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Geriatric Anxiety Scale: item response theory analysis, differential item functioning, and creation of a ten-item short form (GAS-10)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2014

Anne E. Mueller ,
Daniel L. Segal ,
Brandon Gavett ,
Meghan A. Marty ,
Brian Yochim ,
Andrea June  and
Frederick L. Coolidge
Anne E. Mueller
Affiliation:
Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, American Lake Division, Washington, USA
Daniel L. Segal*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Brandon Gavett
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Meghan A. Marty
Affiliation:
Transitions Professional Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
Brian Yochim
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
Andrea June
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut, USA
Frederick L. Coolidge
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Daniel L. Segal, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA. Phone: +719-255-4176; Fax: +719-255-4166. Email: dsegal@uccs.edu.
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Abstract

Background:

The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS; Segal et al. (Segal, D. L., June, A., Payne, M., Coolidge, F. L. and Yochim, B. (2010). Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 709–714. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.05.002) is a self-report measure of anxiety that was designed to address unique issues associated with anxiety assessment in older adults. This study is the first to use item response theory (IRT) to examine the psychometric properties of a measure of anxiety in older adults.

Method:

A large sample of older adults (n = 581; mean age = 72.32 years, SD = 7.64 years, range = 60 to 96 years; 64% women; 88% European American) completed the GAS. IRT properties were examined. The presence of differential item functioning (DIF) or measurement bias by age and sex was assessed, and a ten-item short form of the GAS (called the GAS-10) was created.

Results:

All GAS items had discrimination parameters of 1.07 or greater. Items from the somatic subscale tended to have lower discrimination parameters than items on the cognitive or affective subscales. Two items were flagged for DIF, but the impact of the DIF was negligible. Women scored significantly higher than men on the GAS and its subscales. Participants in the young-old group (60 to 79 years old) scored significantly higher on the cognitive subscale than participants in the old-old group (80 years old and older).

Conclusions:

Results from the IRT analyses indicated that the GAS and GAS-10 have strong psychometric properties among older adults. We conclude by discussing implications and future research directions.

Keywords

geriatricanxiety assessmentanxietyitem response theoryshort form

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Special Issue 7: Late Life Anxiety , July 2015 , pp. 1099 - 1111
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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