How is your mind-set? Proof of concept for the measurement of the level of emotional development.

Background: In persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, not only cognitive brain functions, but also socio-emotional processing networks may be impaired. This study aims to validate the Scale of Emotional Development-Short (SED-S) to provide an instrument for the assessment of socio-emotional brain functions.

Method: The SED-S was applied in 160 children aged 0-12 years. Criterion validity was investigated at item and scale level in terms of the agreement between the scale classification and the child's chronological age. Additionally, interrater reliability and internal consistency were assessed.

Results: For the majority of items, the expected response pattern emerged, showing the highest response probabilities in the respective target age groups. Agreement between the classification of the different SED-S domains and chronological age was high (κw = 0.95; exact agreement = 80.6%). Interrater reliability at domain level ranged from κw = .98 to 1.00 and internal consistency was high (α = .99).

Conclusion: The study normed the SED-S in a sample of typically developing children and provides evidence for criterion validity on item, domain and scale level.