Underlying structure and measurement invariance by sex of the state trait anxiety inventory: A psychometric analysis in Ecuador

Jose A Rodas, Daniel Oleas, Guido Mascialino, José Alejandro Valdevila Figueira and Alberto Rodríguez-Lorenzana

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Anxiety is currently one of the most prevalent and investigated psychological symptoms requiring precise and reliable instruments for its assessment. The current study evaluates the psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in an Ecuadorian sample, focusing on the factor structure and potential methodological artefacts, especially those introduced by reverse-scored items. Employing exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), along with structural equation modelling (SEM), the research examines the presence of two distinct factors: genuine anxiety and a secondary factor related to reversed items. Findings indicate that the expected two-factor model fits the data more accurately than a unidimensional model. Notably, cross-loadings suggest the second factor may represent a substantive positive, anxiety-free state rather than solely a methodological effect. Additionally, multigroup CFA confirmed strict measurement invariance across sex, supporting the scale’s utility for group comparisons. These results suggest that the STAI’s total score represents a composite of anxiety and well-being. While the STAI remains a robust tool for evaluating anxiety in clinical contexts, researchers seeking pure measures of anxiety symptomatology should consider analysing the subscales separately.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0345773

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345773

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