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Psychometric Characteristics of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire in an Argentinean Sample: A Cross-Cultural Contribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Ricardo Rodríguez-Biglieri  and
Giselle Lorena Vetere
Ricardo Rodríguez-Biglieri*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Giselle Lorena Vetere
Affiliation:
Hospital Dr. Cosme Argerich (Argentina)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ricardo Rodríguez-Biglieri. Facultad de Psicología. Departamento de Psicología Clínica y Psicoterapia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Av. Corrientes 5239, 11° D. Código Postal: C1414AJR. Buenos Aires. (Argentina). Phone: +54-011-4856-6506; Fax: +54-011-42445025. E-mail: rodriguezbiglieri@psi.uba.ar
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Abstract

Although studies in several populations have provided support for Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSQW) reliability and validity, factor analysis studies carried out on different populations show divergent results. The aim of this article is to contribute with the cross-cultural literature on PSWQ. This report describes two studies examining the psychometric characteristics of a revised Argentinean version of the PSWQ. In the first study, items of original PSWQ were translated into Spanish and then back-translated into English. Then, in order to examine its reliability and factorial structure, the instrument was completed by 400 community participants. The second study included two groups of participants as follows: patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and patients with other anxiety disorders (AC). Results revealed appropriated test-retest reliability over a four-week period, high internal consistency, and good convergent and discriminant validity for PSWQ. In concordance with some results reported in previous studies, a single factorial structure was confirmed for the Argentinean version of PSWQ. By the other hand, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was made to evaluate the ability of PSWQ to discriminate GAD from individuals with others anxiety disorders. A total score of 63 simultaneously optimized sensitivity and specificity in discriminating GAD patients from patients with others anxiety disorders.

Aunque estudios conducidos en diversas poblaciones han establecido que el Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSQW) posee adecuados índices de confiabilidad y validez, los análisis sobre su estructura factorial han arrojado resultados divergentes. El objetivo del presente artículo es contribuir con la literatura transcultural del PSWQ. Con dicho fin se describen dos estudios los cuales examinan las características psicométricas de una versión Argentina revisada del PSWQ. En el primer estudio los ítems originales del PSWQ fueron traducidos al español y luego traducidos nuevamente al inglés. Posteriormente, con la finalidad de examinar la confiabilidad y estructura factorial del instrumento, el mismo fue administrado a 400 participantes. El segundo estudio incluyó un grupo de pacientes con Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada (TAG) y otro grupo conformado por pacientes con otros cuadros de ansiedad (CA). Los resultados registraron adecuados índices de confiabilidad test-retest para un período de cuatro semanas, altos índices de consistencia interna, y buenos índices sobre la validez convergente y discriminante del instrumento. En concordancia con resultados informados en algunos estudios previos, una solución unifactorial fue registrada para la versión Argentina del PSWQ. Por otro lado, se efectuó un análisis de las curvas de operación característica del receptor con la finalidad de evaluar la capacidad del PSWQ para diferenciar pacientes con TAG de aquellos con otros cuadros de ansiedad. Un puntaje total de 63 optimizó simultáneamente sensibilidad y especificidad para la diferenciación de pacientes con TAG de pacientes con otros cuadros de ansiedad.

Keywords

Penn State Worry Questionnairereliabilityvalidityfactor structuresensitivityspecificityPenn State Worry Questionnaireconfiabilidadvalidezestructura factorialsensibilidadespecificidad
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , May 2011 , pp. 452 - 463
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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