Validation of the arabic-tunisian version of the french competitive state anxiety inventory-2 revised (csai-2r): Insights from an exploratory factor analysis

Abstract

Aim: The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) is one of the most frequently used instruments when quantitatively investigating competitive state anxiety in the field of sport psychology research. The purpose of the present study was to validate the Arabic-Tunisian version of the French CSAI-2R questionnaire and to evaluate its validity and reliability. Materials and methods: Out of an initial list of 490 subjects, participants of the present validation study were 304 Tunisian football players (81 males [26.6%]; mean age 21.58 years (SD = 2.40 years, range 16-31) of different levels (international level: 34 [11.2%]; national level: 238 [78.3%]; regional level: 32 [10.5%]) that volunteered to participate in the study. Data were collected and analyzed in terms of reliability and validity using correlations, reliability, parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis. Results: The 2-factor solution accounted for 48%, 47% and 56% of variance for the Direction, Frequency, and Intensity scales, respectively. The 3-factor solution accounted for 60%, 57% and 64% of variance for the Direction, Frequency, and Intensity scales, respectively. Although the 3-factor solution explained an additional, substantial proportion of variance with respect to the 2-factor solution, the factor structure did not replicate well across scales. Conversely, in 2-factor solution, if items 1, 2, 15, and 16 were excluded, the pattern of loadings was exactly the same for all scales. Hence, we concluded that the 2-factor solution should be retained, as it provided a measurement model for the Arabic-Tunisian CSAI-2R items that was constant across scales. Conclusion: The Arabic-Tunisian version of the French CSAI-2R in its original version has failed to demonstrate robust and sound psychometric properties. Its reduced version represents a first attempt that can be henceforth used in the Arab world, even if further investigations should enable to improve its psychometric properties.