An Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Korean Version of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters-II (K-Messy-II)

Abstract

Social skills impairment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often considered a hallmark of the disorder. Impairments in social skills impede the development of meaningful social relationships in individuals with ASD. As children get older, social relationships and environments become more complex, further increasing social skills impairments and distress. Although social skill training has received a lot of attention in the last decade, more reliable and valid social skills measures that are adapted to use in the ASD population are needed. Given that social norms and expectations differ across cultures, more culturally valid measures are needed. The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters-II (MESSY-II) is one of the most researched social skills measures that have been used internationally. To date, there are a limited number of social skills ratings scales in South Korea. Therefore, the current study examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Korean version of the MESSY-II (K-MESSY-II). In addition, potential differences among the factors with respect to age cohorts in Korean children and adolescents with ASD were examined. Finally, the cultural relevancy of the K-MESSY-II items was assessed. This study demonstrated that the K-MESSY-II is a psychometrically sound measure that may be used to enhance evaluation and treatment of social skills in children and adolescents, including those with ASD in South Korea.