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Psychometric properties of the STAI-Y scales and normative data in an Italian elderly population

BACKGROUND: Early detection of anxiety symptoms in older people is capital as it may be linked to increased physical/functional disabilities, onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders, and poor cognitive functioning. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of psychometrically validated anxiety me...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ilardi, Ciro Rosario, Gamboz, Nadia, Iavarone, Alessandro, Chieffi, Sergio, Brandimonte, Maria Antonella
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Springer International Publishing 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7968568/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33733325
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-01815-0
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Early detection of anxiety symptoms in older people is capital as it may be linked to increased physical/functional disabilities, onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders, and poor cognitive functioning. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of psychometrically validated anxiety measures in the elderly. AIMS: This study aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y) and providing the first normative data for the Italian elderly population. METHODS: The sample included 361 individuals aged 65–94. All subjects underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and the state (S-Anxiety) and trait anxiety (T-anxiety) scales of the STAI-Y. RESULTS: The S-Anxiety and T-Anxiety scales showed reliable internal consistency and, overall, good item characteristics. Divergent validity was “apparently” threatened, with S-Anxiety scale correlating with MMSE and GDS, and T-Anxiety scale only with GDS. The principal component analysis revealed a three-factor solution for both scales, i.e., presence and absence of state (or trait) anxiety, and performance anxiety. Since no effect of sociodemographic variables was found, unadjusted cutoffs were provided. CONCLUSIONS: Although some questions on the psychometric properties of the STAI-Y remain unanswered, this normative study can help clinicians and researchers to monitor anxiety levels in the Italian elderly population. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40520-021-01815-0.