Development and validation of the anxious behaviors questionnaire (ABQ) in older adults

Research on GAD in older adults-and the overt behaviors that may contribute to it-remains limited. Evaluating behaviors with age-appropriate tools may improve GAD diagnosis in older adults. This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a self-report measure of behaviors associated with GAD: the Anxious Behaviors Questionnaire (ABQ). Study 1 explored the factor structure using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Study 2 evaluated the resulting structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and examined additional psychometric properties.

In Study 1, the ABQ was administered to 303 French-Canadian older adults. In Study 2, it was administered to 361 older adults, who also completed measures of GAD symptoms and avoidant and safety behaviors associated with GAD to assess convergent validity. The ABQ was re-administered three weeks later to assess test-retest reliability.

EFAs and CFAs supported the five-factor model (Overpreparation, Avoidance, Control, Reassurance-seeking, and Procrastination). The 23-item ABQ demonstrated adequate model fit, with results supporting its internal consistency, convergent validity, and temporal stability.

The ABQ is the first questionnaire to measure behaviors associated with GAD specifically among older adults. It has several advantages for researchers and clinicians: it measures distinct behaviors briefly, making it suitable for aging populations.