Psychometric Properties of a Spanish Version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in General Population

Abstract

This is the first study that provides normative, reliability, factor validity and discriminant validity data of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) in the Spanish general population. Sanz and Navarro's (2003) Spanish version of the BAI was administered to 249 adults. Factor analyses suggested that the BAI taps a general anxiety dimension comprising two related factors (somatic and affective-cognitive symptoms), but these factors hardly explained any additional variance and, therefore, little information is lost in considering only full-scale scores. Internal consistency estimate for the BAI was high (α = .93). The BAI was correlated .63 with the BDI-II and .32 with the Trait-Anger scale of the STAXI 2, but a factor analysis of their items revealed three factors, suggesting that the correlations between the instruments may be better accounted for by relationships between anxiety, depression, and anger, than by problems of discriminant validity. The mean BAI total score and the distribution of BAI scores were similar to those found in other countries. BAI norm scores for the community sample were provided from the total sample and from the male and female subsamples, as females scored higher than males. The utility of these scores for assessing clinical significance of treatment outcomes for anxiety is discussed.

Self-compassion is a better predictor than mindfulness of symptom severity and quality of life in mixed anxiety and depression

“…The items are summed to obtain a total score that can range from 0 to 63. The BAI has good reliability and validity across numerous diverse populations (e.g., Beck & Steer, 1993;Magán, Sanz, & García-Vera, 2008), and internal consistency in the current sample was high (Cronbach's˛= .93).…”

Differences in clinical intrusive thoughts between obsessive–compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypochondria

“…The BAI has an excellent internal consistency (α = .92) and very good test–retest reliability ( r = .75; Beck et al, ). The Spanish version of this questionnaire has equivalent psychometric properties (Magán, Sanz, & García‐Vera, ).…”

Correlates of Mental Health Among Latino Farmworkers in North Carolina

“…Scores were categorized using established conventions reflecting “minimal anxiety levels” (ie, scores 0‐7), “mild anxiety levels” (ie, scores 8‐15), “moderate anxiety levels” (ie, scores of 16‐25), and severe anxiety symptoms (ie, scores 26‐63). Results from validation studies suggest that the Spanish version of the BAI evidences discriminate and convergent validity, it has good reliability as indicated by strong estimates of internal consistency (eg, α= 0.94), and that the transferability of content from the original Castilian Spanish to the Spanish used by immigrants from Latin America is good 26,27 . The Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression Scale (CES‐D) 28 is a 20‐item self‐report inventory that measures depressive syptomatology.…”

“…Results from validation studies suggest that the Spanish version of the BAI evidences discriminate and convergent validity, it has good reliability as indicated by strong estimates of internal consistency (eg, α = 0.94), and that the transferability of content from the original Castilian Spanish to the Spanish used by immigrants from Latin America is good. 26,27 The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) 28 is a 20-item self-report inventory that measures depressive syptomatology. The translated CES-D Spanish version has been determined a reliable and valid measure and is easily understood and used by Mexican American populations.…”