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The Reading Anxiety Scale for Children: Development and Psychometric Properties

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Title: The Reading Anxiety Scale for Children: Development and Psychometric Properties
Language: English
Authors: Amie E. Grills (ORCID 0000-0001-8965-4649), Sharon R. Vaughn, Greg Roberts, Johny Daniel, Chelsey Bowman (ORCID 0000-0001-8416-3111), Danielle Richardson
Source: School Psychology. 2026 41(3):352-363.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: R01HD087706
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education
Grade 3
Primary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Descriptors: Test Construction, Reading, Anxiety, Elementary School Students, Screening Tests, Psychometrics, Grade 3, Grade 4, Test Reliability, Test Validity
DOI: 10.1037/spq0000721
ISSN: 2578-4218
2578-4226
Abstract: Research has demonstrated a connection between anxiety and reading-related variables (e.g., achievement) in elementary school students, including those receiving reading intervention. While numerous psychometrically strong measures of child anxiety exist, there remains a need for a brief, self-report screening tool that can be used for assessing anxiety specific to reading. This study presents findings on the development and psychometric properties of such a measure, the Reading Anxiety Scale (RAS). Third- and fourth-grade students who were participating in a larger randomized control trial completed the RAS at two time points (T1, n = 306; T2, n = 219), along with other self-report behavioral measures. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor models demonstrated good fit for the six-item RAS. Further analysis revealed that the screener was most accurate at detecting higher than average reading anxiety levels, consistent with development goals. Internal consistency was adequate, as were convergent and discriminant validity. Overall, preliminary support for the RAS as a screener for identifying reading-related anxiety symptoms was demonstrated. Findings are discussed in terms of the utility of the scale, particularly within the context of school-based intervention research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507429
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Reading Anxiety Scale for Children: Development and Psychometric Properties
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Amie+E%2E+Grills%22">Amie E. Grills</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8965-4649">0000-0001-8965-4649</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sharon+R%2E+Vaughn%22">Sharon R. Vaughn</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greg+Roberts%22">Greg Roberts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Johny+Daniel%22">Johny Daniel</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chelsey+Bowman%22">Chelsey Bowman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8416-3111">0000-0001-8416-3111</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Danielle+Richardson%22">Danielle Richardson</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22School+Psychology%22"><i>School Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 41(3):352-363.
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  Label: Availability
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 12
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Sponsoring Agency
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  Data: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Data: R01HD087706
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading%22">Reading</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Screening+Tests%22">Screening Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychometrics%22">Psychometrics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Reliability%22">Test Reliability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1037/spq0000721
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 2578-4218<br />2578-4226
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Research has demonstrated a connection between anxiety and reading-related variables (e.g., achievement) in elementary school students, including those receiving reading intervention. While numerous psychometrically strong measures of child anxiety exist, there remains a need for a brief, self-report screening tool that can be used for assessing anxiety specific to reading. This study presents findings on the development and psychometric properties of such a measure, the Reading Anxiety Scale (RAS). Third- and fourth-grade students who were participating in a larger randomized control trial completed the RAS at two time points (T1, n = 306; T2, n = 219), along with other self-report behavioral measures. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor models demonstrated good fit for the six-item RAS. Further analysis revealed that the screener was most accurate at detecting higher than average reading anxiety levels, consistent with development goals. Internal consistency was adequate, as were convergent and discriminant validity. Overall, preliminary support for the RAS as a screener for identifying reading-related anxiety symptoms was demonstrated. Findings are discussed in terms of the utility of the scale, particularly within the context of school-based intervention research.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1507429
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1507429
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1037/spq0000721
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 352
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Test Construction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reading
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Screening Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychometrics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 3
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Reliability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Reading Anxiety Scale for Children: Development and Psychometric Properties
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            NameFull: Amie E. Grills
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            NameFull: Sharon R. Vaughn
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            NameFull: Greg Roberts
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            NameFull: Johny Daniel
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            NameFull: Chelsey Bowman
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2578-4218
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              Value: 2578-4226
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              Value: 41
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              Value: 3
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            – TitleFull: School Psychology
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