Psychometric properties of the Persian Version of Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5 (YAM-5) in nonclinical sample

Abstract

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5(YAM-5) in nonclinical sample. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The statistical population of this study included all elementary and middle school students in Shiraz during 2017-18, among which 400 persons were selected with random cluster sampling and who participated in the research by completing the children's and adolescent's anxiety scales and child behavior checklist. A total of thirty students were selected for re-test reliability that was performed four weeks later. In order to examine the agreement between the child-parent form, fifty parents of students were randomly selected from this population. Data were analyzed using SPSS22 and Amos 18 software. Results: The results showed that the five-factor structure of YAM-I and YAM-II is acceptable with data. The correlation coefficient of YAM-I with internalization nd externalization problems was equal to 0.50 and 0.18 respectively; and that of YAM-II was 0.36 and 0.16, respectively. The YAM-I agreement for a parent was 0.67; and agreement of YAM-II child with parent was 0.89. Cronbach's Alpha of YAM-I and YAM-II was 0.84 and 0.78 respectively. The reliability of YAM-I retest was 0.98 and for the subscales it was between 0.90 and 0.95. The reliability of YAM-II retest was 0.96 and for the sub-scales it was between 0.94 and 0.96. Discussion: The Youth anxiety measure for DSM-5 has good psychometric properties in nonclinical sample. Conclusion: The YAM is a valid and reliable questionnaire to be utilized in future research.