SPIDER PHOBIA QUESTIONNAIRE FOR CHILDREN (SPQ-C) - A PSYCHOMETRIC STUDY AND NORMATIVE DATA

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid question naire to assess spider fear in children. The Spider Phobia Questionnai re for adults was adapted for children by simplifying items and by ass essing situations relevant to children. The SPQ for children (SPQ-C) w as administered to two non-clinical samples of children aged 8-12. The first sample consisted of 586 Ss who filled in the SPQ-C twice, with a retest interval of 6-7 weeks. Internal consistency and test-retest r eliability were high. The second sample consisted of 669 children of w hich 28 spider phobic and 30 nonphobic girls were selected for the Beh avioural Approach Test (BAT). The SPQ-C predicted BAT scores, thus sup porting the validity of the questionnaire as a measure of spider fear. Norms for the SPQ-C, based on the total sample of children, are provi ded.