[Theoretical and empirical analyses of the structure of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory anxiety scales].

Abstract

Based on considerations concerning content and the formal structure of items, this study investigates the dimensionality of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scales. Item analyses, factor analyses using oblique factor rotation, and Rasch analyses were conducted on two samples of students (N = 269 and N = 159). From the results it is concluded that the factors of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory are not method factors constituted by differently directed item formulations. Rather, the structure of the scales reflects the differentiation of the anxiety construct into single subcomponents, especially cognitive and affective ones. In addition, similarities with negative affectivity and depressiveness are examined.