Psychometric analysis of the Marc Leary Social Anxiety Scale in Peruvian university students

Abstract

Social anxiety is currently considered a public health crisis, largely affecting several adolescents and young adults. The situation has caused worldwide concern due to the mental health of these individuals. The objective of this study is to establish the psychometric evidence of the Social Anxiety Scale in Peruvian university students. The type of study is instrumental and non-experimental. The subjects were 517 university students between the ages of 18 and 38 who participated in total (M = 20.7; SD = 2.50). The instrument used was the Marc Leary Social Anxiety Scale. The results are based on the statistical analysis of each item, through item-by-item testing and item-to-scale correlation, identifying values higher than .20. An analysis model was formed called the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), whose original dimensional model was carried out, finding inadequate fit indices, three items with low factorial weight, and correlated errors. A new CFA was conducted without these items and correlated errors, obtaining optimal fit indices for the new structure (χ²/gl = 2.48; CFI = .945; TLI = .939; RMSEA = .054). Regarding reliability, it was estimated with the omega coefficient (ω = .949). Lastly, scales and cut-off points were developed according to the sex of the subjects. In conclusion, the structure of the test was composed of 26 items, with two items, 24 and 28, being eliminated, making the test reliable for use based on its values.