Reliability of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY) for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of this paper was to update the psychometrics of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Youngsters (MESSY) with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), specifically with respect to internal consistency, split-half reliability, and inter-rater reliability. In Study 1, 114 children with ASD (Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Syndrome, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified) were assessed using the MESSY. Participants ranged in age from 2 to 16 years. Study 1 found excellent internal consistency, and split half reliability. Using MESSY scores from two caregivers of 33 children, Study 2 found that the MESSY demonstrated moderate to high inter-rater reliability. As such, this study established the internal and inter-rater reliability of the MESSY for use among children with ASD.

► Assessing social skills is one of the key elements in childhood adjustment.
► The MESSY is one of the oldest and best established social measures.
► A new sample re-establishes the MESSY's reliability.