Evaluating the Arabic version of the brief fear of negative evaluation scale-II in Saudi Arabia : factor structure and gender differences

الملخص EN

Fear of negative evaluation (FNE) is a defining characteristic of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).

Cross-cultural researchers suggest different socially established attitudes towards FNE may alter the nature of social anxiety and affect the consequences of being socially anxious; however, cross-cultural studies often necessitate the translation of a questionnaire from one language to another.

To facilitate the exploration of FNE in Arabic-speaking samples, the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale, version 2 (BFNE-II; Carleton et al.

2006) was translated into Arabic and then administered to two large samples (n=1220) of young Saudi males and females.

In study 1 (n=464 males), descriptive and exploratory factor analyses suggested that the Arabic 12- and 8-item versions of the BFNE-II were robust with regards to item endorsement and suggested a unitary factor structure.

In study 2 (n=756; 337 females), we replicated findings of study 1, confirmed the unitary factor structure of three versions of the BFNE using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and examined gender differences in means and structure (Multi-group CFA).

The CFA fit indices were acceptable for the 12 and 11- item versions of the BFNE-II.

Further, males reported significantly higher scores on the BFNE-II and BFNE-S than females; however, the multi-group CFA suggested important differences in structure and intercepts across genders in the current sample.

Accordingly, the BFNE-II appears to be valid for assessing FNE in Arabic.

The translation should facilitate cross-cultural investigations into FNE and its role in social anxiety within Saudi culture.

Comprehensive results, implications, and future research directions are discussed.