A French Translation of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI): Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity of This Scale in a Nonclinical Sample of Children

Authors

  • C Stassart Faculty of Psychology and Science of Education, University of Liège
  • A M Etienne Faculty of Psychology and Science of Education, University of Liège

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.an

Keywords:

Anxiety Sensitivity, children, Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index, psychometric properties, factor structure

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity (AS) refers to the fear of anxiety-related sensations due to beliefs that these sensations will lead to catastrophic outcomes. AS plays a central role in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders. From a clinical perspective, it therefore seems important to possess a valid scale to assess AS in children. Objective, Method: This study examines the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the French translation of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) in 353 Belgian children (9 to 13 years). Result: Results show that AS can be adequately measured using the French version of the CASI and conceptualized as a hierarchical factor structure with four lower-order factors – Physical Concerns, Mental Incapacity Concerns, Social Concerns, and Losing Control Concerns – loading on a single higher-order factor, Anxiety Sensitivity. The reliability was acceptable for the total scale. Hierarchical multiple regressions show that the CASI makes a significant contribution in predicting anxiety. Conclusion: The data support the relevance of the French CASI in the assessment of AS in nonclinical children.

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Published

2014-04-10

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2014 The Author(s)

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