In order to enable teachers to detect social anxiety in preschoolers the authors developed the Teacher Rating Scale of Social Anxiety-Junior (TRSA-Junior). Reliability (internal consistency plus test-retest correlation) collected in 2 samples was high; convergent and divergent validity of this newly developed rating-scale were also studied. A high level of social anxiety correlated with a low level of social participation, as observed on the playground. The TRSA-Junior score correlated with internalizing as measured using the Behavior Questionnaire for Toddlers and Preschoolers (BQTP) and the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), and with the subscales anxious-depressed, thought problems, social problems, and withdrawn behavior of the CBCL. In the second study a high score on social anxiety appeared to be related to less positive sociometric judgments by peers. The authors conclude that the TRSA-Junior may aid in the identification and prevention of social anxiety at an early age. In addition, the scale would appear to be a useful instrument in research, given its sound psychometric qualities.
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