A multidimensional anxiety assessment of adolescents after Typhoon Morakot-associated mudslides

The aims of this study were to examine the factor structure, reliability and validity of the Taiwanese version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-T) in a group of adolescents in mountainous regions worst affected by Typhoon Morakot-associated mudslides. In total, 271 adolescents in grades 7–9 completed the MASC-T and the Chinese version of the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (C-IES-R). They also received a diagnostic interview to determine whether they had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We examined adequacy of the original four-factor structure of the MASC-T using confirmatory factor analysis, as well as its internal reliability, discriminant and predictive validities for PTSD, and convergent validity with the C-IES-R. Results support adequacy of the four-factor structure and internal reliability of the MASC-T in adolescents affected by Typhoon Morakot. Scores for the total MASC-T and subscales significantly discriminated adolescents with PTSD from those without PTSD. However, levels of predictive values for PTSD and the convergent validity with the C-IES-R differed among the MASC-T subscales and the total scale. The physical symptoms and harm avoidance subscales had the highest and lowest predictive accuracies for presence of PTSD, respectively. The MASC-T combined with diagnostic interviews for PTSD and self-report measures for assessing PTSD-specific symptoms can be used to evaluate a broad range of anxiety symptoms.

Research highlights▶ This study confirmed the adequacy of the four-factor structure and internal reliability of the Taiwanese version of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC-T) in adolescents affected by Typhoon Morakot. ▶ Scores for the total MASC-T and subscales significantly discriminated adolescents with PTSD from those without PTSD. ▶ The levels of predictive values for PTSD and the convergent validity with the C-IES-R differed among the MASC-T subscales and the total scale.