Work

The screen for child anxiety related emotional disorders scale: A longitudinal validation study based on Chinese children and adolescents

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: As anxiety disorders are common and clinically significant psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents linked to a broad spectrum of psychiatric problems, we need valid assessment instruments of anxiety. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) is widely used to assess anxiety symptoms. However, its factor structure remains debated, and its psychometric properties are underexplored in China. This study examined the factor structure of the SCARED and its measurement invariance across gender, age, and time among Chinese students. Specifically, this study used a two-wave longitudinal design, with a six-month interval (Time 1: December 2019–January 2020; Time 2: June 2020–July 2020). Data included 6176 children and adolescents aged 8–19 years (51.6 % boys; mean age = 11.52, SD = 1.62) from Sichuan, China. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a five-factor model as the best fit. Measurement invariances across gender, age, and time were established at the configural, metric, scalar, error variance, factor variance, and factor covariance levels, as supported by changes in the comparative fit index (CFI ≤ 0.004) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA ≤ 0.002). Furthermore, structured means modeling analyses showed that girls experienced more anxiety than did boys. Children experienced higher separation anxiety but lower general anxiety and school phobia than did adolescents. Moreover, participants experienced fewer anxiety symptoms at Time 2. Overall, the SCARED was valid and reliable for measuring anxiety symptoms in Chinese children and adolescents, confirming its utility as an objective outcome measure. • A five-factor model of the SCARED scale showed the best fit in Chinese children and adolescents. • The SCARED scale achieved measurement invariances across gender, age, and time. • Female children and adolescents reported more anxiety symptoms than their male counterparts. • Children had higher separation anxiety but less general anxiety than adolescents. • Children and adolescents experienced lower levels of anxiety symptoms over time.

Source: Journal of Anxiety Disorders

DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2025.103072

Authors: Xiang Li, Daniel T.L. Shek, Xintong Zhang

Institution: Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,650