The Japanese self-focused attention scale: Factor structure, internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity

Shota Noda; Sho Okawa; Kentaro Shirotsuki; Satoko Sasagawa; Susan M Bögels

doi:10.1002/jclp.23133

The Japanese self-focused attention scale: Factor structure, internal consistency, convergent, and discriminant validity

J Clin Psychol. 2021 Sep;77(9):2011-2026. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23133. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Authors

Shota Noda^{1

2}, Sho Okawa^{3

4

5}, Kentaro Shirotsuki⁶, Satoko Sasagawa⁷, Susan M Bögels⁸

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Human and Social Sciences, Musashino University, Koutouku, Tokyo, Japan.
² Tokyo Mindfulness Center, Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan.
³ United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
⁴ Research Center of Child Mental Development, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan.
⁵ Department of Cognitive Behavioral Physiology, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan.
⁶ Faculty of Human Sciences, Musashino University, Koutouku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Faculty of Human Sciences, Mejiro University, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁸ Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, NG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

PMID: 33822367
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23133

Abstract

Objective: Self-focused attention is a maintaining factor for social anxiety disorder. It was shown that self-focused attention correlates with trait mindfulness, but not with attention control. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the self-focused attention (J-SFA) scale.

Method: Students (N = 502) completed a set of questionnaires, measuring self-focused attention, social anxiety symptoms, trait mindfulness, and attention control.

Results: A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the J-SFA scale has a bi-factor structure. The Cronbach's α coefficient was high. Correlation analysis showed that each factor of the J-SFA scale was significantly weakly to moderately correlated with social anxiety symptoms and trait mindfulness, and the J-SFA scale's factors were significantly or non-significantly very weakly correlated with attentional control functions.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that the J-SFA demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity for our sample and provide impetus for future research into the measure for clinical and nonclinical samples in Japan.

Keywords: Japan; reliability; self-focused attention; social anxiety; validity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attention*
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Humans
Japan
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires