Factor Analysis of the Korean Version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory n Patients with Anxiety Disorders

불안장애 환자를 대상으로 한 한국판 상태불안척도의 요인분석

Objective : Brief screening for anxiety symptoms in clinical practice can further facilitate the diagnosis and evaluation of anxiety disorders. This study examined the factorial validity of the Korean version of the State-Trait Inventory (STAI)-Form X, one of the most frequently used self-report questionnaires for anxiety. Methods : Data from the STAI and Beck Depression Inventory were obtained from a consecutive sample of 200 outpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV anxiety disorders at a psychiatric unit of a university hospital. The factor structures of the State and Trait Scales were assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Results : Three-factor components, including 'State anxiety present', 'State anxiety absent' and 'Selfconfidence', were extracted from the State Scale, explaining 59% of the total variance. A four-factor solution involving 'Trait anxiety and depression present', 'Trait anxiety and depression absent', 'Anxiety proneness' and 'Stability' (59% of total variance) was extracted from the Trait Scale. The internal consistency of the STAI and factors were satisfactory. There were significant correlations between depressive symptoms and factors of the STAI. Conclusion : The STAI-form X showed factorial validity for Korean patients with anxiety disorders. However, our finding that this anxiety scale also measures depressive symptoms should be interpreted with caution.