What it measures
The SCAS measures how often children experience anxiety symptoms in six areas: separation anxiety, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, panic and agoraphobia, generalised anxiety, and fears of physical injury. Six positive filler questions help keep the questionnaire balanced and are not scored.
Who it’s for
The child version is designed for ages 8 to 15, and a parent version covers the same areas. It is used by schools, school nurses and mental health teams to understand the type and level of anxiety a child is experiencing, plan support and track progress. It is not a diagnostic tool, and high scores should be followed up by a qualified professional.
SAMPLE QUESTION
How often do you feel scared when you have to speak in front of the class?
Never · Sometimes · Often · Always
Paraphrased example for illustration. The official questionnaires and norms are on the SCAS website.
How it’s scored
Each anxiety question is rated from 0 (never) to 3 (always). The 38 scored items add up to a total between 0 and 114, with separate scores for each of the six areas. Scores can be converted to T-scores using age and gender tables on the SCAS website. T-scores of 60 to 69 suggest elevated anxiety, and 70 or above suggest clinically significant anxiety.
Validation and source
Psychologist Susan Spence developed the SCAS in the 1990s, publishing its validation in 1997 and 1998. It has been tested in large community and clinical samples, with norms from nearly 5,000 children, and supports the six-area structure. It has been translated into many languages and is free for non-commercial use from the official SCAS website; commercial and for-profit services need to arrange a licence with the author.
WHERE YOUHQ FITS
Validated scales measure. youHQ helps you act on what they show.
The SCAS shows which kinds of anxiety a child is experiencing. Day to day, those worries can rise around school events, friendships or home life. youHQ gives pupils a quick daily check-in on how they're feeling, with an easy way to ask for help, so staff can notice changes early. Use the SCAS to understand anxiety in depth, and youHQ to support pupils every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale free?
It is free for non-commercial use, including schools and research, from the official SCAS website. Commercial and for-profit services need a licence from the author.
What age is the SCAS for?
The child version is designed for ages 8 to 15. There is also a parent version, and a separate preschool version for younger children.
What is a high SCAS score?
Using the age and gender tables, T-scores of 60 to 69 suggest elevated anxiety and 70 or above suggest clinically significant anxiety that should be followed up.