality disorders, but the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) may be too lengthy for use in geriatric mental health care. This study evaluated the construct validity of the YSQ‐L2 in adults aged 35–97 years receiving residential or outpatient geriatric, psychiatric or medical care and developed a shorter form for this population. Data from 214 participants from Dutch nursing homes and outpatient services were analysed using Item Response Theory across 16 YSQ‐L2 subscales. Each subscale was reduced to five items based on discrimination, difficulty, Differential Item Functioning for cognitive status and face validity. Most items showed adequate discrimination and coverage, whereas the Enmeshment scale had limited sensitivity and the Social Undesirability scale was excluded. The resulting 75‐item YSQ‐GeMS showed strong concordance with the original, providing a psychometrically robust and efficient tool for schema assessment in geriatric mental health care.

The YSQ‐GeMS is a psychometrically robust, substantially shorter alternative to the original YSQ−L2, with strong concordance and reduced respondent burden.Items susceptible to cognitive impairments were excluded, improving suitability for cognitively vulnerable older adults.Brief schema assessment may support wider implementation of schema therapy in nursing homes and other geriatric care settings, enabling more individualized interventions.

The YSQ‐GeMS is a psychometrically robust, substantially shorter alternative to the original YSQ−L2, with strong concordance and reduced respondent burden.

Items susceptible to cognitive impairments were excluded, improving suitability for cognitively vulnerable older adults.

Brief schema assessment may support wider implementation of schema therapy in nursing homes and other geriatric care settings, enabling more individualized interventions.

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