Factor Structure,Reliability and Validity of the Taiwanese Version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children

The aims of this study were to examine the factor structure, internal consistency 1 month test–retest reliability and the discriminant validity for the diagnosis of anxiety disorder of the Taiwanese version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-T). A total of 12,536 Taiwanese children and adolescents in the community were recruited to examine the adequacy of the original four-factor structure of the MASC-T by confirmatory factor analysis and the internal-consistency reliability by Cronbach’s alpha across gender and age. The 1 month test–retest reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) in 105 children and adolescents in the community. The discriminant validity of the MASC-T for the diagnosis of anxiety disorder was examined in 132 children and adolescents from clinical units. The results of this study supported the four-factor structure of the MASC-T in Taiwanese children and adolescents and the four-factor structure was invariant across gender and age. The 1 month test–retest reliability of the MASC-T was in the satisfactory to excellent range and the internal consistency reliability of the Physical Symptoms, Harm Avoidance, and Social Anxiety scales was acceptable. The discriminant validity of the total MASC-T and the anxiety disorder index for the diagnosis of any anxiety disorder was also confirmed. These results indicate that the MASC-T is appropriate for assessing anxiety in Taiwanese children and adolescents.     

The Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties Among a School Sample of Portuguese Youths

Over the last decades there has been an increased interest in assessing social anxiety in adolescents. This study aims to validate the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) to Portuguese youth, and to examine its invariance across gender as well as its psychometric properties. The participants were 782 Portuguese youths (371 males, 411 females), with an average age of 15.87 years (SD = 1.72). The results support the original three-factor structure of the SAS-A, with measurement invariance being found across gender, with females scoring higher than males on two subscales. High levels of internal consistency were found. Positive associations with empathy demonstrated that high socially anxious adolescents have elevated empathy tendencies. Mostly null or low negative associations were found with measures of psychopathic traits, callous-unemotional traits and aggression. Study findings provide evidence that the SAS-A is a psychometrically sound instrument that shows measurement invariance between genders, good reliability and positive correlations with empathy.     

Psychometric evaluation of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents and the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children: construct validity and normative data

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) and Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C) in a sample of 1147 adolescents aged 13-17 years. The fit indices of confirmatory factor analyses were comparable to those obtained in prior studies and supported the hypothesized models of the SAS-A and SPAI-C. The internal consistency was good and 12-month test-retest reliability modest for both measures. A significant, positive correlation was found between the SAS-A and SPAI-C, showing that these measures assess related, but relatively independent constructs of social anxiety and phobia. These findings support the use of the SAS-A and SPAI-C with adolescents.     

Social anxiety level in Turkish adolescents

Social phobia is a mental disorder characterized by extreme and consistent fear of meeting new people, scrutiny in a variety of performance and/or interactional situations. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of self-reported social anxiety in a community sample of Turkish adolescents and the relationship between social anxiety and some sociodemographic parameters. This study was a school-based cross-sectional study. Students in grades 6–8 (aged 10–16) from 12 schools in Kocaeli/Turkey were screened by the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). The correlations of sociodemographic parameters with the SAS-A scores were examined. Data from a sample of 1,713 students (865 boys 50.4% and 848 girls 49.5%) were analyzed. A significant gender difference in the SAS-A points was found. Boys reported higher SAS-A total and subscale scores (except social avoidance and distress-general subscale score) than did girls. A significant negative correlation was found between socioeconomic status and social anxiety level. SAS-A scores were higher in those with a low socioeconomic level, and who were going to rural schools. The result of this study showed that social phobic symptoms among Turkish adolescents were more severe in boys. Some factors such as low socioeconomic level, and going to a rural school had impact on the SAS-A scores. As the impairment in the school-domain was reported to be quite high, professionals and teachers need to recognize social anxiety in adolescents, so that help can be offered to overcome the difficulties social phobia causes.     

Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents: Factorial invariance and latent mean differences across gender and age in Spanish adolescents

Little is known about the factorial invariance across gender and age for self-report measures of social anxiety in adolescence. This study examined the factorial invariance and latent mean differences of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) across gender and age groups in 1570 Spanish adolescents (54% girls), ranging in age from 14 to 17 years. Equality of factor structures was compared using multi-group confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance for the correlated three-factor model of the SAS-A was found across gender and age samples. Analyses of latent mean differences revealed that girls exhibited higher means than boys on two SAS-A subscales, Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Avoidance and Distress-New (SAD-New). In addition, on the SAD-New subscale, the structured means significantly diminished from 14-year olds to 16- and 17-year olds and from 15-year olds to 17-year olds. Findings are discussed in terms of the use of the SAS-A with Spanish adolescents.     

Social Anxiety in High-functioning Children and Adolescents with Autism and Asperger Syndrome

We examined social anxiety and internalizing symptoms using the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C), the Social Anxiety Scale for Children -Revised (SASC-R), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a sample of fifty-four high-functioning subjects with autism or Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS) (M = 11.2 ± 1.7 years) and 305 community subjects (M = 12.2 ± 2.2 years). Children and adolescents completed the SPAI-C and SASC-R, and their parents completed the CBCL Internalizing scale. Adolescents with HFA/AS scored higher than the community sample on all measures. Behavioural avoidance and evaluative social anxiety increased by age within the HFA/AS group, whereas behavioural avoidance decreased by age in control participants. Data support that HFA/AS in adolescents may be associated with clinically relevant social anxiety symptoms.     

Cross validation of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents in a high school sample

Social anxiety disorder in adolescents is increasingly recognized as a common condition that may precede onset of other mental health problems. However, few measures are currently available to screen for adolescent social anxiety, and little is known about their psychometric characteristics in school-based samples. To this end, the present study was undertaken as a psychometric cross validation of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) supported the original 3-factor structure of the SAS-A but retained fewer items than in the original scale. The revised scales demonstrated good internal consistency as well as criterion and concurrent validity. Despite including fewer items, psychometric characteristics of the revised scales were equivalent to or stronger than those reported in previous studies of the measure. As such, the present study provides initial support for the utility of the revised SAS-A as a measure of social anxiety in adolescent school samples.     

Development and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of the Children’s Saving Inventory

This study reports on the development and initial psychometric properties of the Children’s Saving Inventory (CSI), a parent-rated measure designed to assess child hoarding behaviors. Subjects included 123 children and adolescents diagnosed with primary Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and their parents. Trained clinicians administered the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), items assessing Family Accommodation and the Clinical Global Impressions—Severity index. Parents completed the CSI, Child Obsessive–Compulsive Impact Scale (COIS)—Parent Version and Child Behavior Checklist. Youth completed the COIS—Child Version, Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory Child Version (OCI-CV), Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and Children’s Depression Inventory—Short Form. A four factor solution was identified; factors were named Discarding, Clutter, Acquisition, and Distress/Impairment. Internal consistency for the CSI Total and factor scores were good. One-week test–retest reliability (n = 31) from a random subsample was excellent. Known groups validity was supported vis-à-vis higher CSI scores for those endorsing hoarding on the CY-BOCS Symptom Checklist. Convergent and discriminant validity was evidenced by weak relationships with OCI-CV Checking and Contamination factors but strong relationships with the OCI-CV Hoarding factor and with hoarding obsession/compulsions on the CY-BOCS. These findings provide initial support for the reliability and validity of the CSI for the assessment of hoarding behaviors among youth with OCD. Future studies are needed to extend these findings to non-OCD samples of youth.     

Psychometric Properties of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) in Cypriot Children and Adolescents

The Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is a 38-item self-report questionnaire which measures symptoms of DSM-IV anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Greek translation of SCAS in a large community sample of children and adolescents (N = 1,072), aged 12–17 years, in the non-occupied territory of Cyprus. A subsample of these participants was retested 8 weeks after the initial assessment. The SCAS demonstrated high internal consistency (alpha = .92) and test–retest reliability (r = .88). The SCAS total scores correlated significantly with the anxious/depressed subscale of the Youth Self-Report, the Columbia Impairment Scale, and with the emotional subscale of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the same six-factor structure as the original SCAS. The SCAS proved to be a reliable and valid measure of anxiety symptoms in the Cypriot context.     

Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) in a sample of 296 adolescents (49% boys) in Grades 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 with a mean age of 15.52 years. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the three-factor structure of the SAS-A in the Chinese sample: Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE), Social Avoidance and Distress in New Situations (SAD-New), and Social Avoidance and Distress-General (SAD-General). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were appropriate. The results also revealed a clear and predictable pattern of relationships between the SAS-A and the Questionnaire about Interpersonal Difficulties for Adolescents and the International Personality Item Pool. Chinese boys reported greater SAD-General than Chinese girls, and this difference increased with grade. The SAS-A scores were compared to previously collected data from the USA and Spain, revealing that Chinese adolescents scored significantly higher in social anxiety than American and Spanish adolescents.     

A Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire in a Non-Clinical Sample of Dutch Children and Adolescents

The Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ) is a parent-rating scale for measuring temperamental characteristics referring to shyness, fearfulness, and withdrawal in young, preschool children. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the BIQ in a Dutch community sample of children with a broad age range. For this purpose, the reliability and validity of the BIQ was evaluated in three age groups: 4–7-year-olds, 8–11-year-olds, and 12–15-year-olds. The results indicated that the internal consistency of most BIQ scales was satisfactory in all three age groups. Principal component analysis of the BIQ yielded a six-factor model that was largely in keeping with the hypothesized structure consisting of the social and non-social components of behavioral inhibition. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that this model provided a reasonable fit for the data. Further, support for the validity of the measure was obtained in all age groups. That is, BIQ scores were positively correlated with a wide range of anxiety symptoms, although the most substantial links were found for symptoms of social anxiety. Finally, a self-report version of the BIQ, which was administered to children aged 9 years and above, was found to possess good internal consistency and adequate parent–child agreement. Altogether, the results of this study indicate that suggests that the BIQ might be a reliable and valid measure for assessing behavioral inhibition not only in preschoolers but also in older children and adolescents.     

Social Anxiety May Modify the Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Its Determining Factors in Chinese Adolescents

The aim of this study was to explore Internet addiction (IA) and its associated factors among Chinese adolescents. Ten thousand one hundred fifty-eight Chinese adolescents were selected in this study by using random cluster sampling. The prevalence rate of IA among Chinese adolescents was 10.4%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed gender, the only child, father-adolescent relationship, annual family income, academic performance, physical exercise, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) score, and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score were significantly associated with IA among adolescents in social anxiety group (P < 0.05). In addition, gender, parental control, annual family income, academic performance, physical exercise, RSES score, and LSAS score were significantly associated with Internet addiction among adolescents in non-social anxiety group (P < 0.05). The mediating effects of social anxiety between multiple factors and IA were also significant. These findings can provide guidance aimed at reducing IA among Chinese adolescents.

     

The Separation Anxiety Daily Diary: Child Version: Feasibility and Psychometric Properties

This report describes the feasibility and psychometric properties of the child version of the Separation Anxiety Daily Diary (SADD-C) in 125 children (ages 7–14 years) from German-speaking areas of Switzerland. Children with separation anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 58), “other” anxiety disorders (n = 36), and healthy controls (n = 31) recorded the frequency of parent–child separations, along with associated anxiety, thoughts, reactions and subsequent parental responses. Compliance rates were modest, consistent with past research on self-report diaries with anxious children. The SADD-C was better at discriminating children with SAD from controls than “other anxious” children. The SADD-C demonstrated good convergent validity with maternal and child self-reported anxiety (Revised Child Manifest Anxiety Scale, Separation Anxiety Inventory) and perceived quality of life (Inventory for Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents). Results provide support for the SADD-C as an acceptable and valid method of assessing child symptoms and parent behavior on separation. Findings are discussed with regard to the clinical utility of the SADD-C and strategies to improve compliance.     

Normative Data on Anxiety Symptoms on the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children in Taiwanese Children and Adolescents: Differences in Sex,Age, and Residence and Comparison with an American Sample

The aims of this study were to examine the differences in the levels of anxiety symptoms on the Taiwanese version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-T) between Taiwanese children and adolescents and the original American standardization sample across gender and age, and to examine differences in sex, age, and residential background in the levels of anxiety symptoms. A total of 10,566 Taiwanese children and adolescents in the community completed the MASC-T. Their levels of anxiety symptoms on the MASC-T were compared with the original American standardization sample in March’s study. The differences in age, sex and residential background in the levels of anxiety symptoms were examined by three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results found significant differences in the levels of anxiety symptoms on nearly all MASC-T scales between Taiwanese and American children and adolescents across sex and age. Girls had higher levels of anxiety symptoms on all scales of the MASC-T than boys. Those from 16 to 19 years old had the higher levels of physical symptoms and social anxiety and the lower levels of harm avoidance and separation/panic than those in the 8–11 year- old and 12–15 year- old groups. Those who lived in rural areas had higher levels of physical symptoms and separation/panic than those who lived in urban areas. Those who lived in urban areas had a higher level of harm avoidance than those who lived in rural areas. These results provide fundamental knowledge on anxiety symptoms in Taiwanese children and adolescents. Further study is needed to examine the reasons for socio-cultural differences and differences in individual characteristics in anxiety symptoms.     

Psychometric Properties of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C) in Children with Anxiety Disorders

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C) (Laurent et al. Psychol Asses 1: 326–338, 1999) in a sample of 139 children (ages 7–14 years) diagnosed with a principal anxiety disorder. Results from this study provided support for the convergent validity of the PANAS-C with established measures of childhood anxiety and depression. As predicted, negative affect was significantly associated with measures of anxiety and depression whereas positive affect was associated with depression. However, weaknesses in discriminant validity were found, most notably with regard to social anxiety. Consistent with previous research, social anxiety was significantly associated with low levels of positive affect (PA). Furthermore, results from regression analyses indicated that PA made a significant unique contribution to the prediction of social anxiety as well as depression scores. Findings are discussed with regard to the usefulness of the PANAS-C to differentiate anxiety and depression in children with anxiety disorders.     

Psychometric properties of Internet-administered measures of health anxiety: An investigation of the Health Anxiety Inventory,the Illness Attitude Scales,and the Whiteley Index

BackgroundThe Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI), the Illness Attitude Scales (IAS), and the Whiteley Index (WI) are three of the most widely used health anxiety measures, but their psychometric properties have not been investigated when administered via the Internet.MethodsWe investigated the three instruments' test–retest reliability, internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity and sensitivity to change using one sample (n = 111) of participants with severe health anxiety and one sample of healthy controls (n = 92).ResultsThe HAI, IAS, and WI showed high test–retest reliability (rs ≥ .80), good convergent, and discriminant validity and were sensitive to detect change. The HAI and IAS (αs ≥ .85), but not the WI (αs ≤ .60) demonstrated high internal consistency.ConclusionsThe HAI, IAS, and WI have good psychometric properties, except for the low internal consistency of WI, when used as Internet-administered measures of health anxiety. Using these measures over the Internet offers highly important advantages such as increased ease of administration, reduced attrition, and cost-efficient treatment evaluation.     

Affective Determinants of Anxiety and Depression Development in Children and Adolescents: An Individual Growth Curve Analysis

The tripartite model (in Clark and Watson, J Abnorm Psychol 100:316–336, 1991) comprises Negative Affect (NA), Positive Affect (PA), and Physiological Hyperarousal (PH), three temperamental-based dimensions. The current study examined the tripartite model’s assumptions that (a) NA interacts with PA to predict subsequent depressive (but not anxiety) symptom developments and (b) NA interacts with PH to predict subsequent anxiety (but not depressive) symptom developments in a sample of 243 community and referred children and adolescents (42.8% boys; M age = 10.87 years, SD = 1.83). Results confirmed that individuals with a combined high NA/low PA profile display the least favorable course of depressive –but not anxiety- symptoms. In contrast with the model, the combination of NA and PH influenced the development of depression, but not anxiety. Relations were not moderated by sex or sample. Results revealed that the assessment of the tripartite components is warranted as it can help to identify children at risk for an unfavorable depressive symptom course.     

Screening for Adolescent Social Anxiety: Psychometric Properties of the Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating disorder that emerges during adolescence and confers a significant burden on interpersonal functioning. Currently available diagnostic interviews are lengthy and generally require clinically-trained experts to administer. Consequently, the identification of clinically valid self-report measures of social anxiety is necessary for streamlining assessment processes and routine outcome monitoring of adolescent social anxiety symptoms. Accordingly, the present study establishes the psychometric properties and predictive utility of the Severity Measure for Social Anxiety Disorder (SMSAD). Participants included 58 adolescents between 12 and 16 years of age who met diagnostic criteria for SAD. In addition to the SMSAD and other self-report measures, clinician and parent reports were obtained. Findings support the reliability and validity of the SMSAD, and highlight the clinical utility of this measure in comparison to previously validated measures of social anxiety. Overall, results indicate that the SMSAD is a valid and reliable measure for assessing and routinely tracking social anxiety symptoms in adolescents.

     

Assessment of Parental Experiential Avoidance in a Clinical Sample of Children with Anxiety Disorders

This investigation seeks to establish the psychometric properties of an adapted measure of experiential avoidance (EA) in the parenting context by assessing its relation to other parenting constructs and psychosocial correlates of child anxiety in a clinical sample. Participants were 154 children (90 female, 64 male) diagnosed with anxiety disorders and their parents (148 mothers, 119 fathers). The newly developed Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (PAAQ) was administered to parents along with self-report measures of adult experiential avoidance, parental psychopathology, affective expression, and parental control behaviors. A subsample of participants, n = 35, were re-administered the PAAQ to assess temporal stability. Factor analysis of the PAAQ yielded a two-factor solution with factors labeled Inaction and Unwillingness. Temporal stability of the PAAQ was found to be moderate, r = .68–.74. Internal consistency was fair across subscales of the PAAQ, α = .64–.65. Correlational analysis of the PAAQ and parent-report measures support the criterion validity of the PAAQ, suggesting that the PAAQ correlates with parent-report measures of parental locus of control, affective expression, and controlling parental behaviors as well as child psychopathology symptoms. Finally, the clinical applicability of the PAAQ is indicated by the PAAQ’s ability to predict a significant amount of variance in parent- and clinician-rated levels of child anxiety and related psychopathology.     

Thought-Action Fusion in Childhood: Measurement,Development, and Association with Anxiety,Rituals and Other Compulsive-like Behaviors

A new inventory assessing thought-action fusion (TAF) in children is presented. We explore the psychometric properties of this instrument and examine the associations between TAF, ritualistic and compulsive-like behavior (CLB) and anxiety. Three hundred thirteen children ages 7–14 (M = 10.16, SD = 1.92) representing six grades (grouped into three grade levels (grades 2–3, 4–5, and 6–7) completed the Thought-action Fusion Inventory for Children (TAFIC) and the Child Revised Manifest Anxiety Scale. One hundred thirty-five parents or guardians completed the Childhood Routines Inventory. Results revealed high internal consistency in the TAFIC (Cronbach’s α = .92). TAF scores changed with age: Older children reported less TAF than younger children. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that: (1) physiological anxiety predicted CLB in early childhood; (2) TAF predicted CLB in older children. Consistent with structural developmental theories, TAF changes throughout development, but plays a role in the normative regulation of affective states, as well as in the development of ritualistic compulsive like behavior in children.