Factor Structure of the Urdu Version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) is one of the most commonly used self-report questionnaires to measure symptoms of anxiety disorders in adolescents. Despite its common use, studies that examine the psychometric properties of SCAS in Pakistan is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Urdu translated version of the SCAS among adolescents in Pakistan. A total of 1277 students (708 boys and 569 girls), aged 13 to17 years, who had been recruited from 13 schools in Rawalpindi, Pakistan participated in the study. The mean overall anxiety score was significantly higher in girls than males on all the SCAS subscales except for obsessive compulsive disorder. The internal consistency of the Urdu SCAS was good. Confirmatory factor analyses supported six separate factor structures. Results of the study are discussed with reference to the sociocultural milieu of Pakistan and culture sensitive conceptualization of anxiety and its subtypes.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• anxiety symptoms
• cultural sensitive manifestation of anxiety
• factorial validation

Funding

This project was funded under Higher Education Commission, Pakistan and British Council's project “International Strategic Partnerships in Research and Education” for joint research between Fatima Jinnah Women University, Pakistan and Roehampton University, London.