Psychometric properties of the state-trait anxiety inventory among japanese clinical outpatients

The factor structure and internal consistency of the Japanese adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-JY) were examined for 218 Japanese clinical outpatients (86 males, 132 females) with psychiatric and/or psychosomatic complaints. An initial principal-component analysis revealed that the first three components were considered to reflect the 'overall anxiety' component, the 'presence-absence of anxiety (positive-negative)' component, and the 'state-trait anxiety' component. The component related to presence or absence of anxiety was larger than the state-trait anxiety component. Factors followed by an oblique (promax) rotation were labeled 'Anxiety-absent' and 'Anxiety-present' factors for a two-factor structure, and 'Anxiety-present,' 'Anxiety-absent/state,' and 'Anxiety-absent/trait' factors for a three-factor structure that was suggested by the scree test. The internal consistencies for both the state and trait anxiety subscales of the STAI-JY were at a satisfactory level, whereas slightly higher Cronbach's αs were obtained from separate calculation for anxiety-present and anxiety- absent items. Similarities and differences in the factor structure of the STAI-JY were discussed in comparison with those reported earlier for the general population in Japan and for individuals in Western countries. (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.