Isolating Gender Differences in Test Anxiety: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Test Anxiety Inventory

Abstract

Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with nonzero latent means, the factor structure of the Test Anxiety (Attitude) Inventory (TAI) across genders was investigated. Two underlying factors, worry and emotionality, have been identified in previous research efforts. A total of 501 college freshmen (219 men and 282 women) from a large urban university participated in the current study. Results support the invariance of the traditional two-factor structure for both males and females. Gender differences, however, were found in the unique factor variances, the factor covariance matrices, and in the latent means corresponding to the worry and emotionality factors. Implications for assessment and research using the TAI are discussed.

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