Shadi Gholizadeh1, Linda Kwakkenbos2,3, Marie-Eve Carrier2, Sarah D Mills1, Rina S Fox1, Lisa R Jewett2,4, Karen Gottesman5, Scott Roesch1,6, Brett D Thombs2,7,8, Vanessa L Malcarne1,6. 1. San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California - USA. 2. Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec - Canada. 3. Behavioral Science Institute, Clinical Psychology, Radboud University, Nijmegen - The Netherlands. 4. Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec - Canada. 5. Scleroderma Foundation, Los Angeles, California - USA. 6. Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California - USA. 7. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec - Canada. 8. Departments of Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec - Canada.
Abstract
Introduction: Individuals with visible differences due to medical conditions, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), have reported difficulty navigating social situations because of issues such as staring, invasive questions, and rude comments. Fears or anxiety linked to situations in which a person interacts with others is known as social interaction anxiety. However, there exists no validated measurement tool to examine social interaction anxiety in rheumatologic conditions. Methods: The present study examines the reliability (internal consistency) and validity (structural and convergent) of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale-6 (SIAS-6) in a sample of 802 individuals with SSc, and compares these psychometric properties across limited and diffuse subtypes of the disease. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the SIAS-6 in patients with both limited and diffuse SSc. Results: A one-factor structure was found to fit well for individuals with SSc with both limited and diffuse disease. The measure demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability and convergent validity with relevant measures in expected magnitudes and directions. Conclusions: The SIAS-6 is a psychometrically robust measure that can confidently be used in SSc populations to examine social interaction anxiety. Moreover, scores can meaningfully be compared between patients with limited and diffuse disease.
Introduction: Individuals with visible differences due to medical conditions, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma), have reported difficulty navigating social situations because of issues such as staring, invasive questions, and rude comments. Fears or anxiety linked to situations in which a person interacts with others is known as social interaction anxiety. However, there exists no validated measurement tool to examine social interaction anxiety in rheumatologic conditions. Methods: The present study examines the reliability (internal consistency) and validity (structural and convergent) of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale-6 (SIAS-6) in a sample of 802 individuals with SSc, and compares these psychometric properties across limited and diffuse subtypes of the disease. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the SIAS-6 in patients with both limited and diffuse SSc. Results: A one-factor structure was found to fit well for individuals with SSc with both limited and diffuse disease. The measure demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability and convergent validity with relevant measures in expected magnitudes and directions. Conclusions: The SIAS-6 is a psychometrically robust measure that can confidently be used in SSc populations to examine social interaction anxiety. Moreover, scores can meaningfully be compared between patients with limited and diffuse disease.
Authors: Frank van den Hoogen; Dinesh Khanna; Jaap Fransen; Sindhu R Johnson; Murray Baron; Alan Tyndall; Marco Matucci-Cerinic; Raymond P Naden; Thomas A Medsger; Patricia E Carreira; Gabriela Riemekasten; Philip J Clements; Christopher P Denton; Oliver Distler; Yannick Allanore; Daniel E Furst; Armando Gabrielli; Maureen D Mayes; Jacob M van Laar; James R Seibold; Laszlo Czirjak; Virginia D Steen; Murat Inanc; Otylia Kowal-Bielecka; Ulf Müller-Ladner; Gabriele Valentini; Douglas J Veale; Madelon C Vonk; Ulrich A Walker; Lorinda Chung; David H Collier; Mary Ellen Csuka; Barri J Fessler; Serena Guiducci; Ariane Herrick; Vivien M Hsu; Sergio Jimenez; Bashar Kahaleh; Peter A Merkel; Stanislav Sierakowski; Richard M Silver; Robert W Simms; John Varga; Janet E Pope Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2013-10-03
Authors: P J Clements; E L Hurwitz; W K Wong; J R Seibold; M Mayes; B White; F Wigley; M Weisman; W Barr; L Moreland; T A Medsger; V D Steen; R W Martin; D Collier; A Weinstein; E Lally; J Varga; S R Weiner; B Andrews; M Abeles; D E Furst Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2000-11
Authors: Lisa R Jewett; Marie Hudson; Jennifer A Haythornthwaite; Leslie Heinberg; Fredrick M Wigley; Murray Baron; Brett D Thombs Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2010-07-27 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: Linda Kwakkenbos; Vanessa C Delisle; Rina S Fox; Shadi Gholizadeh; Lisa R Jewett; Brooke Levis; Katherine Milette; Sarah D Mills; Vanessa L Malcarne; Brett D Thombs Journal: Rheum Dis Clin North Am Date: 2015-05-27 Impact factor: 2.670