Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2)
Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional, Second Edition · Also known as: ASQ:SE, ASQ:SE-2
The ASQ:SE-2 is a parent-completed screening questionnaire assessing social-emotional competencies and behavioral concerns in infants and young children aged 3 months to 5.5 years. Developed by Squires, Bricker, and Twombly (2009) and revised in 2015, it measures domains including self-regulation, compliance, adaptive behaviors, autonomy, affect, and social interaction. The ASQ:SE-2 is widely used in pediatric primary care, early intervention, child care settings, and public health programs for routine developmental screening and identification of children at risk for social-emotional or behavioral difficulties.
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When to use it
The ASQ:SE-2 is indicated for routine developmental screening of all children at well-child visits or early childhood programs. Specific indications include: (1) periodic screening at recommended intervals (3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and annually thereafter up to 5 years) in pediatric primary care; (2) admission screening in child care, preschool, or early intervention programs; (3) screening of children with known developmental risk factors (prematurity, medical complexity, family history of mental health concerns); (4) monitoring of children whose previous ASQ:SE-2 scores were elevated; (5) evaluation of effects of early intervention or parent education programs on social-emotional development.
Strengths & limitations
- Evidence-based with strong psychometric properties: ASQ:SE-2 demonstrates sensitivity 86–92% and specificity 72–86% for identifying children with social-emotional or behavioral concerns across diverse age ranges.
- Culturally and linguistically diverse: Available in 12+ languages; normed on diverse socioeconomic and racial/ethnic samples, improving applicability across populations.
- Parent-centered and strengths-based: Items focus on what the child can do as well as concerns; report highlights competencies alongside areas for growth.
- Age-specific questionnaires: Developmentally tailored items for each age group increase relevance and accuracy of screening compared to single one-size-fits-all tool.
- Feasible for routine use: Brief (10–15 minutes), requires no special equipment, generates clear screening results supporting referral decisions.
- Parent-report bias: Parents' perceptions of child behavior may be influenced by parental mental health, stress, or cultural values; some behaviors observed at home may not occur in other settings.
- Limited by cultural interpretation of social-emotional norms: Some behaviors screened as concerning (e.g., specific eye contact patterns, emotional expression) vary across cultures, and cutoff scores developed primarily on US populations may not optimally apply to other groups.
- Screening tool, not diagnostic: Elevated ASQ:SE-2 scores do not diagnose specific conditions (autism, ADHD, anxiety disorder); further evaluation is required.
- May not detect internalizing difficulties: Items tend to focus on observable behaviors; internalizing concerns (anxiety, sadness, withdrawal) may be underdetected compared to externalizing behaviors (aggression, noncompliance).
- Requires reliable parent report: Severely stressed, depressed, or non-English-speaking parents may have difficulty completing the questionnaire accurately; clinician support may be necessary.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between ASQ:SE-2 and the original ASQ?
The original ASQ screens general developmental domains (motor, language, cognitive); ASQ:SE-2 is specific to social-emotional development. The original ASQ assesses whether a child can kick a ball or say words; ASQ:SE-2 assesses whether the child can follow directions, regulate emotions, and engage with others. Both tools are parent-completed and brief, but they assess different domains. Most pediatric practices administer both for comprehensive screening of both general development and social-emotional competence.
Can ASQ:SE-2 diagnose autism or ADHD?
No. ASQ:SE-2 is a screening tool for social-emotional competencies and behavioral concerns, not a diagnostic instrument for specific conditions. Children with autism or ADHD may screen positive on ASQ:SE-2 due to social interaction or behavioral regulation difficulties, but an elevated score does not indicate a specific diagnosis. Formal evaluation by a developmental psychologist or pediatric specialist using condition-specific diagnostic tools (ADOS for autism, ADHD rating scales) is required for diagnosis.
What if a child scores 'Above the Cutoff'? Does that mean there is a serious problem?
Not necessarily. 'Above the Cutoff' indicates some concern and recommends monitoring or brief follow-up, but it does not indicate severe impairment. Many children score 'Above the Cutoff' due to typical developmental variations, recent stressors, or parent stress affecting perception. Clinicians typically recommend enhanced monitoring, parent education about social-emotional strategies, or rescreening in 1–3 months before referral for formal evaluation.
Can ASQ:SE-2 be used for children under 3 months or over 5.5 years?
ASQ:SE-2 is validated and normed for ages 3 months to 5.5 years. The youngest form is for 3 months; attempting to screen younger infants using the 3-month form may be inaccurate as social-emotional behaviors are still emerging. For older children (>5.5 years), different behavioral screening tools are appropriate (e.g., Behavior Assessment System for Children, BASC-3). Age-appropriate forms must be used.
Sources
- Squires, J., Bricker, D., & Twombly, E. (2015). Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE-2): A Parent-Completed Child Monitoring System for Social-Emotional Behaviors. Paul H. Brookes Publishing. ISBN: 978-1598571714
- Squires, J., Bricker, D., & Twombly, E. (2009). Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE): A Parent-Completed, Child-Monitoring System for Social-Emotional Behaviors. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 34(3-4), 42-55. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional, Second Edition. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/neonatology/ages-stages-questionnaire-social-emotional
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