The Spielberger trait anxiety inventory measures more than anxiety

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveResearchers tried to explain the overlap between anxiety and depression by suggesting that some items of self-administered questionnaires were badly selected and that both constructs should rather be considered as multidimensional. Thus, we hypothesise that the Spielberger trait anxiety inventory (TAI) includes items related to depression.MethodA non-clinical sample of 193 subjects filled out the TAI and the Hospitalised Anxiety–Depression Scale. Factors were postulated on the basis of item content and submitted to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).ResultsWe found five factors: a 10-item anxiety factor containing three factors, a four-item unsuccessfulness factor correlated with the HADS anhedonia factor, and a six-item happiness factor.ConclusionThe TAI scale encompasses measures of anxiety, depression and well-being. Consequently, the overlap with other measures of depression may result from item selection. This work awaits replication in independent normal and pathological samples.