Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3)

Abstract Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity plays a prominent role in the etiology of anxiety disorders. This construct has attracted widespread interest from experts and researchers. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3) is the most common scale for measuring anxiety sensitivity. Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties and factor structure of the ASI-3 in Iranian student samples. Methods: 220 students (135 women, 85 men) from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences were selected by the convenience sampling method to evaluate the psychometric properties and analyze the factor structure of the ASI-3. The subjects were also asked to complete the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Whiteley Index, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Neuroticism scales. LISREL and SPSS were used to analyze the data. Cronbach's alpha and correlation coefficients were calculated and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure with physical, cognitive, and social components (comparative fit index = 0.94; normed fit index = 0.91; root mean square error of approximation = 0.09). The ASI-3 had positive and significant correlations with health anxiety (0.59), intolerance of uncertainty (0.29), and neuroticism (0.51). Furthermore, the ASI-3 had a negative and significant correlation with the AAQII (-0.58). Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the whole scale and for the physical, cognitive, and social concerns factors were 0.90, 0.74, 0.79, and 0.78, respectively. The invariance of the index was significant compared to the original English version. Conclusion: In general, the results support the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the ASI-3. Theoretical and applied implications will be discussed.摘要：焦虑敏感性在焦虑障碍的病因学中发挥着关键作用，该构念已受到全球专家与研究者的广泛关注。焦虑敏感性量表（Anxiety Sensitivity Index, ASI-3）是当前测量焦虑敏感性最常用的工具。 目的：针对伊朗学生样本，分析ASI-3的心理测量学特性与因子结构。 方法：采用便利抽样法，选取克尔曼沙赫医科大学的220名学生（其中女生135名，男生85名），以评估ASI-3的心理测量学特性并解析其因子结构。所有受试者需同时完成接纳与行动问卷第二版（Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, AAQ-II）、怀特利量表（Whiteley Index）、不确定性容忍度量表以及神经质量表。采用LISREL与SPSS软件开展数据分析，计算克朗巴哈α系数（Cronbach's alpha）与相关系数，并进行验证性因子分析（confirmatory factor analysis）。 结果：验证性因子分析结果显示，ASI-3具备包含躯体、认知与社交三个维度的三因子结构，各项拟合指标分别为：比较拟合指数（comparative fit index, CFI）=0.94、规范拟合指数（normed fit index, NFI）=0.91、近似均方根误差（root mean square error of approximation, RMSEA）=0.09。ASI-3与健康焦虑、不确定性容忍度及神经质均呈显著正相关，相关系数分别为0.59、0.29与0.51；同时，ASI-3与AAQ-II呈显著负相关，相关系数为-0.58。全量表及躯体、认知、社交担忧维度的克朗巴哈α系数分别为0.90、0.74、0.79与0.78。该量表与原始英文版本的测量不变性检验结果具有统计学显著性。 结论：总体而言，本研究结果证实波斯语版ASI-3具备良好的心理测量学特性。本文将进一步讨论其理论与应用价值。