Exploring the factor analytic structure of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in a school-based sample of South African adolescents
Year: 2006
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The goals of this study were threefold: to examine the factor structure of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in South Afican adolescents, the factor structure equivalence for boys and girls and the correlation between MASC scores and scores on the Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Child PTSD Checklist Score, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to establish whether the MASC distinguishes between anxiety and other constructs. A purposive sample of 1078 adolescents from nine different schools was included for participation in the study. The MASC four-factor structure was confirmed and its subscales were found to be reliable. The four-factor structure applies equally well for males and females. The MASC performed the best out of four scales measuring anxiety, depression and other constructs. In general results in this study show that the characteristics of the MASC are similar to the original factor structure established by March et al. (1997). It was concluded that the MASC is a clinically useful measure (i) to discriminate between anxious and depressed paediatric patients (ii) discriminate between patterns of anxiety in subgroups of children with anxiety disorders (iii) proves measurementand congeneric equivalence and (iv) proves to be a valid and reliable measure of anxiety for South Afiican adolescents.
Author: Johannes Christiaan Schickerling
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W39939846