Table 5 Categorisation of studies that made adaptations for age of participants

No evidence in method that design was adapted for participants’ age

n/a

67 (70.5)

Process or protocol designed to accommodate participants’ age

Pilot study to obtain feedback about the clarity, length, comprehensiveness, and time of completion of measures [42];

Items deleted, added, or changed to make more appropriate for children’s self-reports [59];

Items adapted to address the adolescent’s situation [60];

Modifications to instrument based on judgement of research team and focus groups [61];

Items read aloud and paraphrased and participants encouraged to ask questions when uncertain of item meaning [62]

4 (4.2)

Measure acknowledged as adapted or intended for age group (designed or validated)

Good internal consistency and test–retest reliability among adolescents [28];

PSS has demonstrated good internal consistency in both adolescents [35];

Urban Hassles Scale has adequate psycho-metric properties for adolescent respondents [28]

6 (6.3)

Self-evident in name or description that measure is appropriate for age group

Adolescent Minor Stress Inventory [63];

Child Stress Scale [52];

Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children-PTS section [55];

40-item Adolescent Life Event Stress Scale [53]

18 (19)