Assessing Core Abilities Across the Mental Health Spectrum: Development and Initial Evaluation of the E-SWAN-G

Abstract

We evaluated the Extended Strengths and Weaknesses Assessment of Normal Behavior—General Instrument (E-SWAN-G), designed to capture core strengths and difficulties across the mental health spectrum. A youth version was completed by 603 parents and an adult version by 607 adults, each comprising 60 items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported 13 identical first-order factors across the two versions: Concentrate/stay still, Tolerate closed/open spaces, Feel comfortable with body, Regulate distress, Regulate frustration, Perceive/understand others, Tolerate potentially dangerous situations, Communicate with others, Learn abstract concepts, Regulate motivation/energy, Tolerate messiness, Regulate sleep, and Abstain from substances. Internal consistency was mostly good to excellent, concurrent and incremental validity were supported, and scalar measurement invariance held across the two versions. A brief 32-item version, with conserved psychometric properties, was developed. The E-SWAN-G, which is freely available, shows promise as a concise tool for profiling core abilities across the mental health spectrum in both youth and adults.