Examination of the psychometric properties of the Adult Manifest Anxiety Scale-Elderly Version scores

The psychometric properties of the Adult Manifest Anxiety Scale-Elderly Version (AMAS-E) scores were evaluated in two studies. In Study 1, the temporal stability and construct validity of the AMAS-E test scores were examined in a group of 226 older adults, aged 60 years and older. Results indicated adequate to excellent temporal stability (2-week interval) for the AMAS-E test scores. Evidence supporting the construct validity of the AMAS-E scale scores as measures of various aspects of anxiety was found. In Study 2, the factor structure of the AMAS-E was examined across gender for a sample of 863 older adults, 555 women and 308 men, aged 60 to 100 years. Coefficient of congruence and salient variable similarity index values reported suggest that the pairs of matched factors of each of the four factors (i.e., Fear of Aging, Physiological Anxiety, Worry/Oversensitivity, and Lie) and the general anxiety (g(anx)) or Total Anxiety factor were invariant across gender. Implications of the findings are discussed.