Indications of Reliability and Validity of the the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory among Tobruk University Students: a Libyan Study

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Spielberger Anxiety Scale on a sample of 180 Tobruk University students in the academic year 2019-2020. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a 40-item self-reported questionnaire designed by Spielberger and his colleagues in 1964 to measure both state and trait anxiety. This scale consists of 20 items to measure anxiety as a trait and 20 items to assess anxiety as a state was used as  a tool of this research. To assess the students level of anxiety, a factor analysis was conducted to test and to compare the two-factor model (State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety) by using the statistical analysis program (Spss). The results showed the availability of indications of reliability and validity of the measures of anxiety as a trait and anxiety as a state in the study sample. In addition, the findings indicated that the participants presented  average levels of anxiety as a trait and anxiety as a state.