Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
05:52
Hyponeophagia: A Measure of Anxiety in the Mouse
Published on: May 17, 2011
22.6K
The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): Informant Discrepancy, Measurement Invariance, and
Brigid Behrens1, Caroline Swetlitz2, Daniel S Pine2
1Emotion and Development Branch, The National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. brigid.behrens@nih.gov.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|November 22, 2018
Summary
The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) tool is reliable for assessing pediatric anxiety. However, low parent-child agreement on SCARED results warrants further research into discrepancy factors.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Psychometric Evaluation
- Mental Health Assessment
Background:
- The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) is a widely utilized tool for assessing childhood anxiety.
- Informant discrepancy between parent and child reports presents challenges in clinical and research applications of the SCARED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate informant discrepancy, measurement invariance, test-retest reliability, and external validity of the SCARED.
- To examine factors influencing discrepancy in SCARED scores among anxious and healthy youth.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 1092 anxious and healthy parent-child dyads.
- Data collection included SCARED parent and child reports, and clinician-rated anxiety measures.
- Statistical analyses assessed measurement invariance, reliability, and validity.
Main Results:
- Informant discrepancy in SCARED scores did not systematically vary across clinical, demographic, or familial variables.
- The SCARED demonstrated strict measurement invariance and strong test-retest reliability.
- External validity was adequate when compared to clinician-rated anxiety measures.
Conclusions:
- The SCARED is a reliable and valid instrument for screening pediatric anxiety disorders.
- Low parent-child agreement on SCARED assessments necessitates further investigation into contributing factors.
- Findings support the continued utility of the SCARED in clinical practice and research settings.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.9K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.9K
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
525
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
525
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
704
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
704
01:29Reliability and Validity
13.9K
Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
13.9K
01:29Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects
318
Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
318
01:18Anxiety: Overview
1.0K
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.0K