Psychometric properties of social phobia inventory among Iranian students

Developing a simple and effective tool is necessary in epidemiological studies and clinical screening to assess theindividuals suffering from social phobia. This study was conducted for validity and reliabity of social phobia inventory (SPIN) in Iranian students. The 581 uneversity students (245 men and 346 women) were selected randomly using multi-stage cluster sampling method. The exploratory factor analysis results indicate the three factor structure of SPIN including fear of the situation, physiological arousal of the situation and avoidance of the situation. The results obtained from confirmatory factor analysis fit indices also indicated the desired compliance of presented model and therefore it expresses the desired validity of research tool. The results obtained from multi-group analyses also indicate that parameters of standardized solution were related to observed variables of constituting factors of SPIN. The correlation values among the factors present was equal in two of the female and male student groups. Meanwhile, the results indicate the high reliability of research tool for female students in comparison with male students. Also, the Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.91) and test–retest reliability(r=0.93) were both good. The witnesses related to structural validity study of SPIN have approved the desirability of psychometric properties of this tool and recommends its use as an appropriate tool for social phobia assessment in Iranian sample of it.