Test-retest reliability of the multidimensional anxiety scale for children

We examined the test-retest reliability of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) in a school-based sample of children and adolescents. One classroom at each grade from 3 to 12 was randomly selected to participate. Teachers were trained to administer the MASC at baseline and again 3 weeks later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to estimate stability of the MASC over time. For both single case and mean ICCs, the MASC exhibited satisfactory to excellent stability across all factors and subfactors. Stability was unaffected by age or gender, but was lower for African American' than Caucasian subjects. Satisfactory test-retest reliability also was demonstrated for two empirically derived subscales, the MASC-10 and Anxiety Index. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.