Divergent, Criterion-Related, and Discriminant Validities for the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale

Abstract

Three analyses were carried out. Analysis I estimated the correlation between the total score of the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale and a self-rating scale of happiness with large sample of male ( n = 1,312) and female ( n = 1,272) Kuwaiti adolescents. Pearson product-moment correlations were –.43 and –.44 ( p < .001) for boys and girls, respectively, suggesting divergent validity of the anxiety scale. Analysis II examined the correlations between scores on the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale and the Somatic Symptoms Inventory for a nonclinical sample of women ( n = 30), and female outpatients with anxiety disorder ( n = 30). Pearson product-moment correlations were, respectively, .85 and .53 ( p < .001), which support the criterion-related validity of the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale with respect to the Somatic Symptoms Inventory. In Analysis III a sample of 60 male and female outpatients with anxiety disorder and 60 nonclinical participants were matched on age, education, and occupation. All responded individually to the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale. Significant differences among groups, especially noticeable for men, support the discriminant validity of the scale. So, the clinical as well as research use of the scale can be recommended. By and large, the divergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validities of the scale have been adequately supported so subsequent replication is expected.