Factor structure and psychometric properties of the social anxiety scale for adolescents (SASA)

The current investigation evaluated the psychometric properties and confirmed factor structure stability of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SASA) in a sample of Iranian adolescents. The Persian version of the SASA and the Questionnaire about Interpersonal Difficulties for Adolescents, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Brief Version, and the Big Five Inventory were administered to a sample of 500 adolescents (276 females and 224 males). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, and internal consistency were used to compute the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the SASA, respectively. Both alpha coefficient and test-retest correlations indicated high reliability for the forms of the SASA. The results of principle component analysis (PCA) and oblique rotation replicated the two-factor structure of the SASA. The results of a CFA revealed that while one factor model in the SASA had an acceptable fit to the data, the two factor model consisted of apprehension and fear of negative evaluation. Tension and inhibition of social contact demonstrated a superior fit. The significant positive correlation between the forms and SASA total score with subscales, the FNES-B total score with subscales, the QIDA total score and neuroticism, as well as the significant negative correlation with extraversion extended empirical support for the convergent validity of the SASA. These findings speak to the robustness of the SASA and reveal its relatively stable structure, and, consequently, its potential usefulness as a valid measure of social anxiety for Iranian adolescents.