Preliminary analysis of the Portuguese version of the child anxiety life interference scale/Analise preliminar da versao Portuguesa da escala de interferencia da ansiedade na crianca

• Published in: Psicologia, reflexão e crítica Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 454
• Main Authors: Marques, Teresa, Pereira, Ana I, Pedro, Marta, Russo, Vanessa, Goes, Ana R, Barros, Luisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (JFRGS) 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Portugal
• ISSN: 0102-7972; 1678-7153
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-7153.201528304

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent among school-aged children. These disorders become chronic in a substantial proportion of youths and cause significant interference with daily functioning. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Child Anxiety Life Interference Scale--Parent and Child versions (CALIS-P and CALIS-C). The sample consisted of 132 children between the ages of 7 and 12 with a main diagnosis of anxiety disorder and their parents. A factor analysis of the CALIS-P yielded three factors that agreed with the hypothesised subscales of At Home, Outside Home and Parent Life interference. For the CALIS-C, a factor analysis yielded two factors corresponding to Close Relationships and Performance interference that did not match the subscales of the original version. The internal consistency of the various CALIS subscales was good. Finally, evidence was found for both convergent and divergent validity. The CALIS scores were also significantly correlated with another measure of interference. The results provide initial support that the Portuguese version of the CALIS is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of the impact of anxiety on child and family functioning. Keywords: Childhood, anxiety disorders, life interference, assessment. As perturbacoes de ansiedade sao altamente prevalentes entre criancas em idade escolar. Estas perturbacoes tendem a seguir um curso cronico e interferem significativamente no funcionamento diario dos jovens. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi examinar as propriedades psicometricas da versao Portuguesa da Escala de Interferencia da Ansiedade na Vida da Crianca - versoes para Pais e Criancas (CALIS-P e CALIS-C). Participaram 132 criancas, com idades entre os 7 e 12 anos, com diagnostico principal de ansiedade, e seus respetivos pais. A analise fatorial da CALIS-P revelou tres fatores que coincidem com as subescalas hipotetizadas: Interferencia Em Casa, Fora de Casa e na Vida da Familia. Para a CALIS-C, a analise fatorial revelou dois fatores que dizem respeito a Interferencia nas Relacoes Proximas e no Desempenho, que nao correspondem as subescalas da versao original. Os estudos psicometricos mostraram uma boa consistencia interna para as varias subescalas da CALIS e boas qualidades na validade convergente e divergente. Foi observada ainda uma correlacao significativa entre os resultados da CALIS e outra medida de interferencia. Estes resultados sugerem que a versao portuguesa da CALIS e uma medida confiavel e valida para a avaliacao do impacto da ansiedade na crianca e no funcionamento familiar. Palavras-chave: Infancia, perturbacoes de ansiedade, interferencia, avaliacao.