Measurement equivalence of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) in adolescents and emerging adults (original) (raw)
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Quality of Life Research, 2013
The GHQ-12 is a self-report instrument for measuring psychological morbidity. Previous work has suggested several multidimensional models for this instrument, although it has recently been proposed that these may be an artefact resulting from a response bias to negatively phrased items. The aim here was to explore the dimensionality of the GHQ-12. Methods: Cluster analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were applied to waves of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA wave 1 and 3), in order to evaluate fit and factorial invariance over time of the GHQ-12. Results: Two categories of respondents were identified: high and low scorers. Item variances were higher across all items for high scorers and higher for negatively-phrased items (for both high and low scorers). The unidimensional model accounting for variance observed with negative phrasing (Hankins, 2008) was identified as having the best model fit across the two time points. Conclusions: Item phrasing, item variance and levels of respondents distress affect the factor structure observed for the GHQ-12 and may perhaps explain why different factor structures of the instrument have been found in different populations.
BMC Psychiatry
Background: The Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure distress, depression, anxiety, and somatization. Prior to computing scale scores from the item scores, the three highest response alternatives ('Regularly', 'Often', and 'Very often or constantly present') are usually collapsed into one category to reduce the influence of extreme responding on item-and scale scores. In this study, we evaluate the usefulness of this transformation for the distress scale based on a variety of criteria. Methods: Specifically, by using the Graded Response Model, we investigated the effect of this transformation on model fit, local measurement precision, and various indicators of the scale's validity to get an indication on whether the current practice of recoding should be advocated or not. In particular, the effect on the convergent-(operationalized by the General Health Questionnaire and the Maastricht Questionnaire), divergent-(operationalized by the Neuroticism scale of the NEO-FFI), and predictive validity (operationalized as obtrusion with daily chores and activities, the Biographical Problem list and the Utrecht Burnout Scale) of the distress scale was investigated. Results: Results indicate that recoding leads to (i) better model fit as indicated by lower mean probabilities of exact test statistics assessing item fit, (ii) small (<.02) losses in the sizes of various validity coefficients, and (iii) a decrease (DIFF (SE's) = .10-.25) in measurement precision for medium and high levels of distress. Conclusions: For clinical applications and applications in longitudinal research, the current practice of recoding should be avoided because recoding decreases measurement precision for medium and high levels of distress. It would be interesting to see whether this advice also holds for the three other domains of the 4DSQ.
Confirming the Factor Structure and Validity of the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) in Youth
Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 2019
Distress tolerance (DT) is an individual's ability to handle uncomfortable emotion states or sensations (Simons and Gaher in Motiv Emot 29(2): 83-102, 2005). DT is associated with heightened risk for psychopathology, including internalizing symptoms. However, little research has examined the feasibility of assessing DT via youth self-report. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the psychometric properties of the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) (Simons and Gaher in Motiv Emot 29(2): 83-102, 2005) in community (n = 117; ages 10-19; 56.4% female) and clinical samples (n = 165; ages 10-18, 52.7% female) of youth. Predictors of DT and its association with internalizing symptoms were investigated. The majority of fit indices confirmed a four-factor hierarchical structure for the clinical sample data. Females reported lower DT than males and DT was associated with internalizing symptoms. Validation of the factor structure of the DTS allows for investigation of child and adolescent-reported perceptions of DT as a risk factor for psychopathology in youth.
Journal of Adolescence, 2010
This study explored the factor structure of the short form of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995b) in a young adolescent sample. A group of 484 high school students (Mean age = 13.62 years, Min = 11.83, Max = 15.67 years, 52 % boys) completed the DASS-21. Several models were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. A model consistent with the factor structure of the adult DASS, with correlated error terms, provided good fit to the data. However, correlations among the factors were very high. A ‘quadripartite’ model involving a common ‘Negative Affect’ factor as well as the three specific factors of Depression, Anxiety and Tension/Stress was tested to explain these correlations and was supported by the data. This model suggests that the core symptoms of Depression and Anxiety are similar in adults and adolescents, but the conceptualisation and assessment of Tension/Stress in adolescents needs further refinement.
The Saint Louis symptom checklist: Factor structure for an adolescent sample
Psychology in the Schools, 2001
This study investigated the factor structure and reliability of the Saint Louis Symptom Checklist (SLSCL) with an adolescent sample. An exploratory principal components factor analysis followed by a varimax rotation of 209 male and female adolescents yielded eight conceptually relevant factors. Cronbach's alphas for each of the scales ranged from .45 to .94, with a total scale alpha of .92. Directions for future research are discussed.
The factor structure and composite reliability of the Profile of Emotional Distress
The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 2013
This study provides the first assessment of the latent structure of the Profile of Emotional Distress (PED). The PED is a self-report measure of emotional distress (ED) associated strongly with its links to Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). To date, the PED has been weakly conceptualized using both unitary and binary models of ED. In this study, the dimensionality of the PED was examined within an alternative models' framework using confirmatory factor analysis and bifactor modelling techniques. A total of 313 law enforcement, military, and related emergency-service personnel completed the PED. Results indicated that a bifactor model conceptualization was the best fit of the data. The bifactor model included a single general factor (ED) and four grouping factors (Concern, Anxiety, Sadness, Depression). Model parameter estimates indicated that the ED factor accounts for the majority of covariance among the observable indicators. Low factor loadings were observed on each of the grouping factors, thus subscale construction is not recommended. Composite reliability results demonstrated that the ED factor possesses excellent internal reliability. The PED was found to be a reliable and valid measure of emotional distress.
Psihologija, 2020
This study explored several, latent factor models of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale?21 (DASS?21) using both a sample of clinically depressed patients and a Facebook sample from Serbia. The DASS?21, the Beck Depression Inventory?II, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory?Trait were administered to a sample of depressed individuals (N = 296; Mage = 52.21, SDage = 11.56). A Facebook sample (N = 376; Mage =29.12, SD = 8.96) completed the DASS?21 only. A bifactor model with one general distress (G) and two specific factors (Depression and Anxiety) were supported. The three factors had high omega coefficients, whereas omega hierarchical for Depression and Anxiety were low. Based on all evidence from our study, external validation, factor determinacy, and replicability, we concluded that the Serbian version of the DASS?21 assesses reliably general distress and anhedonia in both people with the clinical level of severity of distress and in general population. The Anxiety subscale ca...
Current Psychology, 2019
The present study used the Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) procedure and a bifactor-ESEM framework to evaluate the construct validity of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) among adolescents. We also evaluated measurement invariance and latent mean differences across gender and age, and investigated the convergent validity of DASS-21 by examining relationships with positive and negative affect. A total of 1906 adolescents (60.7% females, M age = 16.54) completed the DASS-21, whereas 998 adolescents (62.6% females; M age = 16.98) completed both the DASS-21 and a measure of positive and negative affect. The results showed that the bifactor-ESEM model was the best representation of the data and this model proved to be invariant across gender and age. The findings indicated a strong general factor of emotional distress underlying responses to all DASS-21 items, but also suggested that Depression and Anxiety subscales possess substantial amount of specificity over and above the general factor. The Stress subscale showed little specificity after partialling out the general factor. Depression subscale explained variance of both positive and negative affect over and above the variance already explained by the general factor, whereas the Anxiety and Stress subscales did not. Our findings show that a bifactor-ESEM framework is a valuable tool for examining structural validity of DASS-21.