Abstract
This study ( n = 237 Belgian children; mean age = 12.3 years; SD = 0.41) examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the French translation of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI-R). We obtained a hierarchical factor structure with four lower-order factors – of cognitive dyscontrol, of publicly observable anxiety reactions, of respiratory symptoms, and of cardiovascular symptoms – loading on a single higher-order factor (anxiety sensitivity). The French translation revealed acceptable internal consistency and a good interitem structure. Anxiety sensitivity was connected with the anxiety and depression scales but the correlation between the CASI-R and the depression score was more modest than that between the CASI-R and the trait anxiety score, indicating that the CASI-R is an anxiety scale. Girls reported more fear of anxious feelings than boys. This revised version allows for a more fine-grained assessment of the anxiety sensitivity concept.
Highlights
In 1985, Reiss and McNally introduced the concept of anxiety sensitivity (AS)
The results suggested that the French translation of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI)-R had acceptable internal consistency and a good interitem structure
The results indicated that AS in Belgian children aged 12 and 13 years old, as measured by the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index – Revised (CASI-R), can best be conceptualised as a hierarchical factor structure with four lower-order factors – “fear of cognitive dyscontrol,” “fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions,” “fear of respiratory symptoms,” and “fear of cardiovascular symptoms” – loading on a single higher-order factor, anxiety sensitivity
Summary
In 1985, Reiss and McNally introduced the concept of anxiety sensitivity (AS) This concept refers to the fear of anxiety-related bodily sensations due to beliefs that these sensations will lead to catastrophic outcomes such as physical illness, social embarrassment, and mental incapacitation. Several studies carried out in child populations suggest that AS contributes to the risk of developing panic symptoms (Eley, Stirling, Ehlers, Gregory, & Clark, 2004; Hale & Calamari, 2006; Muris et al, 2001), social phobia symptoms (Anderson & Hope, 2009; Eley et al, 2004), obsessive-compulsive disorder (Calamari, Hale, Heffelfinger, Janeck, Lau, Weerts et al, 2001), post-traumatic stress symptoms (Kilic, Kilic, & Yilmaz, 2008; Leen-Feldner, Feldner, Reardon, Babson, & Dixon, 2008), and chronic pain (Martin, McGrath, Brown, & Katz, 2007; Tsao, Meldrum, Kim, & Zeltzer, 2007)
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