Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA-27)

Abstract

The Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA 27) is a specialized, 27-item self-report questionnaire developed to measure the presence and severity of separation anxiety symptoms experienced by adults (aged 18 years and older). The scale items were constructed as the adult equivalents of the diagnostic criteria for childhood Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD), as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Responses are recorded on a four-point Likert scale, ranging from zero (“this never happens”) to three (“this happens very often”), which are then summated to provide a total score reflecting the level of adult separation anxiety.

Keywords

Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire, ASA 27, separation anxiety, SAD, psychometric instrument, DSM-IV, self-report, anxiety disorder

Authors

Manicavasagar, V., Silove, D., Wagner, R., Drobny, J.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ASA 27 is to provide a standardized, quantifiable measure for clinical and research purposes to examine the manifestation of separation anxiety in the adult population. Historically, separation anxiety was viewed primarily as a childhood disorder; the ASA 27 was instrumental in advancing the concept that this condition persists or emerges in adulthood, often contributing to other anxiety or mood disorders.

The 27 items allow clinicians and researchers to screen for specific behavioral, cognitive, and somatic symptoms associated with separation distress, such as difficulty sleeping alone, excessive worry about loved ones coming to harm, and physical symptoms experienced before leaving home.

Construct

The ASA 27 measures the psychological construct of Adult Separation Anxiety (ASA). This construct is theorized to represent the continuation or re-emergence of attachment-related distress that typically manifests in childhood SAD. The scale is built upon the framework provided by the DSM-IV criteria for childhood separation anxiety, adapted to reflect adult relationships, responsibilities, and contexts (e.g., leaving home for work rather than school).

The core components of the construct measured include distress upon separation, excessive worry regarding the safety of attachment figures, reluctance to be alone, nightmares related to separation, and associated somatic complaints.

Validity

While the original source broadly states that the ASA-27 possesses “sound psychometric properties,” foundational studies, such as those published in 1997 and 2003, established initial validation. The scale demonstrated criterion validity by differentiating between patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders and healthy control participants. Furthermore, the content validity is supported by the direct derivation of the items from established DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for separation anxiety, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the core symptoms adapted for adult life.

Reliability

The initial research by Manicavasagar and colleagues (1997, 2003) indicated strong internal consistency for the ASA-27. High reliability suggests that the 27 items consistently measure the same underlying construct (Adult Separation Anxiety). While specific reliability coefficients (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) are often detailed in the full psychometric papers, the scale is widely accepted in clinical research due to its robust internal structure demonstrated across various studies.

Factor Analysis

The source content does not explicitly detail the factor structure of the ASA-27. However, subsequent academic investigations and the scale’s derivation from a multifaceted DSM diagnosis suggest that factor analysis has typically been performed to confirm the dimensional structure of adult separation anxiety. Early research often supports either a single, highly correlated factor (general separation anxiety) or a multi-factor model reflecting distinct symptom clusters such as fear of abandonment, home sickness, and somatic symptoms.

Instrument

Test Type: Psychometric Screening Tool / Self-Report Inventory

Format: 27 items scored on a 4-point Likert scale (0 to 3)

Language Available: Primarily English (Translations may exist, but not specified in the source material)

Population Group: Clinical and General Population

Age Group: Adults (18 years and older)

Population Details: Used to screen for or quantify symptoms of separation anxiety in adult samples, including those presenting with other anxiety or mood disorders.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the frequency with which they experience each symptom. Scores are summated to derive a total score, with higher scores indicating greater severity of adult separation anxiety.

Keywords

Adult separation, anxiety assessment, psychological scale, self-report measure, psychopathology, attachment, Manicavasagar

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Information not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The initial seminal studies establishing the ASA-27 were published in 1997 (phenomenological investigation) and 2003 (validation and scale structure). Researchers should consult the primary author, V. Manicavasagar, or the associated academic journal (Comprehensive Psychiatry) for the most current information regarding permissions and usage fees, especially for commercial applications. For academic research, scales published in peer-reviewed journals are often utilized freely, provided proper citation is maintained.

Reference’s

• Manicavasagar, V., Silove, D., Wagner, R., Drobny, J. (2003). A self-report questionnaire for measuring separation anxiety in adulthood. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 44, 146-153.

• Manicavasagar, V., Silove, D., & Curtis, J. (1997). Separation anxiety in adulthood: A phenomenological investigation. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 38, 274-282.

Items of the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA 27)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The following statements refer to symptoms that you might have experienced as an adult (over the age of 18 years). Please tick the appropriate brackets for each item, according to whether you have experienced any of these symptoms. Please remember to answer all questions.

• This happens very often
• This happens fairly often
• This happens occasionally
• This has never happened

1. Have you felt more secure at home when you are with people that are close to you?
2.  Have you experienced difficulty in staying away from home for several hours at a time?
3. Have you been carrying around something in your purse or wallet that gives you a sense of security or comfort?
4. Have you experienced extreme stress before leaving home to go on a long trip?
5. Have you suffered from nightmares or dreams about being separated from someone close to you?
6. Have you experienced extreme stress before leaving someone close to you when going away on a trip?
7. Have you become very upset when your usual daily routine is disrupted?
8. Have you been worried about the intensity of your relationship with those people closest to you, eg. that you are too strongly attached?
9. Have you experienced symptoms such as headaches, stomach-aches or nausea (or other) before leaving for work or other regular activity outside the home?
10. Do you find that you talk a lot in order to keep people close to you?
11. Have you been especially concerned about where people close to you are going when you are separated from them, eg. when you leave them to go to work or go out of the house
12. Have you experienced difficulty in sleeping alone at night, eg. is your sleep better if someone close to you is in the house?
13. Have you noticed that you are better able to go off to sleep if you can hear the voices of people, you are close to or the sound of the TV or the radio?
14. Have you become very distressed when thinking about being away from people that are close to you?
15. Have you suffered from nightmares or dreams about being away from home?
16. Have you been worrying a lot about people close to you coming to serious harm, for example, meeting with a car accident, or suffering from a fatal illness?
17. Have you become very upset with changes to your usual daily routine if they interfere with your contact with persons close to you?
18. Have you been worrying a lot about people you care about leaving you?
19. Have you found that you sleep better if the lights are on in the house or in the bedroom?
20. Have you tried to avoid being at home alone especially when people close to you are out?
21. Have you suffered from sudden bouts of anxiety or panic attacks (eg. sudden shaking, sweating, shortness of breath, pounding heart) when thinking about leaving people close to you or about them leaving you?
22. Have you found that you get anxious if you do not speak to people that are close to you on the telephone regularly, eg. daily?
23. Have you been afraid that you would not be able to cope or could not go on if someone you cared about left you?
24. Have you suffered from sudden bouts of anxiety or panic attacks (eg. sudden shaking, sweating, shortness or breath, pounding heart) when separated from people close to you?
25. Have you been worrying a lot about possible events that may separate you from those close to you eg. because of work requirements?
26. Have people close to you mentioned that you ‘talk a lot’?
27. Have you been worrying that your relationships with some people are so close that it may cause them problems?