The Intelligence and Development Scale of Social-Emotional Competence (IDS-SEK): Psychometric properties of a test for assessing social-emotional abilities

To address a lack of adequate measures for capturing the social-emotional abilities of children, the Social-Emotional Competence Scale (IDS-SEK) of the Intelligence and Devlopment Scales (IDS) was constructed. The test measures social-emotional abilities on the dimensions: 1. Emotion Recognition (EE), 2. Emotion Regulation (ER), 3. Understanding of Social Situations (SV), and 4. Social Operation Competence (SH). Results of studies conducted with 839 5- to 10-year-olds from Switzerland support the scale's construct and criterion validity. Comparisons (matched for age, sex, and intelligence quotient) of children without behavioural problems and children with Asperger Syndrome (N = 38) or aggressive behavioural problems (N = 57) offer additional proof of the scale's differentiation ability. The IDS-SEK is well suited to measure capabilities and deficits in the social-emotional domain in a multi-dimensional way. It can be used as the basis of specific interventions.