title: Persian version of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale: translation and preliminary psychometric properties among Iranian older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a new self-report screening measure designed for older adults. Due to the burgeoning Iranian population of older adults and the need for validated, culturally-appropriate screening measures for anxiety in Iran, the purposes of the present study were to translate the GAS into Persian and to explore its preliminary psychometric properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Iranian older adults (N = 295; M age = 67.0 years) completed the GAS and the Iranian version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's alpha for the GAS total score and the GAS subscales were excellent (Total score α = .92; Cognitive α = .81; Somatic α = .84; Affective α = .80). As expected, each subscale was significantly positively correlated (all p's < .01) with the other subscales. The subscales share common variance ranging from 42% to 56%. The GAS total score and GAS subscale scores were significantly positively correlated with the GDS-15, with medium effect sizes (GAS Total r = .55; Cognitive r = .51; Somatic r = .50; Affective r = .48). Finally, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to investigate the factor structure of the Persian version of the GAS. Results support a one factor solution (general anxiety) for this Iranian sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary psychometric support for the Persian version of the GAS as a screening measure for anxiety in Iranian older adults, with a one-dimensional factor structure.
authors.affiliation: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolghan-Abadi
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Coolidge
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gottschling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014177:Translations