Objectives: We developed a new Italian short version of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS-12) and evaluated its psychometric properties. The GAS-12 specifically screens for anxiety symptoms in the Italian older adult population by identifying items that best discriminate anxiety in this population.
Methods: In Study 1, we administered the full-length Italian translation of the GAS to 517 older adults and used item response theory to identify the most discriminating items and to develop the short form used in Study 2. In Study 2, we evaluated the functioning of the new short form of the questionnaire in a new sample of 427 older adults using Confirmatory factor analysis.
Results: Analyses indicated 12 items that discriminated well between anxious and non-anxious participants and distributed along the latent continuum of each trait. The GAS-12 fits a three-factor structure. There was also evidence for convergent and divergent validity.
Conclusions: The Italian GAS-12 appears to be a useful instrument for the quantitative screening of anxiety in Italian older adults.
Clinical implications: Anxiety imposes significant impairment thus making imperative the screening and assessment of anxiety symptoms. The GAS-12 is particularly indicated with limited time and many scales in a clinical assessment or research protocols.
Keywords: Geriatric Anxiety Scale; factor structure; gender differences; item response theory; late-life anxiety; measurement invariance; short form.