Verifying the factorial structure of a French translation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children

This study was designed to verify the factorial structure of a French version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C). This inventory being one of the most widely utilised to measure children's anxiety levels, it was believed necessary to obtain statistical clarification concerning this translation and its construction in order to extend its use. The present French version of the STAI-C was administered to 242 eight- to ten-year-old children. The results showed excellent internal consistency for both state anxiety and trait anxiety scales of the inventory. Furthermore, the three-factor model obtained in the original version of the test was confirmed, demonstrating good psychometric properties of this French version. It is hoped that the present translation, here supported by preliminary statistical results, will allow, once further tested, a greater use of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children in French-speaking environments. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.