Abstract

CRUZ-TORRES, Christian Enrique et al. Fear of Negative Social Evaluation: Construct and Criterion Validity of the Measurement Instrument. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2013, vol.12, n.2, pp.531-545. ISSN 1657-9267.

The Brief fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) has shown good validity and reliability properties in different cultural samples, as well as when it has been translated to other languages (Duke et al., 2006; Gallego, 2010; Gallego et al., 2007; Weeks et al., 2005; Tavoli et al., 2009). Given the relevance of the study of anxiety and social phobia and the need for research tools for Mexican samples, this study presents validity and reliability evidences for a translation to Spanish language of the BFNE (Leary, 1983) in a sample of undergraduate students from Mexico City. Psychometric tests included discrimination analysis for each item, principal component factorial analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling. Results show a one factor structure with just eight of the 12 original items. It explains 53.8% of total variance and has good reliability ( α = 0.88). In addition, evidence was found concerning criterion validity for the BFNE: a) It correlates positively with a Trait Anxiety Scale; and b) through an experimental procedure, positive correlations for the BFNE with a State Anxiety Scale and a Self-Presentation Motivation Scale when participants had the expectation of being introduced to another person. The discussion verses in relation to the performance of score reversed items and the theoretical meaning of items and to the observed relationships that support the criterion validity of this translation to Spanish language of the BFNE scale.

Keywords : Social Anxiety; Psychometry; Experimental Validation; Social Evaluation; Interaction; Social Anxiety; Validation.

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