The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Children (SPAI-C): External and discriminative validity

Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory for Chil dren (SPAI-C) were determined using a sample of 254 children. External vali dity was examined by comparing children's SPAI-C scores with (a) independen t observers' ratings of skill and anxiety in social interaction and social performance tasks and (b) parental report of social anxiety. Discriminative validity was determined by examining the ability of the SPAI-C to differen tiate children with social phobia from those with other anxiety disorders. Finally, race and gender differences were examined. The results indicated t hat SPAI-C scores for the entire sample differed by gender but not by race. However, African American children with social phobia had significantly lo wer scores than Caucasian children with this disorder. Regarding external v alidity, SPAI-C scores correlated significantly with parental reports of ch ildren's social fears and with independent observer ratings of behavioral s kill. Finally, SPAI-C scores successfully differentiated children with soci al phobia from children with other anxiety disorders. The results are discu ssed in terms of the SPAI-C's external and discriminative validity and chil dren's performance based on race and gender.