Psychometric properties of the self-report version of the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale in a sample of Hungarian adolescents and young adults

Kornél Vajsz; Laura R Paulina; Salvador Trejo; Adrián A Andaverde-Vega; James M Swanson; Mónika Miklósi

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1330716

Psychometric properties of the self-report version of the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale in a sample of Hungarian adolescents and young adults

Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 4:15:1330716. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1330716. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Kornél Vajsz^{1

2}, Laura R Paulina¹, Salvador Trejo³, Adrián A Andaverde-Vega⁴, James M Swanson⁵, Mónika Miklósi^{1

2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
² Department of Developmental and Clinical Child Psychology, Psychological Institute, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
³ Facultad de Medicina y Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico.
⁴ Unidad Académica de Trabajo Social y Ciencias para el Desarrollo Humano, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Ciudad Victoria, Mexico.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
⁶ Centre of Mental Health, Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute, Budapest, Hungary.

Abstract

The Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behaviour Scale (SWAN) measures the full spectrum of attention and activity symptoms, not just the negative end of the distribution. Previous studies revealed strong psychometric properties of the parent and teacher report versions; however, there is little research on the new self-report form of the SWAN. Therefore, our research aimed to explore the psychometric characteristics of the SWAN self-report. A non-clinical sample of young women (N = 664, mean age: 20.01 years, SD: 3.08 years) completed the SWAN self-report, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF). We tested several models using confirmatory factor analyses to assess the factorial validity of the SWAN self-report. Distributional characteristics, convergent, and predictive validity were assessed. A bifactor model with a general factor and a specific inattention factor (bifactor-1) provided the best fit in our data (CFI = 0.977, TLI/NFI = 0.972, RMSEA = 0.053 [90% CI: 0.047 - 0.059], SRMR = 0.061, ω = 0.90). The reliability of the general ADHD factor was good (ω_h = 0.87), and the specific inattention factor was acceptable (ω_h = 0.73). The distribution of the SWAN self-report scores did not differ from the normal distribution. A strong correlation between the SWAN and the SDQ Hyperactivity subscale was found. The analyses revealed good predictive validity. Our results suggest that the SWAN self-report is a valuable tool for assessing symptoms of ADHD in adolescents and young adults.

Keywords: ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder); Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Scale; adolescence; factor structure; self-report ADHD symptoms; young Adult.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (Nr. ÚNKP-22–2-I-ELTE-854).