The Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA-27): reliability of the German translation, factor structure, and concurrent validity with anxiety sensitivity and agoraphobic cognition

Abstract

Background: Separation anxiety disorder (SEPAD) is characterized by pronounced fear or anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures. Despite its high lifetime prevalence, adult SEPAD often remains undetected due to a lack of diagnostic tools in multiple languages. The Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA-27) is a key instrument for assessing symptoms of SEPAD in adults. However, no validated German version is available. Objectives: This study addressed the translation and validation of the ASA-27 in a German-speaking population to introduce the first German questionnaire assessing SEPAD. Materials and methods: A consecutive forward and backward translation was conducted. Reliability and validity of the German ASA-27 against several established anxiety-related psychometric scores were assessed in a large sample of 1520 healthy participants. Results: Results revealed robust internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.87) and a factor structure explaining 49.7% of variations in answers. Concurrent validity was confirmed through significant correlations with established anxiety measures. Younger age and female sex were positively correlated with ASA-27 scores. Conclusion: The German ASA-27 constitutes a promising diagnostic tool for adult SEPAD with sound psychometric properties and a coherent factor structure, offering a structured and reliable assessment of SEPAD and its dimensional evaluation in German-speaking populations.