Adaptation of the Children’s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS) for its use in Argentine adolescents

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35670/1667-4545.v19.n2.25085

Keywords:

ansiedad ante exámenes, adolescentes, adaptación, análisis factorial, Children’s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS)

Abstract

The Children’s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS; Wren & Benson, 2004) was adapted to Spanish for its use in adolescents (12 - 17 years old) from Argentina. CTAS is a self report with 30 items grouped in 3 factors named: task off be-haviours, thoughts and autonomic reactions. The items were directly translated into Spanish, and an equivalence analysis in bilingual sample was done. Two alternative solutions to internal structure of the CTAS were obtained through ex-ploratory factor analysis (N = 360 students, of both sexes, public and private schools, aged 11 to 13 years, M =12.77, SD = .72), one with three original dimensions and another with four factors, distinguishing worry and self - criticism thoughts. Both models fit was assessed through confirmato-ry factor analysis (N = 501 students, of both sexes, public and private schools, aged 12 to 17 years, M =13.98 SD = .87), having the four dimension model the most acceptable index (χ2/df = 1.92, CFI = .90, TLI = .09, RMSEA = 0.043, AIC = 410, BIC = 414), although two items were eliminated as they were considered problematic. Internal consistency of the scales was adequate (α= .68 - .79). Gender differences and correlations with academic performance were corroborated in line with other test anxiety measures. It is recom-mended to use the adapted version with some precaution.

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Author Biographies

Natalia Belén Rivera-Flores, Facultad de Psicología. UNC.

Lic. en Psicología. Investigadora en el equipo de Regulación Emocional en Situaciones de Evaluación.

Luis Alberto Furlan, Facultad de Psicología. UNC.

Dr. en Psicología. Profesor Asistente de Metodología de la Investigación Psicológica. Facultad de Psicología. UNC Director del equipo de Investigación en Regulación Emocional en Situaciones de Evaluación.

Gerardo Aníbal Gnavi, Facultad de Arquitectura. UNC.

Lic. en Psicología. Profesor Asistente en Matemáticas y Física. Facultad de Arquitectura. UNC. Investigador en el equipo de Regulación Emocional en Situaciones de Evaluación.

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Published

2019-08-03

How to Cite

Rivera-Flores, N. B., Furlan, L. A., & Gnavi, G. A. (2019). Adaptation of the Children’s Test Anxiety Scale (CTAS) for its use in Argentine adolescents. Revista Evaluar, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.35670/1667-4545.v19.n2.25085

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Section

Investigaciones originales