Abstract
BackgroundThe Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is a commonly used instrument to measure social anxiety. This study aimed to translate and to test the reliability and validity of the BFNE in Iran.MethodsThe English language version of the BFNE was translated into Persian (Iranian language) and was used in this study. The questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of 235 students with (n = 33, clinical group) and without social phobia (n = 202, non-clinical group). In addition to the BFNE, two standard instruments were used to measure social phobia severity: the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). All participants completed a brief background information questionnaire, the SPIN, the SIAS and the BFNE scales. Statistical analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the BFNE.ResultsIn all 235 students were studied (111 male and 124 female). The mean age for non-clinical group was 22.2 (SD = 2.1) years and for clinical sample it was 22.4 (SD = 1.8) years. Cronbach's alpha coefficient (to test reliability) was acceptable for both non-clinical and clinical samples (α = 0.90 and 0.82 respectively). In addition, 3-week test-retest reliability was performed in non-clinical sample and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was quite high (ICC = 0.71). Validity as performed using convergent and discriminant validity showed satisfactory results. The questionnaire correlated well with established measures of social phobia such as the SPIN (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) and the SIAS (r = 0.54, p < 0.001). Also the BFNE discriminated well between men and women with and without social phobia in the expected direction. Factor analysis supported a two-factor solution corresponding to positive and reverse-worded items.ConclusionThis validation study of the Iranian version of BFNE proved that it is an acceptable, reliable and valid measure of social phobia. However, since the scale showed a two-factor structure and this does not confirm to the theoretical basis for the BFNE, thus we suggest the use of the BFNE-II when it becomes available in Iran. The validation study of the BFNE-II is in progress.
Highlights
The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is a commonly used instrument to measure social anxiety
Social phobia is characterized by a fear of negative evaluation within social or performance situations, where the individual is under scrutiny and maybe embarrassed [1]
With questions derived nearly verbatim from the 30-item Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) Scale [5], the 12-item BFNE Scale has the practical advantage of brevity, and has become a frequently used instrument in social anxiety research [6]
Summary
The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is a commonly used instrument to measure social anxiety. The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is a measure of a person's tolerance for the possibility they might be judged disparagingly or hostilely by others [4]. This scale measures fear of negative evaluation from others, hallmark criteria for the diagnosis of social phobia and other disorders, and is relevant to the study of human social behavior in general.
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