The Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale: Psychometric properties in a clinical sample

Cognitive models of social anxiety suggest that fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is the central cognitive dimension underlying the disorder. The Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale (FPES; Weeks, Heimberg, & Rodebaugh, 2008) was recently developed to assess an additional cognitive dimension purported to underlie social anxiety disorder (SAD), but its psychometric properties have yet to be examined in clinical populations. The present study, with 133 treatment-seeking patients, examined the applicability of the FPES with a clinical sample. Results indicated that the FPES was factorially distinct from a measure assessing FNE, and patients with SAD (n = 51) had higher mean scores on the FPES than patients with other anxiety disorders (n = 82). The FPES also showed adequate reliability (internal consistency), good convergent and discriminant validity, acceptable criterion-related validity in predicting social interaction anxiety symptoms, and appropriate sensitivity to treatment. The FPES appears to have good psychometric properties and is a promising new assessment tool for better understanding SAD.