Spanish validation of the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale

Abstract

Background: The Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS) is a 28-item measure designed to assess anxiety symptoms in preschoolers aged 31 to 83 months.

Methods: The present study aims to extend the literature by examining the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the PAS in a Spanish community sample of 274 preschoolers aged 3 to 7 years.

Results: Factor analysis confirmed the five-factor original model after removing eight items, suggesting a shorter 20-item version for the Spanish preschoolers. The scale demonstrated to have good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.84). Moderate but significant correlations with a measure of health-related quality of life supported the convergent validity of the PAS.

Conclusions: The Spanish version of the PAS demonstrated to have good psychometric properties, providing these results initial support to its use for assessing a broad range of anxiety symptoms in Spanish-speaking preschoolers.

Keywords: Preschool Anxiety Scale; anxiety; preschool children; psychometric properties.