title: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Combined Social Phobia Scale and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale: Support for a Bifactor Model.
abstract: For the Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) together, this study examined support for a bifactor model, and also the internal consistency reliability and external validity of the factors in this model. Participants (N= 526) were adults from the general community who completed the SPS and SIAS. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of their ratings indicated good support for the bifactor model. For this model, the loadings for all but six items were higher on the general factor than the specific factors. The three positively worded items had negligible loadings on the general factor. The general factor explained most of the common variance in the SPS and SIAS, and demonstrated good model-based internal consistency reliability (omega hierarchical) and a strong association with fear of negative evaluation and extraversion. The practical implications of the findings for the utilization of the SPS and SIAS, and the theoretical and clinical implications for social anxiety are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, School of Health Sciences and Psychology, Federation University Australia Ballarat, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Rapson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, School of Health Sciences and Psychology, Federation University Australia Ballarat, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Shaun D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Watson
keywords: bifactor model; external validity; omega hierarchical; social interaction anxiety scale; social phobia scale