Attentional Control Scale for Children: Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity Among Children and Adolescents Referred for Anxiety Disorders. Issue 4 (26th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melendez, Raquel; Bechor, Michele; Rey, Yasmin; Pettit, Jeremy W.; Silverman, Wendy K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical psychology. Volume 73:Issue 4(2017:Apr.)
• Page Start: 489
• Page End: 499
• Publication Date: 2016-07-26
• Subjects: children -- adolescent -- anxiety -- attentional control -- factor analysis; Psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9762

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The present study examined the factor structure and concurrent validity of the Attentional Control Scale for Children (ACS‐C; Muris, de Jong, & Engelen, 2004), a youth self‐rating scale of attentional control. Method: A multisource assessment approach was used with 186 children and adolescents referred to an anxiety disorders specialty clinic. Results: Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 2‐factor structure with internally consistent and moderately correlated subscales of Attentional Focusing and Attentional Shifting. Total ACS‐C and subscale scores demonstrated significant associations with youth and parent ratings of youth anxiety symptoms, youth self ratings of depressive symptoms, and youth diagnosis of attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder. Conclusions: These findings support use of the ACS‐C as a self‐rating scale of attentional control among referred youth. Future research is encouraged to examine retest reliability of the ACS‐C and to evaluate whether its internal structure could be enhanced by removing or modifying items that performed poorly.