Beck Anxiety Inventory: translation and validation of a Norwegian version

Abstract

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) in a community sample of 879 respondents and two student samples of a total of 408 respondents. Scores on the BAI were compared to the State-trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, three subscales of the SCL-90, the White Bear Suppression Inventory, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and the Fear Questionnaire. The BAI demonstrated good psychometric properties with high levels of internal consistency reliability. A moderate test-retest correlation provides support for the BAI as a state measure. All results obtained on the Norwegian version corresponded to those reported on the original version. The study supported the use of the Norwegian version of the BAI. Subsequent confirmatory factor analyses slightly favored a four-factor model initially reported by Beck and Steer (1990). A post hoc analysis supported loading item 16 ?fear of dying? on the Subjective factor and pointed to some difficulties with the wording of two items in the Norwegian version.