Psychometric Properties of the Gaze Anxiety Rating Scale: Convergent, Discriminant, and Factorial Validity

Langer, Julia; Rodebaugh, Thomas L.; Menatti, Andrew R.; Weeks, Justin W.; Schneier, Franklin R.

doi:10.1080/16506073.2013.804116

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…The factorial structure of the GARS in the present study concurs overall with previous reports [ 18 ]. For both fear and avoidance of eye contact, the two-factor solutions explained about 50% of the observed variance and revealed a nearly identical loading pattern, not surprising given the correlation between fear and avoidance ratings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Our assessment of internal consistency and test-retest reliability revealed that the German GARS is as reliable as the original version [ 17 ]. The stability of fear and avoidance of eye contact over intervals of 2 and 4 months was high and similar to results already reported [ 17 , 18 ]. Fear and avoidance showed a moderate to high correlation (r = .78) with about 60% shared variance.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…These ratings are summed up to subscores of GARS-fear and GARS-avoidance and an overall GARS-total score. Additional items on associated cognitions and the course of gaze anxiety are included but were not subject to the original evaluation studies [ 17 , 18 ]. The original version’s reliability is reported to be very high, with Cronbach’s α ranging from .88 to .96.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The factorial structure was determined by calculating two independent principal component analysis (PCA) with a Varimax rotation for GARS-fear and GARS-avoidance ratings separately. A confirmatory approach with a two-factor solution was chosen to replicate the preliminary findings with the original English version [ 17 , 18 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Preliminary results demonstrate good reliability of the GARS and support the hypothesis that patients with generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD) report significantly higher levels of fear and avoidance of eye gaze in various social situations than matched healthy controls. A follow-up study employing a factor analysis of GARS ratings distinguished two categories of social situations assessed with the GARS: (1) everyday social situations and (2) those characterized by social threat or interactions with dominant others [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The German Version of the Gaze Anxiety Rating Scale (GARS): Reliability and Validity

et al. 2016

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ObjectiveFear of eye gaze and avoidance of eye contact are core features of social anxiety disorders (SAD). To measure self-reported fear and avoidance of eye gaze, the Gaze Anxiety Rating Scale (GARS) has been developed and validated in recent years in its English version. The main objectives of the present study were to psychometrically evaluate the German translation of the GARS concerning its reliability, factorial structure, and validity.MethodsThree samples of participants were enrolled in the study. (1) A non-patient sample (n = 353) completed the GARS and a set of trait questionnaires to assess internal consistency, test-retest reliability, factorial structure, and concurrent and divergent validity. (2) A sample of patients with SAD (n = 33) was compared to a healthy control group (n = 30) regarding their scores on the GARS and the trait measures.ResultsThe German GARS fear and avoidance scales exhibited excellent internal consistency and high stability over 2 and 4 months, as did the original version. The English version’s factorial structure was replicated, yielding two categories of situations: (1) everyday situations and (2) situations involving high evaluative threat. GARS fear and avoidance displayed convergent validity with trait measures of social anxiety and were markedly higher in patients with GSAD than in healthy controls. Fear and avoidance of eye contact in situations involving high levels of evaluative threat related more closely to social anxiety than to gaze anxiety in everyday situations.ConclusionsThe German version of the GARS has demonstrated reliability and validity similar to the original version, and is thus well suited to capture fear and avoidance of eye contact in different social situations as a valid self-report measure of social anxiety and related disorders in the social domain for use in both clinical practice and research.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%