Brief version of the fear of negative evaluation scale (BFNE): Psychometric properties in clinical and university student samples in Mexico

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the Brief version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BNFE) in clinical and university student samples in Mexico, as well as to assess their diagnostic value by establishing a cut-off score that discriminates between social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder. The sample of participants consisted of university students, subjects with social phobia and people with generalized anxiety disorder. The following activities were carried out: 1) To obtain the BFNE mean score and standard deviation for each sample, 2) To confirm the internal structure of scale. 3) To assess the internal consistency. 4) To analyze the test-retest reliability; 5) To examine the convergent and divergent validity. 6) To establish, by means of ROC analysis, a cut-off score that is able to discriminate between subjects with social phobia and those with generalized anxiety disorder. It is possible to conclude that the Brief version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) is a reliable and valid measure, and it is able to detect effectively the social phobia in the studied samples.