Scale Overview
The Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire – Child self-report (SMFQ-C) was developed by Adrian Angold, Elizabeth J. Costello (1995). It is designed to measure Depressive symptoms. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents (aged 6-17).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 13 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not true, 1 = Sometimes true, 2 = True.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 26. Interpretation guidelines:
- Normal / Low probability of depression: 0 – 7
- Borderline / Possible depression: 8 – 11
- Elevated / High probability of depression: 12 – 26
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.85.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.