Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children

It is estimated that distressing anxiety affects as many as 20% of youth. The present study investigated the psychometric properties of a Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in the male and female students.

This study was of a correlational type. The participants were 831students (234 boysand597girls) selected through a multistage-cluster random sampling among the students in elementary, middle and high school in the city of Najaf Abad. The scale administrated in this study was: Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC).Cronbach and test-re test reliability was calculated to examine the reliability of the (MASC) inventory and to check the validity of the Scale confirmatory factor analysis was used.

The calculated α for the MASC inventory was 0.70, 0.69, 0.57, 0.64 for Physical Symptoms, Social Anxiety and Separation Anxiety dimensions respectively and 0.79 for the whole questionnaire.Using confirmatory factor analysis(CFA)confirmed the four-factor structure.

Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) to measure anxiety symptoms in children appears to be satisfactory, and a useful screening tool to identify children with anxiety.