Validation of an Adapted Version of the Glasgow Anxiety Scale for People with Intellectual Disabilities (GAS-ID).

Maïano et al. (2023) checked if the 16-item Glasgow Anxiety Scale works for teens with mild or moderate intellectual disability. They tested both English and French versions of the scale.

They looked at teens in Canada and France. The team ran factor analysis, reliability tests, and checked if scores stayed the same over time.

The adapted scale passed every test. It showed strong factor validity, good reliability, and scores stayed stable when teens took it twice.

Both languages worked equally well. The scale measured anxiety the same way in English and French teens with ID.

Other teams have validated French tools for people with ID. Hayward et al. (2009) did this with the Supports Intensity Scale. Anne-Harris et al. (2021) did it with a dementia screener. Christophe's work adds anxiety to the list.

Golubović et al. (2013) found teens with ID and parents often disagree on ratings. This matters because the GAS-ID relies on self-report. The new validation gives you confidence that teens can report their own anxiety accurately.

Like Nuebling et al. (2024) who validated a German dementia screen, Christophe shows cross-language validation is doable when you follow proper steps.

You now have a free, 16-item tool that works in two languages. Use it to spot anxiety in teens with mild-moderate ID during intake or annual reviews. Since many youth with ID have undiagnosed anxiety, this quick screen can guide referrals and treatment decisions. The bilingual option helps serve families in French-speaking regions without needing costly translations.