PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF A SERBIAN ADAPTATION OF THE ANXIETY SENSITIVITY INDEX (ASI-3) Cover Image

PSIHOMETRIJSKA EVALUACIJA SRPSKE ADAPTACIJE INDEKSA SENZITIVNOSTI NA SIMPTOME ANKSIOZNOSTI (ASI-3)
PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF A SERBIAN ADAPTATION OF THE ANXIETY SENSITIVITY INDEX (ASI-3)

Author(s): Marija Volarov, Milan Oljača, Ljiljana Mihić, Petar Čolović
Subject(s): Clinical psychology
Published by: Филозофски факултет, Универзитет у Новом Саду
Keywords: anxiety sensitivity; ASI-3; bifactor model; CFA; IRT

Summary/Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to investigate validity and psychometric properties of the third revision of Anxiety Sensitiv-ity Index (ASI-3) in a sample of general population from Serbia. Total sample was comprised of 553 participants of both gender aged 18–60 years (82.1% female). Results from Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that a bifactor model with one general factor of general anxiety sensitivity and three specific fac-tors (physical, cognitive, and social concerns) had the best fit to empirical data. IRT results (2PL model) led to a conclusion that the ASI-3 items are relatively difficult. In other words, this ques-tionnaire has better measurement performance in individuals with moderate and high trait levels. The ASI-3 also showed excellent convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. Several items with poor performance within general population were identified (low information and discrimination parameters value, but high difficulty parameter value). Finally, its predictive power was dem-onstrated above and beyond Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS; Anxiety). Our results are consistent with earlier findings consider-ing the bifactor structure of the ASI-3, and provide support for the theoretical assumption that anxiety sensitivity is a unique con-struct. Research and clinical implications were discussed.

  • Issue Year: 10/2017
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 401-425
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Serbian