A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Validation of an instrument for understanding school absence: the Swedish version of the adapted school refusal assessment scale-revised




AuthorsStrömbeck, Johan; Heyne, David; Ferrer-Wreder, Laura; Alanko, Katarina

PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication year2025

JournalBMC Psychology

Journal name in sourceBMC Psychology

Article number606

Volume13

ISSN2050-7283

eISSN2050-7283

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02936-1

Web address https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-025-02936-1

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/499140684


Abstract

Background
The School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R) is a widely used measure to understand school attendance problems. However, previous evaluations have yielded inconsistent findings on the factor structure.

Methods
We prepared a Swedish translation of the original SRAS-R plus the eight alternative items in the adapted versions of the SRAS-R (i.e., the A-SRAS-R). Subsequently, we tested the Swedish A-SRAS-R in a pilot testing, evaluated its factor structure, internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and compared the model fit and internal consistency with the SRAS-R. Participants were students (n = 399) aged 12–16 years (M = 14.7, SD = 0.9) and their parents (n = 251).

Results
Results supported a four-factor solution of the A-SRAS-R. However, the fourth factor was non-optimal concerning factor loadings and reliability. We found consistent evidence of convergent validity, and inconsistent evidence of discriminant validity.

Conclusion
The results provide support for the A-SRAS-R being psychometrically sound, and superior in comparison to the SRAS-R. Notwithstanding the need for further development of the fourth factor, the A-SRAS-R appears to be a valuable instrument for understanding school absence among Swedish young people.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.




Funding information in the publication
The research project was funded by the C.G. Sundell foundation.


Last updated on 2025-07-08 at 13:19