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Factor Structure of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA). The LSAS-CA was administered to 225 children and adolescents as a component of various clinical studies. In addition, other measures of psychopathology and impairment were administered to a subgroup of the sample. Confirmatory factor analyses of the social interaction and performance subscales for the anxiety and avoidance ratings yielded poor fit indices. Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor solution with a higher order factor for the LSAS-CA anxiety and avoidance ratings. Based on item content, factors were named Social and School Performance. The internal consistency of the factors was high and the convergent and divergent validity was supported vis-à-vis correlations with measures of depression and social anxiety, and clinician ratings of impairment and functioning. Findings suggest that the anxiety and avoidance ratings are best explained by a two-factor solution that measures social anxiety and avoidance in social and school performance interactions. This factor structure appears to be a reliable and valid framework for assessing childhood social phobia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Eric A. Storch

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Box 100234, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA

    Eric A. Storch & Amanda D. Heidgerken

  3. New York University School of Medicine, Child Study Center, New York, USA

    Carrie Masia-Warner & Paige H. Fisher

  4. Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, Boston, USA

    Donna B. Pincus

  5. College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA

    Michael R. Liebowitz

Authors
  1. Eric A. Storch
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  2. Carrie Masia-Warner
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  3. Amanda D. Heidgerken
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  4. Paige H. Fisher
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  5. Donna B. Pincus
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  6. Michael R. Liebowitz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric A. Storch.

Additional information

This research was funded by a grant from SmithKline Beecham to Drs. Liebowitz and Masia-Warner. The authors would like to thank Heather Dent and Sharon Davies for their contributions to the execution of this study.

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Storch, E.A., Masia-Warner, C., Heidgerken, A.D. et al. Factor Structure of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 37, 25–37 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-006-0017-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-006-0017-6

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