Assessment of psychological problems in children with chronic physical health conditions using DSM-oriented ASEBA scales: a meta-analysis
- 1Department of Psychology, Marburg University , ,
Abstract
Background: Chronic physical health conditions (CPHCs) increase the risk of mental health problems. The present meta-analysis integrates research of studies that compared DSM-oriented scores from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) in young people with CPHCs and a control condition.
Methods: A systematic search in electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline, Google Scholar, and PSYNDEX) identified 115 studies involving 12,958 children and adolescents with CPHCs and 24,638 control group members which were included in a hierarchical meta-analysis.
Results: Elevated scores were found on all DSM-oriented scales, with the highest effect sizes observed for Somatic Problems (g = 0.66 standard deviation units, confidence interval [CI] 0.56 to 0.75) and Affective Problems (g = 0.61, CI 0.53 to 0.69). Between 8.6% (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems) and 14.3% (Affective Problems) of the young people with CPHCs scored in the clinical range. Effect sizes were larger if parent ratings rather than adolescent or teacher ratings were used, in the case of direct neurological involvement and of shorter duration of the CPHCs, in older samples, and when test norms rather than healthy comparison groups were used.
Conclusion: We conclude that the ASEBA is a recommended screening tool for children with CPHCs but more direct comparisons of results from the DSM-based scales and the empirically derived ASEBA scales are needed to inform the choice of the scales.
Systematic review registration: https://osf.io/nfvdj.
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BibTeX
@article{pinquart2026assessment,
title = {{Assessment of psychological problems in children with chronic physical health conditions using DSM-oriented ASEBA scales: a meta-analysis}},
author = {Martin Pinquart and Lea Lütke-Lengerich},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1930737},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719451},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessment of psychological problems in children with chronic physical health conditions using DSM-oriented ASEBA scales: a meta-analysis
AU - Martin Pinquart
AU - Lea Lütke-Lengerich
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1930737
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719451
AB - Background: Chronic physical health conditions (CPHCs) increase the risk of mental health problems. The present meta-analysis integrates research of studies that compared DSM-oriented scores from the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) in young people with CPHCs and a control condition. Methods: A systematic search in electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline, Google Scholar, and PSYNDEX) identified 115 studies involving 12,958 children and adolescents with CPHCs and 24,638 control group members which were included in a hierarchical meta-analysis. Results: Elevated scores were found on all DSM-oriented scales, with the highest effect sizes observed for Somatic Problems (g = 0.66 standard deviation units, confidence interval [CI] 0.56 to 0.75) and Affective Problems (g = 0.61, CI 0.53 to 0.69). Between 8.6% (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems) and 14.3% (Affective Problems) of the young people with CPHCs scored in the clinical range. Effect sizes were larger if parent ratings rather than adolescent or teacher ratings were used, in the case of direct neurological involvement and of shorter duration of the CPHCs, in older samples, and when test norms rather than healthy comparison groups were used. Conclusion: We conclude that the ASEBA is a recommended screening tool for children with CPHCs but more direct comparisons of results from the DSM-based scales and the empirically derived ASEBA scales are needed to inform the choice of the scales. Systematic review registration: https://osf.io/nfvdj.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -