Youth Anxiety Measure Research Articles

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5): An Updated Systematic Review of its Psychometric Properties.

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a self- and parent-report scale specifically developed to assess symptoms of major anxiety disorders (part 1 or YAM-5-I) and specific phobias/agoraphobia (part 2 or YAM-5-II) in children and adolescents in terms of the contemporary psychiatric classification system. Since its introduction, the measure has been increasingly used in research, making it feasible to provide a summary of its psychometric properties. The present article presents a systematic review of 20 studies that employed the YAM-5, involving 5325 young participants. Overall, the results supported the hypothesized factor structure of both parts of the measure, although there were also some studies that could not fully replicate the original five-factor model of YAM-5-I. The internal consistency of the YAM-5 was generally high for the total scores of both parts, while reliability coefficients for the subscales were more variable across studies. Research also obtained evidence for other psychometric properties, such as test-retest reliability, parent-child agreement, convergent/divergent validity, and discriminant validity. Results further revealed that girls tend to show significantly higher anxiety levels on the YAM-5 than boys. Overall, these findings indicate that the YAM-5 is a promising tool for assessing symptoms of anxiety disorders including specific phobias in young people. Some directions for future research with the YAM-5 and recommendations regarding the use of the measure are given.

Differential correlates of fear and anxiety in salience perception: A behavioral and ERP study with adolescents

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychopathologies among adolescents. Their diagnostic criteria include both fear and anxiety symptomatology, although according to the literature, we can find evidence for some distinction between these two emotions. The present study contribute to this distinction, exploring the effects of trait fear and trait anxiety on behavioral and neural correlates. Thirty-two participants (aged 11–16 years) performed two experimental tasks of salient target detection, including visual stimuli that were manipulated to become salient, while reaction times and EEG were recorded. Results of both tasks revealed differential effects of trait fear and trait anxiety assessed through the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised and the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 on reaction times and ERP components amplitudes. Specifically, higher symptoms from Separation Anxiety Disorder increased early neural visual processing and decreased reaction times for more salient stimuli. Also, trait fear reduced later neural visual processing of salient stimuli. These findings may provide a significant contribution to guiding psychological interventions, especially with adolescents presenting higher levels of anxiety-related symptomatology.

The Mediating Role of Anxiety in the Relationship Between Mothers’ Cognitive Avoidance and Adolescents’ Digital Game Addiction

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to addictive behaviors such as digital game addiction, and mothers’ cognitive avoidance can play a key role in initiating and intensifying these behaviors. Objectives: The present research tends to review the mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between mothers' cognitive avoidance and adolescents' digital addiction. Materials and Methods: The current research was a correlational-descriptive study. The sample consisted of 199 high school students in the city of Zahedan, along with their mothers between 2020 and 2021, who were selected by a convenience sampling method. Students answered the Digital Addiction Scale for Children (DASC) and the youth anxiety measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5), and their mothers answered the Sexton and Dagas Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ). Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient test and path analysis in SPSS and AMOS-24 software. Results: The results of Pearson's correlation test indicated that adolescents’ digital game addiction had a significant positive relationship with the dimensions of mothers' cognitive avoidance and adolescent anxiety (P < 0.001). The results of the path analysis test indicated the positive and significant direct effects of mothers’ cognitive avoidance dimensions, including suppression (P < 0.05, β = 0.19), substitution (P < 0.001, β = 0.29), and avoidance (P < 0.05, β = 0.20), on adolescent anxiety, and the positive and significant indirect effects of suppression (β = 0.04), substitution (β = 0.06), and mothers’ cognitive avoidance (β = 0.04) on digital game addiction. Also, the findings indicated that the direct effects of adolescent anxiety (P < 0.01, β = 0.22) and mothers’ cognitive return attention (P < 0.001, β = 0.34) on children's digital game addiction were positive and significant. In addition, mothers' cognitive avoidance and adolescent anxiety explained 24% of the variance of digital game addiction in adolescents. Conclusions: The findings of the present study are consistent with the hypothesis of the importance of family factors in adolescents’ digital game addiction. Conducting such research can provide important practical approaches concerning prevention and intervention by providing essential information on the role of individual and family factors in the occurrence of digital addiction.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5-I)

Early intervention in anxiety symptomatology in school-aged children and adolescents is an effective way to prevent later psychopathology. Several measures have been developed to identify these symptoms although few of them rely on the latest criteria for anxiety disorders and, therefore, can be outdated. The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a recently developed self-report instrument that assesses symptoms of the main anxiety disorders according to the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Already translated into several languages, this instrument has consistently revealed good psychometric properties. In this validation study, we translated and analyzed the psychometric properties of YAM-5-I in a Portuguese community sample including 300 participants. Data was collected using an online survey platform. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Parallel Analysis of data revealed a four-factor model accounting for 45% of the total variance in Part I of YAM-5, which included the scales of Separation Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism, Panic Disorder, and a fourth factor merging Social and Generalized Anxiety Disorders. This four-factor model was confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, revealing a better fit to the data than the original model. High internal consistency of the YAM-5-I was confirmed (ω = 0.88), as well as its convergent validity with similar symptomatology (correlations ranging from 0.38 to 0.74, except for the Selective Mutism Scale). The sample size can be a limitation of the present study, and cultural aspects could have influenced our results on the YAM-5-I four-factor model (different from the original version with five factors). Overall, our study supported the good psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the YAM-5-I, therefore, consisting of a valid and updated tool for screening anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents.

Validation of the Arabic version of the youth anxiety measure of the DSM-5

BACKGROUND: Child anxiety is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition. Questionnaires can help detecting high levels of anxiety in children. No child anxiety questionnaires entailing the full range of the DSM-5 anxiety disorders are available for the Arab World. Therefore, we aimed to translate the child self-report questionnaire of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5, 50 items) into Arabic and to examine its psychometric properties.METHODS: We employed a translation-back-translation procedure. We recruited 678 patients who were 8-/12-year-old (M=10.74, SD=1.04) school-going children in Algeria.RESULTS: The internal consistency of the total scale was excellent, and the internal consistencies of the two subparts of the YAM-5 were good. The factor analyses showed that it seems most valid to provide Arabic children the available alternative version of the YAM-5, that combines symptoms of agoraphobia and panic disorder into one subscale.CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results of this study indicate the usefulness of the Arabic version of the child anxiety questionnaire YAM-5.

Psychometric Features of the First Part of the Youth Anxiety Measure (Yam-5-I) in The Turkish Children’s Sample

Murris et al (2017) developed the Youth Anxiety Measure (YAM-5-I), according to DSM V criteria in order to determine the anxiety levels of children and young people. In this study, basic validity and reliability studies were carried out by Simon et al (2017) within the framework of adapting the 27-item form of this scale for children aged 8-12, in which they carried out validity and reliability studies, to the Turkish sample. Youth Anxiety Measure (YAM-5-I), the Perceived Family Social Support Scale and the Cognitive Distortion Scale for Children were used as data collection tools. In the construct valid study conducted within the framework of validity studies, it was seen that the second-level factor structure with five factors of the scale had good fit values (χ²/sd= 1.86, CFI= .90, IFI= .90, TLI= .90, GFI= .90 and RMSEA= .04). In another validity study, significant relationships were found between the total score and subscale scores of the scale and the Perceived Family Social Support Scale and the Cognitive Distortion Scale for Children, except for the Separation Anxiety subscale. In reliability studies, the Cronbach alpha coefficient is .87 for the total scale and subscales. Between 65, the correlation between the synonyms is .80 for the total scale and the test-retest correlation coefficients are .74 for the total scale; For the subscale, it was found to vary between .64 and .90. These findings show that the MCQ 5-I measure the anxiety levels of the Turkish child sample in a valid and reliable manner.

Fear of illness & virus evaluation (FIVE) COVID-19 scales for children-parent/caregiver-report development and validation

ObjectiveCommonly-used youth anxiety measures may not comprehensively capture fears, worries, and experiences related to the pervasive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study described the development of the Fear of Illness and Virus Evaluation (FIVE) scales and validated the caregiver-report version. MethodAfter initial development, feedback was obtained from clinicians and researchers, who provided suggestions on item content/wording, reviewed edits, and provided support for the updated FIVE’s content and face validity. Factor structure, measurement invariance, and psychometric properties were analyzed using data from a multi-site, longitudinal study of COVID-19-related effects on family functioning with 1599 caregivers from the United States and Canada. ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses indicated a hierarchical five-factor structure best fit the data, resulting in a 31-item measure with four lower-order subscales: (1) Fears about Contamination and Illness; (2) Fears about Social Distancing, (3) Avoidance Behaviors, and (4) Mitigation Behaviors, and a higher-order factor, (5) Total Fears, indicated by the two fear-related lower-order subscales. Measurement invariance by country of residence, child age, and child sex was found. All subscales demonstrated strong internal consistency, appropriate item-scale discrimination, and no floor or ceiling effects. The Total Fears subscale demonstrated appropriate test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity supported by strong correlation with a youth anxiety measure. DiscussionThe FIVE provides a psychometrically-sound measure of COVID-19-related fears and behaviors in youth in a caregiver-report format. Future research is necessary to evaluate correlates and longitudinal symptom patterns captured by the FIVE caregiver-report, as well as the validity and reliability of a youth self-report version of the FIVE.

Family Intervention for Child and Adolescent Anxiety: A Meta-analytic Review of Therapy Targets, Techniques, and Outcomes

Parent- and family-level correlates of youth anxiety are well-documented, and they highlight potential targets for family-focused intervention. Although family-based approaches for treating youth anxiety generally are considered efficacious for achieving symptom reduction, they vary in format and approach and it remains unclear whether they offer an advantage over individual child treatment. To better understand the current state of the evidence, we used meta-analytic methods to examine the therapeutic approaches described in existing family interventions for child and adolescent anxiety, whether they mapped to the major mechanisms proposed in the literature, and the timeline along which relevant parent/family variables were measured. We examined how these mechanism-focused family interventions performed in RCTs relative to individual child CBT and whether they shifted symptoms and relevant parenting behaviors. A total of 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared individual cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to CBT+ a family component (CBT + FAM) and included a youth anxiety measure at pre- and post-treatment; only half of these (n=6) also included a parent/family functioning measure at both pre- and post-treatment (across both primary and secondary outcome papers). Only a single study included anxiety measures at a mid-treatment time point, and none included parent measures at a mid-treatment time point. Findings are discussed in terms of design considerations and advancing the field of family intervention for youth anxiety.

The Study of the Psychometric properties of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5

The Study of the Psychometric properties of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 Abstract Introduction: The aim of this research was studying the psychometric properties of the Youth Anxiety Measure - DSM-5. Method: 400 people were selected through multistage cluster sampling including 8-15 old youth schooling in one of the Urmia public schools and responded to the questionnaires YAM-5, Anxiety Sensitivity of Reiss et al. (1986), Spence Children Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The datas were analyzed by tests of pearson correlation coefficient, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and SPSS and LISREL softwares. Results: Correlation coefficient of YAM-5 s components with of other questionnaires showed appropriate concurrent criterion validity. The scale cronbachs alpha (0.89) and the scope of values for coefficients of internal consistency, split-half and test-retest of the components (0.60 to 0.90) indicated optimal internal consistency and reliability for the scale and its subscales. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed ten factors with eigenvalue higher than one that alltogether were explaining %48.64 of the total variance. The general fit indices implied to the optimal fitness of ten-factor model of this measure. Conclusion: This mean can be utilised for measuring and diagnosing the anxiety disorders in the Iranian sample.

Validity and Reliability of Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 in Iranian Non-Clinical Children and Adolescents.

The present study aimed to explore the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5). Two groups of non-clinical children and adolescents were recruited. The first group (n = 520) was recruited via 4 schools of Tehran, Iran, and only completed the YAM-5. The second group (n = 557) was recruited via 4 schools of Tabriz, Iran. In addition to the YAM-5, they completed another anxiety scale and a depression scale. The exploratory factor analysis of data of the first group revealed a five factor model similar to the original model of the scale. The confimatory factor analysis showed that the five factor model fit with the data of second group. Also, the convergent validity was supported. The current findings, thus, provide support for validity and reliability of Persian version of the YAM-5 in a nonclinical sample of children and adolescents in Iran.

Comparing the effectiveness of the unified protocol in combination with an additional mindfulness treatment to the unified protocol alone as treatment for adolescents diagnosed with emotional disorders.

ObjectiveMany adolescents suffer from depressive and anxiety disorders simultaneously and current treatment methods do not put enough emphasis on comorbidity of these disorders. The unified protocol for treating emotional disorders in adolescents is a transdiagnostic therapy which targets mutual fundamental factors. Therefore, the current study aims to compare the effectiveness of the unified protocol alone with the unified protocol combined with mindfulness as an additional treatment in adolescents suffering from emotional disorders.MethodA quasi-experimental study was conducted with adolescents. The participants had been diagnosed with emotional disorders and were divided into a control group (15 participants) and an experimental group (16 participants). Both groups were offered 14 sessions of therapy. They were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up. Scales used in the study included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5).ResultsThe results showed that both of the treatment methods effectively reduced adolescents’ emotional problems, but improvements were more significant in the group administered the additional mindfulness program. Among the variables assessed, non-phobic anxiety disorders and depression improved more than specific phobia and behavioral problems. Between-subjects (Group) partial etas for non-phobic anxiety, depression, specific phobia, and behavioral problems were 0.67, 0.50, 0.23, and 0.16, respectively.ConclusionAccording to the findings of this study, additional treatment methods such as mindfulness could increase the effectiveness of the unified transdiagnostic protocol for adolescents (UP-A). The therapeutic implications are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the Persian Version of Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) in nonclinical sample

Aim of the studyThe purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5(YAM-5) in nonclinical sampleSubject or material and methodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The statistical population of this study included all elementary and middle school students in Shiraz during 2017-18, among which 400 persons were selected with random cluster sampling and who participated in the research by completing the children's and adolescent's anxiety scales and child behavior checklist. A total of 30 students were selected for re-test reliability that was performed four weeks later. In order to examine the agreement between the child-parent form, 50 parents of students were randomly selected from this population. Data were analyzed using SPSS22 and Amos 18 software.ResultsThe results showed that the five-factor structure of YAM-I and YAM-II is acceptable with data. The correlation coefficient of YAM-I with internalization and externalization problems was equal to 0.50 and 0.17 respectively; and that of YAM-II was 0.36 and 0.15, respectively. The YAM-I agreement for a parent was 0.67; and agreement of YAM-II child with parent was 0.89. Cronbach’s Alpha of YAM-I and YAM-II was 0.84 and 0.78 respectively. The reliability of YAM-I retest was 0.98 and for the subscales it was between 0.90 and 0.95. The reliability of YAM-II retest was 0.96 and for the sub-scales it was between 0.94 and 0.96.DiscussionThe Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5 has good psychometric properties in nonclinical sampleConclusionsThe YAM is a valid and reliable questionnaire to be utilized in research and therapeutic interventions.

Test Review: The Youth Anxiety Measure for the DSM-5 (YAM-5)

Test Review: The Youth Anxiety Measure for the <i>DSM</i>-5 (YAM-5)

Psychometric properties of the social anxiety subscale of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5-I-SAD) in a clinical sample of Spanish-speaking adolescents

BackgroundThe Youth Anxiety Measure-I for DSM-5 has recently been developed to assess youth's anxiety symptomatology. As social anxiety is one of the most common disorders in adolescence, this scale includes a subscale measuring social anxiety. However, psychometric properties of the YAM-5-I social anxiety subscale (YAM-5-I-SAD) in clinical samples are lacking. This paper aims to bridge the gap. MethodsThe sample comprised 24 clinically diagnosed and 24 healthy control Spanish-speaking adolescents aged 14–17 years. ResultsData revealed that the YAM-5- I-SAD yielded excellent sensitivity, which makes it particularly useful as a screening tool to early detect socially anxious adolescents. In addition, the YAM-5-I-SAD evidenced good internal consistency and construct validity. LimitationsData are limited to the social anxiety subscale. ConclusionsThe YAM-5-I-SAD is a sensitive and specific measure to screen for adolescents with social anxiety.

Shame on Me! Self-Conscious Emotions and Big Five Personality Traits and Their Relations to Anxiety Disorders Symptoms in Young, Non-Clinical Adolescents

This study explored the relations between self-conscious emotions, personality traits, and anxiety disorders symptoms in non-clinical youths. One-hundred-and-eighteen adolescents aged 12–15 years completed the brief shame and guilt questionnaire for children (BSGQ-C) and items of the youth self-report (YSR) to measure shame and guilt, the big five personality questionnaire for children, and the youth anxiety measure for DSM-5. Results for shame indicated that this self-conscious emotion—either measured by the BSGQ-C or the YSR—was uniquely and positively associated with a broad range of anxiety disorders symptoms, and correlated positively with neuroticism and negatively with extraversion. Guilt did not show significant associations with anxiety disorders symptoms once controlling for the influence of shame, and links with personality traits varied dependent on the assessment instrument that was used (BSGQ-C or YSR). Finally, when controlling for neuroticism and extraversion, shame consistently remained a significant correlate of anxiety disorders symptoms. Altogether, these results add to the growing body of evidence indicating that high levels of shame are clearly associated with anxiety pathology.

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5): Correlations with anxiety, fear, and depression scales in non-clinical children

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a newly developed rating scale for assessing anxiety disorder symptoms of children and adolescents in terms of the contemporary classification system. In the present study, 187 children aged 8–12 years completed the new measure as well as the trait version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Short Form of the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised (FSSC-R-SF), the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS), the Selective Mutism Questionnaire (SMQ), and the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Results indicated that part one of the YAM-5, which measures symptoms of the major anxiety disorders, was most substantially linked with the trait anxiety scale of the STAIC, whereas part two, which measures phobic symptoms, was most clearly associated with the FSSC-R-SF. The correlation between the YAM-5 and the SCAS was also robust, and particularly strong correlations were found between subscales of both questionnaires that assessed similar symptoms. Further, the selective mutism subscale of the YAM-5 was most clearly linked to the SMQ. Finally, the YAM-5 was also significantly correlated with depression symptoms as indexed by the CDI. These findings provide further support for the concurrent validity of the YAM-5.

Psychometric properties of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) in a community sample

To detect children with dysfunctional levels of fear and anxiety, we need reliable and valid measures that fit the contemporary diagnostic system and suit and support current practices in mental health. Therefore, we developed the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5), a questionnaire that assesses symptoms of the full range of the contemporary anxiety diagnoses of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Part I of the YAM-5 measures all of the major anxiety disorders and Part II measures all of the specific phobias. The current study evaluated the psychometric properties of the child self-report version of the YAM-5. Children (N=414) aged 8 to 12years (M=10.49, SD=1.04) were recruited via regular primary schools and the data were collected at school during regular classes. Good internal consistencies were demonstrated for the subscales of Part I and for the total scale of Part I and Part II. Furthermore, good test-retest reliability, good concurrent validity and good construct validity of both parts of the questionnaire were found. Overall, this study strongly indicates that the YAM-5 is suitable for measuring symptoms of anxiety disorders in community samples.

Psychometric properties of the Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5, Part I (YAM-5-I) in a community sample of Spanish-speaking adolescents

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders in adolescence. There is a need for brief screening tools to identify adolescents at risk for anxiety disorders. The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 has been recently developed to assess youths’ anxiety symptoms in terms of the current classification system. The goal of this study is to provide a first test of its psychometric properties in a community sample of adolescents in Spain. MethodsThe sample consisted of 505 13- to 17-year-old adolescents who completed Part I of the YAM-5 (YAM-5-I), which measures symptoms of the major anxiety disorders. ResultsData indicated that the YAM-5-I displays appropriate internal consistency reliability. In addition, support was also found for the construct validity of the measure: most items loaded on a factor that represented the hypothesized anxiety syndromes, although it should also be noted that some items exhibited issues and therefore had to be discarded. LimitationsCross-cultural and trans-national studies are needed to determine psychometric properties of scale across languages and cultures. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the YAM-5-I has satisfactory psychometric properties, which indicates that it can be used as a screening tool in Spanish-speaking adolescents from the general population.

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5): Development and First Psychometric Evidence of a New Scale for Assessing Anxiety Disorders Symptoms of Children and Adolescents

The Youth Anxiety Measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) is a new self- and parent-report questionnaire to assess anxiety disorder symptoms in children and adolescents in terms of the contemporary classification system. International panels of childhood anxiety researchers and clinicians were used to construct a scale consisting of two parts: part one consists of 28 items and measures the major anxiety disorders including separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, whereas part two contains 22 items that focus on specific phobias and (given its overlap with situational phobias) agoraphobia. In general, the face validity of the new scale was good; most of its items were successfully linked to the intended anxiety disorders. Notable exceptions were the selective mutism items, which were frequently considered as symptoms of social anxiety disorder, and some specific phobia items especially of the natural environment, situational and other type, that were regularly assigned to an incorrect category. A preliminary investigation of the YAM-5 in non-clinical (N = 132) and clinically referred (N = 64) children and adolescents indicated that the measure was easy to complete by youngsters. In addition, support was found for the psychometric qualities of the measure: that is, the internal consistency was good for both parts, as well as for most of the subscales, the parent–child agreement appeared satisfactory, and there was also evidence for the validity of the scale. The YAM-5 holds promise as a tool for assessing anxiety disorder symptoms in children and adolescents.

Brief Form of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI-B) for Adolescents

Brief Form of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI-B) for Adolescents