Abstract
Objectives: To translate the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) into Arabic, culturally adapt it to an Arabic context, and evaluate its psychometric properties in a Saudi university sample.
Methods: A cross-sectional psychometric validation study was conducted among 500 Saudi university students (mean age = 22.7 ± 5.77 years; 60% female). The ASI-3 was translated and culturally adapted according to the cross-cultural adaptation guidelines proposed by Beaton et al. Subsequently, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were conducted to evaluate the tool's factorial validity. Criterion-related validity was assessed via the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Additionally, known-groups validity, predictive validity, and internal consistency reliability were evaluated.
Results: The PCA supported the original three-factor structure of the ASI-3 (physical, cognitive, and social concerns), thereby explaining 81.04% of the total variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.85 to 0.90. Furthermore, CFA supported the proposed measurement model with favorable fit indices. The Arabic ASI-3 demonstrated satisfactory criterion-related validity, showing significant positive correlations with the IUS-12 and GAD-7 (r = 0.63–0.75, p < 0.01), which remained significant after controlling for age and gender. Additionally, known-groups analyses demonstrated large effect sizes (Cohen's d = 1.50–2.30), while regression analyses indicated that ASI-3 scores explained 54.6% of the variance in intolerance of uncertainty and 56.9% of the variance in generalized anxiety. Additionally, the instrument demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.85 to 0.95.
Conclusion: Based on its evaluation in a Saudi university sample, the Arabic ASI-3 demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. Overall, the findings support its use as a reliable measure of anxiety sensitivity in research settings, thereby providing a robust foundation for its future validation in more diverse community and clinical populations in Saudi Arabia.
Article Type
Original Article
First Page
370
Last Page
379
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Alzahrani, Hessah A. and Alghamdi, Rahmah A.
(2026)
"Psychometric Validation of the Arabic Version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3 (ASI-3) in a Saudi University Sample,"
Neurosciences: Vol. 31:
Iss.
4, Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17712/1658-3183.2816