Network Analysis and Psychometric Properties of the Parent Version of the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders in Arabic Children (4-7 Years Old).

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The current paper aimed to translate psychometric properties and network structure of the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED-P) in children aged 4 to 7 years in Arabic-speaking countries. In this study, 646 Arabic-speaking parents of children aged 4 to 7 participated. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the five-factor structure of the SCARED-P scale. Indices of reliability, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and measurement invariance were utilized. Additionally, a network perspective, which included exploratory graph analysis (EGA), was employed. The results of the present study showed that the five-factor model of the SCARED-P scale was confirmed with good fit indices (χ2/df = 3.27, RMSEA = 0.059, CFI = 0.92). The scale demonstrated good internal consistency (total scale: α = 0.946, subscales: α = 0.68-0.96). Test-retest reliability over 2 weeks was satisfactory (ICC above 0.70). The convergent validity of the scale was also confirmed, as SCARED-P scores had a significant correlation with the emotional problems subscale of the SDQ (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). The emotional subscale showed the highest correlation with the generalized anxiety component (r = 0.68, p < 0.001). Additionally, the network analysis supported the five-factor model of the SCARED-P scale. The SCARED-P scale demonstrated excellent psychometric properties in Arabic-speaking children aged 4 to 7, with a stable five-factor structure and strong convergent validity. It suggested that this tool can be a valuable instrument for the early identification of anxiety disorders in Arab countries. This study emphasizes the importance of culturally adapted screening tools in detecting anxiety symptoms and providing opportunities for early interventions.