Validation of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and State Trait Anxiety Inventory A and B in Arabic among the Lebanese population

Abstract

Our aim in this study was to translate the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-A and B) scales to Arabic, linguistically validate them for use in a representative sample of the Lebanese population, and to check the reliability of these Arabic versions. Methods: This study is cross-sectional, conducted between November 2017 and March 2018, which enrolled 1332 community dwelling participants using a proportionate random sample from all Lebanese Mohafazat. Results: Three factor analyses for the anxiety scales were run over the whole sample (N = 1332). All of the HAM-A, STAI-A and STAI-B items could be extracted from the list. All items from all the scales did not over-correlate to each other (r > 0.9), did not have a low loading on factors (< 0.3) or a low communality (< 0.3). The factor analysis results showed 2 factors for HAM-A (Cronbach alpha = 0.921), 3 factors for STAI-A (Cronbach alpha = 0.928) and STAI-B (Cronbach alpha = 0.898). A significantly high ICC was found between the HAM-A, STAI-A (ICC = 0.709) and STAI-B (0.704). In addition, a significantly high ICC was found between the STAI-A and B scales (ICC = 0.884). Conclusion: The linguistically validated Arabic versions of these scales can be used to screen for anxiety among the Lebanese populations.

Factors associated with alcohol use disorder: the role of depression, anxiety, stress, alexithymia and work fatigue- a population study in Lebanon

“…A validated version of the HAM-A was used [47,48]. It is formed of fourteen items, ranged according to a fourpoint Likert scale with zero or no symptoms to four or very severe symptoms.…”

Factor Structure and Gender Invariance of Chinese Version State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) in University Students

“…According to previous studies, the factor structure varied in different populations and cultures ( Bernstein and Eveland, 1982 ; Vigneau and Cormier, 2008 ; Vitasari et al, 2011 ; Hallit et al, 2019 ). In Chinese research, the factor structure was also not consistent ( Chen et al, 2013 ; Ma et al, 2013 ; Cao and Liu, 2015a ).…”

“…In order to test the levels of state anxiety and trait anxiety, Spielberger et al (1983) developed the original State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and revised it as State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y (STAI-Y) in 1983 which included 20 items for state anxiety and 20 items for trait anxiety ( Shek, 1988 ). The STAI-Y showed satisfactory reliability and validity in numerous countries such as Greece ( Fountoulakis et al, 2006 ), France ( Bouchard et al, 1998 ), Malaysia ( Vitasari et al, 2011 ), the United States ( Kabacoff et al, 1997 ), Portugal ( Andrade et al, 2001 ), Lebanon ( Hallit et al, 2019 ), Caribbean ( Maynard et al, 2010 ), and so on. These studies included general population and psychiatric patients.…”

“…In addition, there are other factor models for STAI-Y. For example, Hallit et al (2019) found three factors for state anxiety and four factors for trait anxiety in Lebanese population; Vigneau and Cormier (2008) found that the two-construct, two-method model is superior to the one-factor, two-factor, and four-factor models in French-Canadian university students and French adults; The principal components analysis revealed seven factors of STAI-Y in Greek healthy volunteers and depressed patients ( Fountoulakis et al, 2006 ). In Chinese studies, the factor structure was also incongruent.…”

Construction and validation of the Lebanese fear of relationship commitment scale among a representative sample of the Lebanese population

“…The Hamilton anxiety scale, recently validated in Lebanon, is a commonly used scale to measure anxiety in medical and research sites. It consists of 14 items, rated as follows: 0 (symptoms not present), 1 (mild symptoms), 2 (moderate symptoms), 3 (severe symptoms), and 4 (very severe symptoms).…”