Ramona Toscano1, Andrew J Baillie1, Heidi J Lyneham1, Anna Kelly1, Theresa Kidd1, Jennifer L Hudson2. 1. Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109 Australia. 2. Centre for Emotional Health, Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109 Australia. Electronic address: jennie.hudson@mq.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the utility of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale - Parent Form (SCAS-P) across parents of children with (i) anxiety and (ii) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHOD: Parents of children aged 7-18 years with anxiety or ASD completed the SCAS-P. Multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) structural equation modelling was utilized to analyse the data. RESULTS: Analysis revealed different factor structures between the Anxious and ASD groups and evidence for measurement variance across groups in some parts of the SCAS-P. CONCLUSION: Results on the SCAS-P in children with ASD need to be interpreted with caution. Some SCAS-P items cannot be interpreted in the same way in an ASD population compared to neurotypical children with anxiety.
OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the utility of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale - Parent Form (SCAS-P) across parents of children with (i) anxiety and (ii) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). METHOD: Parents of children aged 7-18 years with anxiety or ASD completed the SCAS-P. Multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) structural equation modelling was utilized to analyse the data. RESULTS: Analysis revealed different factor structures between the Anxious and ASD groups and evidence for measurement variance across groups in some parts of the SCAS-P. CONCLUSION: Results on the SCAS-P in children with ASD need to be interpreted with caution. Some SCAS-P items cannot be interpreted in the same way in an ASD population compared to neurotypical children with anxiety.
Authors: Simon C Hunter; Stephen Houghton; Michael Kyron; David Lawrence; Andrew C Page; Wai Chen; Leslie Macqueen Journal: Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol Date: 2021-08-20