Skip to main content
Log in

Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents

  • Published:
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The factor structure of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI; D'Zurilla & Nezu, 1990) was evaluated with a sample of 708 normal adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the empirically derived five-factor model reported by D'Zurilla and Maydeu-Olivares (1994) using an adult sample, but not the theoretically derived seven-factor structure of the original SPSI. The psychometric properties of the original and revised inventories are reported for normal adolescents and psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (n=63). Internal consistency and reliability estimates were adequate. Support for the validity of the revised SPSI was demonstrated by examining the relationship between social skills, depression, and social problem solving; in addition, differences between normal and inpatient adolescent samples were examined. The findings are discussed in terms of the utility of the inventories with adolescents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, J. R., & Callan, J. W. (1985). Boys with peer adjustment problems: Social cognitive processes.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53(1), 80–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asarnow, J. R., Carlson, G., & Guthrie, D. (1987). Coping strategies, self-perceptions, hopelessness, and perceived family environments in depressed and suicidal children.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 361–366.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T., Brown, G., Steer, R. A., & Weissman, A. N. (1991). Factor analysis of the dysfunctional attitude scale in a clinical population.Psychological Assessment, 3, 478–483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models.Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonett, D. G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures.Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. D., & Siegel, J. M. (1988). Attributions for negative life events and depression: The role of perceived control.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 316–322.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D. A. (1987). Utility of confirmatory factor analysis in test validation research.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 584–594.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craighead, W. E. (1991). Cognitive factors and classification issues in adolescent depression.Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 20, 311–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • D'Zurilla, T. J., & Goldfried, M. R. (1971). Problem solving and behavior modification.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78(1), 107–126.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D'Zurilla, T. J., & Maydeu-Olivares, A. (1994),A revision of the social problem solving inventory based on factor-analytic methods: An integration of theory and data. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • D'Zurilla, T. N., & Nezu, A. (1982). Social problem-solving in adults. In P. C. Kendall (Ed.),Advances in cognitive-behavioral research and therapy, (Vol. 1, pp. 201–274). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • D'Zurilla, T. N. & Nezu, A. (1990). Development and Preliminary evaluation of the Social Problem Solving Inventory.Psychological Assessment, 2, 156–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M. (1985). Utility of cognitive-behavioral procedures for social skills training with children: A critical review.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 411–423.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., & Elliot, S. (1990).Manual for the Social Skills Rating Scale. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, P. P., & Anderson, W. P. (1985). The relationship between problem-solving self-appraisal and psychological adjustment.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 415–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollon, S. D., & Kendall, P. C. (1980). Cognitive self-statements in depression: Development of an automatic thoughts questionnaire.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 4, 383–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopper, R. B. & Kirschenbaum, D. S. (1985). Social problem solving and social competence in preadolescents: Is inconsistency the hobgoblin of little minds?Cognitive Therapy and Research, 9, 685–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huberty, C. J. (1975). Discriminant analysis.Review of Educational Research, 45, 543–598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joffe, R. D., Dobson, K. S., Fine, S., Marriage, K., & Haley, G. (1990). Social problem-solving in depressed, conduct-disordered, and normal adolescents.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18, 565–575.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joreskog, K. G., & Sorbom, D. (1986).LISREL 7: User's reference guide. Mooresville, In: Scientific Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krasnor, L. R. & Rubin, K. H. (1981). The assessment of social problem-solving skills in young children. In T. Merluzzi & M. Genest (Eds.),Cognitive assessment. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeavey, B. C., Daly, R. J., Murray, C. M., O'Riordan, J., & Taylor, M. (1987). Interpersonal problem solving deficits in self-poisoning patients.Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior.,17, 33–49.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nezu, A. M. (1985). Differences in psychological distress between effective and ineffective problem solvers.Journal of Counseling Psychology, 32, 135–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orbach, I., Bar-Joseph, H., & Dror, N. (1990). Styles of problem-solving in suicidal individuals.Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 20(1), 56–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orbach, I., Rosenheim, E., & Hary, E. (1987). Some aspects of cognitive functioning in suicidal children.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26, 181–185.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Platt, J. J., Spivack, G., Altman, N., Altman, D., & Peizer, S. B. (1974). Adolescent problem-solving thinking.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(6), 787–793.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, W. M. (1986).Assessment of depression in adolescents: Manual for the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotherham-Borus, M. J., Trautman, P. D., Dopkins, S. C., & Shrout, P. E. (1990). Cognitive style and pleasant activities among female adolescent suicide attempters.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 554–561.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sacco, W. P., & Graves, D. J. (1984). Childhood depression, interpersonal problem-solving, and self-ratings of performance.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 13, 10–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadowski, C., & Kelley, M. L. (1993). Social problem solving in suicidal adolescents.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61, 121–127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schotte, D. E., & Clum, G. A. (1987). Problem-solving skills in suicidal psychiatric patients.Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 55, 49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, J. (1986).Applied multivariate statistics for the social sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, P. D., Anderson, K., & Bailey, S. (1986). Attributional style in depression: A meta-analytic review.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 974–991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wampler, B. E. (1989).Grammatik IV. San Francisco: Reference Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenmore, R., & Dell, L. W. (1983). Interpersonal problem-solving skills and depression-proneness.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 9, 231–235.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sadowski, C., Moore, L.A. & Kelley, M.L. Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents. J Abnorm Child Psychol 22, 487–500 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168087

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168087

Keywords

Navigation