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Compassion-focused interventions for young people have started to emerge to treat depressive symptoms, and reliable and valid measures of the construct “self-compassion” is needed for this age-group in Swedish. This study aims to validate the Swedish translation of the Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (SCS-Y). Self-report questionnaires were collected from students (N = 316) aged 15–20 recruited from schools in Sweden, in a cross-sectional design. Confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, measurement invariance and convergent and divergent validity were calculated. A model with one general bi-factor and six specific factors had the best fit and confirmed the factor structure of SCS-Y. Internal consistencies were good, except for the subscale mindfulness for boys which was questionable. Three-week test-retest reliability was good. We found measurement invariance for age and no equivalence for sex. Evidence was found for convergent and divergent validity using correlations. Sex differences were found: girls scored higher on self-judgement, feelings of isolation and showed more over-identification, than boys. The Swedish version of SCS-Y (SCS-Y-SE) is a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire, with some limitations, to assess self-compassion in clinical practice and research. What is already known about this topic:Compassion-focused interventions can potentially help young people overcome self-criticism and poor psychological health.Reliable and valid self-report questionnaires for compassion focused interventions are needed in Swedish.Self-Compassion Scale for Youths (SCS-Y) is a short, age-appropriate, valid and reliable instrument for adolescents in US populations. Compassion-focused interventions can potentially help young people overcome self-criticism and poor psychological health. Reliable and valid self-report questionnaires for compassion focused interventions are needed in Swedish. Self-Compassion Scale for Youths (SCS-Y) is a short, age-appropriate, valid and reliable instrument for adolescents in US populations. What this topic adds:We translated and adapted the SCS-Y to Swedish (SCS-Y-SE) and tested it in a school sample.The factor structure of SCS-Y-SE was established by confirmatory factor analyses, three-week test-retest reliability was good, and convergent and divergent validity were good.SCS-Y-SE can be considered a reliable and valid Swedish questionnaire for self-compassion in the age-range 15–20 years. We translated and adapted the SCS-Y to Swedish (SCS-Y-SE) and tested it in a school sample. The factor structure of SCS-Y-SE was established by confirmatory factor analyses, three-week test-retest reliability was good, and convergent and divergent validity were good. SCS-Y-SE can be considered a reliable and valid Swedish questionnaire for self-compassion in the age-range 15–20 years.

Supplemental Material for Disturbed sleep and patterns of psychiatric symptoms and function in a school-based sample of adolescents by Lie Åslund, Anna Andreasson, Mats Lekander, Eva Henje, Inga Dennhag Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Social distancing, home confinement, economic challenges, and COVID-19-related illness and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly affect mental health in youth. One promising approach to reduce anxiety and depression in adolescents is the neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA). The objective of this individually randomized waitlist-controlled trial (RCT) was (1) to test the feasibility of TARA, delivered partially over Zoom, and (2) to assess changes in the emotional wellbeing in healthy adolescents between the ages of 14–18 years old during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Twenty-one healthy adolescents were randomized to the TARA intervention or to the waitlist control group in February 2020, just before the start of the pandemic. The TARA group intervention was delivered in person for the first five sessions and remotely over Zoom for the remaining seven sessions due to the pandemic. The participants’ acceptability of TARA was assessed weekly using the Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS). The primary outcome was the emotional wellbeing measured using emotional symptoms subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) pre/post-TARA. We also explored weekly changes in TARA participants’ wellbeing using the Child Outcome Rating Scale (CORS). Results: The overall session rating in TARA participants improved after the switch to Zoom (Cohen’s d = 1.2, p = 0.008). The results of the two-way ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference in the change of the SDQ emotional symptoms during the 12 weeks between the TARA group and waitlist-control group (timepoint × group interaction: F = 0.77, p = 0.38). The exploratory analysis using the CORS in the TARA participants showed a significant improvement in their functioning over the weeks of training. Conclusion: Our results support the feasibility of TARA delivered over Zoom. While our primary outcome did not provide support for the improvement of the emotional wellbeing with TARA compared to a passive control group, our exploratory analysis in the intervention group indicated an improved functioning over the weeks of TARA training. The important general positive impact of this study lies in the possibility of offering a neuroscience-based mindfulness intervention remotely to youth living in remote areas and for all youth during pandemic times.

Background The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) aims to provide self-reported item banks for several dimensions of physical, mental and social health. Here we investigate the psychometric properties of the Swedish pediatric versions of the Physical Health item banks for pain interference, fatigue and physical activity which can be used in school health care and other clinical pediatric settings. Physical health has been shown to be more important for teenagers’ well-being than ever because of the link to several somatic and mental conditions. The item banks are not yet available in Sweden. Methods 12- to 19-year-old participants (n = 681) were recruited in public school settings, and at a child- and psychiatric outpatient clinic. Three one-factor models using CFA were performed to evaluate scale dimensionality. We analyzed monotonicity and local independence. The items were calibrated by fitting the graded response model. Differential Item analyses (DIF) for age, gender and language were calculated. Results As part of the three one-factor models, we found support that each item bank measures a unidimensional construct. No monotonicity or local dependence were found. We found that 11 items had significant lack of fit in the item response theory (IRT) analyses. The result also showed DIF for age (seven items) and language (nine items). However, the differences on item fits and effect sizes of McFadden were negligible. After considering the analytic results, graphical illustration, item content and clinical relevance we decided to keep all items in the item banks. Conclusions We translated and validated the U.S. PROMIS item banks pain interference, fatigue and physical activity into Swedish by applying CFA, IRT and DIF analyses. The results suggest adequacy of the translations in terms of their psychometrics. The questionnaires can be used in school health and other pediatric care. Future studies can be to use Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), which provide fewer but reliable items to the test person compared to classical testing.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-2-ccp-10.1177_1359104520929376 for Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in adolescents with comorbid psychiatric disorders: A clinical pilot study by Lie Åslund, Mats Lekander, Rikard K Wicksell, Eva Henje and Susanna Jernelöv in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-3-ccp-10.1177_1359104520929376 for Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in adolescents with comorbid psychiatric disorders: A clinical pilot study by Lie Åslund, Mats Lekander, Rikard K Wicksell, Eva Henje and Susanna Jernelöv in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-ccp-10.1177_1359104520929376 for Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in adolescents with comorbid psychiatric disorders: A clinical pilot study by Lie Åslund, Mats Lekander, Rikard K Wicksell, Eva Henje and Susanna Jernelöv in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-2-ccp-10.1177_1359104520929376 for Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia in adolescents with comorbid psychiatric disorders: A clinical pilot study by Lie Åslund, Mats Lekander, Rikard K Wicksell, Eva Henje and Susanna Jernelöv in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry