The Reliability and Validity of the Polish Version of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI)

Abstract

(1) Background: Schema therapy and working with schema modes is increasingly popular. Since there is no validated tool to measure schema modes in Poland, in this study, we present an assessment of the psychometric properties of the Polish version the Short Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) adaptation. (2) Methods: First, the original version of the scale was translated. Subsequently, a validity and reliability study was conducted on a sample of 240 patients and 400 non-patients. In particular, the factor structure of the inventory was checked, internal reliability and intercorrelations between subscales were tested, differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups in terms of the severity of each factor were examined, and construct validity was assessed by comparing the association of results with external variables. (3) Results: The results did not conclusively confirm the 14-factor structure postulated in the original scale. Nevertheless, the relatively best fit indices were obtained for such a model. The internal reliability for the 14 subscales ranged from 0.74 to 0.95 (McDonald’s omega). Correlations between subscales demonstrated values from 0.03 to 0.72. The existence of differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups and the construct validity were confirmed. (4) Conclusions: The psychometric evaluation performed is mostly similar to the results obtained for other adaptations, and the results justify the inventory being used for research and clinical purposes when knowledge of its limitations is included.

Suicidality in the Light of Schema Therapy Constructs, i.e., Early Maladaptive Schema and Schema Modes: A Longitudinal Study

“…There are several studies that have tested the association of EMS with suicide risk, most of them conducted in groups of patients suffering from specific psychiatric disorders [24]. The results indicate the most significant importance of EMS from the discon-nection/rejection domain, which also persists when controlling for depressive, anxiety, or manic symptoms [25][26][27][28][29].…”

“…Also noteworthy is considering mental disorders as a predictor of suicide risk [4,10,11,13,14]. It is known that among people with psychiatric disorders, there is a higher intensity of EMSs and dysfunctional schema modes and a lower severity of healthy schema modes compared to people without disorders [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. It is further evidence that we should observe higher severity of EMS and dysfunctional coping modes and lower severity of adaptive modes in people with suicide risk.…”

“…To measure the schema modes, we used a Short SMI by Lobbesteal et al [21] in a Polish adaptation by Gra żka et al [24]. The questionnaire was obtained directly from the authors.…”