Psychometric analysis of brief versions of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in Mexican adults under an ESEM approach

DominguezLara S.; Seperak-Viera R.; Campos-Uscanga Y. · Revista de Psicopatologia y Psicologia Clinica (2024) · DOI: 10.5944/rppc.38459

Resumen

The aim of the present study was to analyze the internal structure of different versions of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21 (21, 14, 12, 9 and 8 items), to determine the degree of measurement invariance according to sex, and to estimate the reliability of the scores and the construct in Mexican adults. The sample consisted of 509 adults (61.1% male and 38.9% female) between the ages of 18 and 40 (mean age = 23.58; SD age = 5.33). Analyses were conducted using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and bifactor ESEM, and measurement invariance using multigroup factor analysis. The results indicated that the DASS12 is the version that presents the best factorial parameters and evaluates a single factor called general distress, in addition to showing an acceptable degree of measurement invariance between men and women. It is concluded that the DASS12 has a robust internal structure and adequate reliability. It is suggested as a line of future research to examine the scale in different groups (e.g., adolescents) and to conduct other analyses that allow the DASS12 to be used as a measure of intervention effectiveness (e.g., longitudinal invariance). © Asociación Española de Psicología Clínica y Psicopatología.

Instituciones: Universidad de San Martín de Porres; Universidad Católica San Pablo