The Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pediatric and parent-proxy short forms for anxiety: Psychometric properties in the Kids FACE FEARS sample

• Published in: Journal of anxiety disorders 2023-03, Vol.94, p.102677-102677, Article 102677
• Main Authors: Freitag, Gabrielle F., Salem, Hanan, Conroy, Kristina, Busto, Carolina, Adrian, Molly, Borba, Christina P.C., Brandt, Amelia, Chu, Phuonguyen V., Dantowitz, Annie, Farley, Alyssa M., Fortuna, Lisa, Furr, Jami M., Lejeune, Julia, Miller, Leslie, Platt, Rheanna, Porche, Michelle, Read, Kendra L., Rivero-Conil, Sara, Hernandez, Romina D. Sanchez, Shumway, Philip, Sikov, Jennifer, Spencer, Andrea, Syeda, Haniya, McLellan, Lauren F., Rapee, Ronald M., McMakin, Dana, Pincus, Donna B., Comer, Jonathan S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anxiety; Assessment; Child; Fear; Humans; Information Systems; Parents; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Psychometric; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Reproducibility of Results; Surveys and Questionnaires; Youth
• ISSN: 0887-6185; 1873-7897
• DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102677

There is tremendous need for brief and supported, non-commercial youth- and caregiver-report questionnaires of youth anxiety. The pediatric and parent proxy short forms of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety scale (8a v2.0) are free, brief, publicly accessible measures of youth- and caregiver-reported anxiety in children and adolescents. Despite increased use of the PROMIS, no study has evaluated performance of its anxiety scales in a sample of treatment-engaged anxious youth. Analyses were conducted on baseline data from the first 265 families (child MAge=11.14 years, 70% racial/ethnic minoritized youth) to enroll in the Kids FACE FEARS trial, a multisite comparative effectiveness trial of therapist-led vs. self-administered treatment for elevated youth anxiety. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined factor structure; omega coefficients and regression models examined internal consistency, convergent validity, and cross-informant reliability. CFA supported adjusted single-factor solutions across youth and caregiver reports, and internal consistency was high. Convergent validity was supported by medium-to-large associations with anxiety-related impairment and severity. Moderate cross-informant reliability between reports was found. Results showcase the first psychometric study of the PROMIS Anxiety scale short forms among treatment-engaged youth with elevated anxiety. Findings highlight the PROMIS Anxiety scale’s utility in typical care settings for youth anxiety. •There is need for free, brief measures of youth- and caregiver-reported anxiety.•PROMIS Anxiety short forms showed strong properties in a diverse sample of youth.•Caregiver and youth forms showed strong internal consistency and convergent validity.•Results highlight the utility of the PROMIS Anxiety scales for anxious youth.