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A Comparison of the Factorial Structure of DSM-IV Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Between Younger and Older Adults

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Abstract

The controversy concerning the validity and reliability of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) appears to be particularly relevant in the elderly, since physical symptoms associated with GAD can readily be considered as the consequences of normal aging. This study aims to analyze the structure invariance of a questionnaire assessing the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria across samples of older adults and college students. Ninety-seven adults aged 65 or over and 130 college students completed the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire (WAQ). The results revealed that factorial invariance could be assumed and, in addition, that scores for severity of GAD symptoms were higher in younger subjects than in older ones. The results support the applicability of DSM-IV criteria for GAD in elderly people, as the factorial structure of the WAQ was the same for this age group as for younger adults. A higher degree of GAD severity was found in the younger sample.

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  1. These additional results are available upon request to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Roberto Nuevo, Miguel A. Ruiz, María Izal, Ignacio Montorio & María Márquez-González

  2. Psychology Department, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Andrés Losada

  3. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Roberto Nuevo

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  1. Roberto Nuevo
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  2. Miguel A. Ruiz
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  3. María Izal
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  4. Ignacio Montorio
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  5. Andrés Losada
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  6. María Márquez-González
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Correspondence to Roberto Nuevo.

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Nuevo, R., Ruiz, M.A., Izal, M. et al. A Comparison of the Factorial Structure of DSM-IV Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Between Younger and Older Adults. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 30, 252–260 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-008-9084-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-008-9084-2

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