Adaptation and Validation of the DSM 5 Youth Anxiety Scale—Part I (YAM-5-I) in Colombian Adolescents

TL;DR

This study adapts and validates a youth anxiety scale for Colombian adolescents, showing it is reliable and valid for non-clinical use.

Contribution

The paper introduces a culturally adapted and validated version of the YAM-5-I for Colombian adolescents.

Findings

The adapted scale showed high internal consistency with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.93.

The instrument demonstrated structural validity with five correlated dimensions fitting the data well.

The scale is suitable for low-cost screening in non-clinical adolescent populations in Colombia.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In adolescence, anxiety disorders are the most prevalent, besides being highly comorbid, with a tendency to chronicity and persistence in adulthood; although there are different assessment measures with good psychometric properties, in Colombia there are no instruments that include the new international diagnostic classifications, aspects that may hinder accurate diagnosis and consequent care. This psychometric study aimed to adapt and validate the Anxiety Scale for Adolescents YAM-5, part I. Methods: A review of the items of the instrument was carried out, seeking to identify possible difficulties in the use of terms according to the culture; a sample of 536 adolescents linked to different public and private educational institutions from the five regions of the country was applied. The analysis of the instrument was based on the analysis of its reliability by means of Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient, the construct validity by means of the Exploratory Factor Analysis using the principal components method, and, finally, the Confirmatory Factor Analysis using the Structural Equations technique. Results: An internal consistency of 0.93 and a structural validity with a construct of five correlated dimensions were identified, which best fitted the data collected. Conclusions: The structure examined provides high reliability and structural validity, highlighting benefits such as being of screening type, its low cost, and application aimed at non-clinical populations from the perspective of Colombian adolescents.

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