Work

Attentional Control Scale for Children: Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity Among Children and Adolescents Referred for Anxiety Disorders

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the factor structure and concurrent validity of the Attentional Control Scale for Children (ACS-C; Muris, de Jong, & Engelen, 2004), a youth self-rating scale of attentional control. METHOD: A multisource assessment approach was used with 186 children and adolescents referred to an anxiety disorders specialty clinic. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 2-factor structure with internally consistent and moderately correlated subscales of Attentional Focusing and Attentional Shifting. Total ACS-C and subscale scores demonstrated significant associations with youth and parent ratings of youth anxiety symptoms, youth self ratings of depressive symptoms, and youth diagnosis of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support use of the ACS-C as a self-rating scale of attentional control among referred youth. Future research is encouraged to examine retest reliability of the ACS-C and to evaluate whether its internal structure could be enhanced by removing or modifying items that performed poorly.

Source: Journal of Clinical Psychology

DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22346

Authors: Raquel Melendez, Michele Bechor, Yasmin Rey, Jeremy W. Pettit, Wendy K. Silverman

Institutions: Florida International University, Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences