Developed by Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, the STAI, or State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, is an instrument that quantifies adult anxiety (a children’s version is also available). This particular instrument is used to simplify the separation between state anxiety and trait anxiety, feelings of anxiety and depression. The STAI includes a 40 question response taking approximately 10-20 minutes for completion and the test is given in tens of different languages worldwide. This test is split into the S-Anxiety scale and the T-Anxiety scale, each having 20 items. These tests are answered on the basis of a 1-4 scale, with the focused areas including: worry, tension, apprehension, and nervousness. The current edition is Form Y (STAI Form Y).
Authors
Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene (1970)
Obtaining the STAI
http://www.mindgarden.com/products/staisad.htm (for adults)
http://www.mindgarden.com/products/staisch.htm (for children)
http://www.mhs.com/product.aspx?gr=cli&prod=stai&id=overview
Reliability and Validity
According to studies by Spielberger (1970), test-retest correlations were calculated to be .54 for the State section and .86 for the trait section. The STAI interchangeability rating related anxiety instruments was .80 for Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, .75 for IPAT Anxiety Scale, and .52 for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List.
References
De Jong, P.J., Merckelbach, H., and Nijman, H. (1990). Conjugate lateral eye movements, cerebral dominance, and anxiety. In R.I. Takens (Ed.), European perspectives in psychology, Vol. 2. (pp. 369-379). New York: Wiley
Peterson, R.A. and Reiss, R.L. (1987). The anxiety sensitivity index: Construct validity and factor anal analytic structure. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. (1), 265-277.
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R.L., and Lushene. R.E. (1970). Manual for the State-Trait
Anxiety Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press
Spielberger, C. D., Reheiser, E.C., Ritterband, L.M., Sydeman, S.J., and Unger, K.K. (1995). Assessment of Emotional States and Personality Traits: Measuring Psychological Vital Signs. In Butcher, J.N. (Ed.) Clinical Personality Assessment: Practical Approaches. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
