• DOI:10.1080/13607863.2013.788999
• Corpus ID: 33094949

Persian version of the geriatric anxiety scale: Translation and preliminary psychometric properties among Iranian older adults

@article{BolghanAbadi2013PersianVO,
  title={Persian version of the geriatric anxiety scale: Translation and preliminary psychometric properties among Iranian older adults},
  author={Mustafa Bolghan-Abadi and Daniel L. Segal and Frederick L. Coolidge and Juliana Gottschling},
  journal={Aging \& Mental Health},
  year={2013},
  volume={17},
  pages={896 - 900}
}

• Mustafa Bolghan-Abadi, D. Segal, +1 author J. Gottschling
• Published 25 August 2013
• Psychology, Medicine
• Aging & Mental Health

Objective: The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a new self-report screening measure designed for older adults. Due to the burgeoning Iranian population of older adults and the need for validated, culturally-appropriate screening measures for anxiety in Iran, the purposes of the present study were to translate the GAS into Persian and to explore its preliminary psychometric properties. Method: Iranian older adults (N = 295; M age = 67.0 years) completed the GAS and the Iranian version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Results: Cronbach's alpha for the GAS total score and the GAS subscales were excellent (Total score α = .92; Cognitive α = .81; Somatic α = .84; Affective α = .80). As expected, each subscale was significantly positively correlated (all p's < .01) with the other subscales. The subscales share common variance ranging from 42% to 56%. The GAS total score and GAS subscale scores were significantly positively correlated with the GDS-15, with medium effect sizes (GAS Total r = .55; Cognitive r = .51; Somatic r = .50; Affective r = .48). Finally, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to investigate the factor structure of the Persian version of the GAS. Results support a one factor solution (general anxiety) for this Iranian sample. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary psychometric support for the Persian version of the GAS as a screening measure for anxiety in Iranian older adults, with a one-dimensional factor structure.