Time-Varying Invariance and Factor Structure of the MASC: Analyzing Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders in Adolescents and Comparisons with Normal Populations

Abstract

Abstract Background: The factor structure and invariance of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) yield mixed results in extant research, underscoring the need for robust anxiety assessment tools. This need is critical for understanding the rising prevalence of anxiety among adolescents. Moreover, longitudinal studies examining factor invariance and research focusing on adolescents are scarce. Our study aims to assess the factor structure of MASC and its temporal and population invariance over a three-month period among adolescents. Methods: A cohort of 924 adolescents (mean age = 16.27 years, including 428 boys) participated in this study. They completed the MASC and the Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ) at the outset (Wave 1). The same participants completed these surveys again after three months (Wave 2). We employed Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to determine MASC's factor structure. Both cross-sectional (comparing mood disorder-affected, cognitively vulnerable individuals with the general adolescent population) and longitudinal CFAs (Wave 1 vs. Wave 2) were conducted to assess the scale's factor invariance. Results: CFA identified a four-factor model within MASC, encompassing 'somatic complaints', 'depressive effects', and 'positive effects'. The study's findings affirm the factor invariance of this four-factor model across cognitively vulnerable individuals and the general adolescent population. Limitations: The study's limitations include an underrepresentation of adolescents from diverse regions of Mainland China, particularly rural areas, and a relatively short follow-up duration of three months. Conclusion: This pioneering study reveals that MASC exhibits four consistent dimensions among adolescents. These dimensions remain stable across individuals with cognitive vulnerability to emotional disorders and the general population, as well as over time.