The 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12): reliability, external validity and factor structure in the Spanish population

The purpose of this study was to analyze the internal consistency and the external and structure validity of the 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in the Spanish general population. A stratified sample of 1001 subjects, ages between 25 and 65 years, taken from the general Spanish population was employed. The GHQ-12 and the Inventory of Situations and Responses of Anxiety-ISRA were administered. A Cronbach's alpha of .76 (Standardized Alpha: .78) and a 3-factor structure (with oblique rotation and maximum likelihood procedure) were obtained. External validity of Factor I (Successful Coping) with the ISRA is very robust (.82; Factor II, .70; Factor III, .75). The GHQ-12 shows adequate reliability and validity in the Spanish population. Therefore, the GHQ-12 can be used with efficacy to assess people's overall psychological well-being and to detect non-psychotic psychiatric problems. Additionally, our results confirm that the GHQ-12 can best be thought of as a multidimensional scale that assesses several distinct aspects of distress, rather than just a unitary screening measure.     

The factor structure and factorial invariance of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) across time: evidence from two community-based samples

This study provides new knowledge about the factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12; D. Goldberg, 1972) through the application of confirmatory factor analysis to longitudinal data, thereby enabling investigation of the factor structure, its invariance across time, and the rank-order stability of the factors. Two community-based longitudinal adult samples with 1-year (n = 640) and 6-year (n = 330) follow-up times were studied. As a result, the correlated 3-factor model (i.e., Anxiety/Depression, Social Dysfunction, and Loss of Confidence) showed a better fit with both samples than the alternative models. The correlated 3-factor structure was also relatively invariant across time in both samples, indicating that the scale has good construct validity. The rank-order stabilities of the factors were low across time, which suggests that the GHQ-12 measures temporal mental state.     

Reliability and factor structure of the Finnish version of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and factor structure of the Finnish version of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire, a measure which examines cognitive and motivational functions of imagery. The final sample comprised 231 participants drawn from 34 sports and ranging in age from 14 to 49 years (M = 20.9, SD = 5.8). Internal consistency and confirmatory factor analyses were undertaken to evaluate the reliability and factorial validity of the scale. Fit indices and modification data generated from examining the 30-item five-factor model were equivocal, suggesting minor amendment and recategorization of several items rather than major adjustment to the proposed latent factor structure. Cronbach coefficients alpha indicated the scale is reliable. Overall, these results provide positive additional support for the claim that the Sport Imagery Questionnaire has a reproducible factor structure and is a reliable test for measuring imagery use in Finnish athletes.     

Psychometric properties of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in Chinese women during pregnancy and in the postnatal period

The GHQ-12 is a widely used instrument designed to screen for psychological disturbance (defined as the inability to carry out normal psychological functions and/or the emergence of new distressing phenomena), in a wide variety of clinical groups. The Chinese version of the GHQ-12 is widely used in Hong Kong to screen women during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. The underlying factor structure of the GHQ-12 has been extensively investigated and there is strong evidence to suggest that the instrument is multi-dimensional. The current investigation explored the psychometric properties of this instrument using confirmatory factor analysis, logistic regression and reliability analysis in Chinese women during the third trimester of pregnancy and in the postnatal period. Two- and three-factor models offered superior fit to the data compared to the presumed uni-dimensional structure. However, a four-item sub-scale from an eight-item two-factor model was found to be a significant antenatal predictor of postnatal GHQ-12 assessed caseness. Further evaluation of the clinical utility of this specific two-factor model is recommended.     

The dimensionality of the 12-item version of the Eating Attitudes Test. Confirmatory factor analyses

The assumed three-dimensional structure of the 12-item version of the Eating Attitudes Test was examined by confirmatory factor analysis in a non-clinical sample of 224 female and 261 male adolescents in grade 8 aged 14-15 years. Alternative models were examined. Data did neither support a three-dimensional structure, nor a one-dimensional structure using twelve items. Three dimensions were supported when one and three items were omitted from the girls' and boys' analyses, respectively. A second order factor structure was supported in both genders. Conceptual and psychometric issues are discussed. A discussion of the measurement domain of the eating problem construct in non-clinicals is warranted.     

The Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ): A psychometric evaluation of the 36-item Norwegian version

The Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ) was designed specifically to study possible changes that occur during menopause. The purpose of this study was to perform a psychometric evaluation of the Norwegian version of the WHQ by examining the factor structure and construct validity of the instrument. Data used for the evaluation were collected at baseline of the ACUFLASH study, a randomized, controlled clinical trial that evaluated the effect of acupuncture treatment on menopausal symptoms. Altogether, 267 women with a very high frequency of hot flushes were included in the study. Some deficiencies in the WHQ questionnaire were observed when applied to this sample, including an unclear factor structure, low alpha values for some dimensions, and a strong floor effect in the vasomotor symptoms dimension. The total scale score appears reliable, but care should be taken when interpreting some of the subscales.     

Reliability and validity of the Basic Depression Questionnaire

Background/ObjectiveDepressive disorders have a high prevalence around the world. They present a great comorbidity with other disorders like anxiety, thereby making a differential diagnosis very difficult. The Basic Depression Questionnaire was designed to palliate this issue by isolating specific depression symptoms. Our aim is to study the reliability, factorial structure, and differential item functioning of this questionnaire. Method: The sample consisted of 1,397 adults without psychological problems (M_age = 29.76, SD = 11.25, 64.78% women) who completed the CBD. Results: We observed that none of the items presented differential functioning. A monofactorial structure was established. In this model a good fit was obtained by confirmatory factor analysis and a strict invariance by sex. The ordinal alpha was used to check the reliability and it fetched an index of .95. Conclusions: The Basic Depression Questionnaire has adequate psychometric properties. The absence of differential item functioning and the invariance by sex are guarantees of an adequate use to diagnose depression for men and women. So, its clinical use can help to differentiate between the specific diagnoses for depressive disorders and anxiety disorders.     

Reliability and factorial validity of a Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale with a sample of Iranian students

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale for 587 undergraduate students (349 women and 238 men) at the University of Tehran. All participants were asked to complete the Farsi version of the TAS-20, the Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Mental Health Inventory. Findings supported the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The factors found in the Farsi version of this scale are similar to the three factors found previously and were accordingly labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally Oriented Thinking. The results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and its cross-cultural validity.     

The depression proneness rating scale: Reliability, validity, and factor structure

This study describes the development of the Depression Proneness Rating Scale (DPRS), a brief, self-administered measure of the tendency to experience frequent, long-lasting, and severe depressions, and three investigations into the scale’s reliability, validity, and factor structure. Study 1, using 100 university students, found a stability coefficient of .82 for the DPRS over a test-retest interval of nine weeks. Further, Time 1 (T1) DPRS scores predicted Time 2 (T2) symptoms of depression, even after adjusting for Time 1 symptoms (R² Change=.03). Study 2, using 440 university students, found the DPRS to be a better predictor of past depressive episodes (r=.41 to .47) than was the Beck Depression Inventory (r=.32). Study 3, using 1101 university students, found that all 13 items of the DPRS loaded .40 or greater on a single factor for both males and females. Overall, results provide substantial evidence for the DPRS as a valid, unidimensional, and practical measure of depression proneness.     

The depression proneness rating scale: Reliability,validity, and factor structure

This study describes the development of the Depression Proneness Rating Scale (DPRS), a brief, self-administered measure of the tendency to experience frequent, long-lasting, and severe depressions, and three investigations into the scale’s reliability, validity, and factor structure. Study 1, using 100 university students, found a stability coefficient of .82 for the DPRS over a test-retest interval of nine weeks. Further, Time 1 (T1) DPRS scores predicted Time 2 (T2) symptoms of depression, even after adjusting for Time 1 symptoms (R² Change=.03). Study 2, using 440 university students, found the DPRS to be a better predictor of past depressive episodes (r=.41 to .47) than was the Beck Depression Inventory (r=.32). Study 3, using 1101 university students, found that all 13 items of the DPRS loaded .40 or greater on a single factor for both males and females. Overall, results provide substantial evidence for the DPRS as a valid, unidimensional, and practical measure of depression proneness.     

Assessment of dysmenorrhea using the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire: factor structure and validity

Painful menstruation has been estimated to affect up to 75% of women between the ages of 17 and 25 yr, yet relatively little research has been conducted on its assessment. The present study examined the factor structure and validity of the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ), one of the few instruments available for the assessment of dysmenorrhea. Results supported previous studies which suggested that a dichotomous classification of menstrual experience into spasmodic and congestive types was an oversimplified conceptualization of an apparently much more complex problem. A factor analysis of the MSQ resulted in three factors, premenstrual symptoms, psychophysiological discomfort and menstrual pain. The results of the present research suggest that the factor structure of the MSQ may be reactive to the population on which it is used, in a way that reflects the developmental course of dysmenorrhea.     

A Norwegian adaptation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire: factor structure, reliability, validity and norms

A Norwegian version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) was administered to 304 undergraduate students together with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI). The PSWQ was also administered to a community sample comprising 879 subjects, together with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI). Structural equation modeling showed that a three-factor solution of the PSWQ gave the best goodness of fit. The Norwegian version of the PSWQ demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in terms of reliability and validity in both samples. Females scored higher than males on PSWQ.     

The reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Body Shape Questionnaire

Psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) were examined using data from three samples: (1) a sample from the general population (n= 1157), (2) a student sample (n= 124) and (3) a clinical sample (n= 90). Analyses showed that a single factor solution might be a reasonable solution as 32 of the 34 items loaded heavily on the first factor. The derived short 14-item version of the BSQ also showed a coherent structure with all the items loading on one single factor. The BSQ showed high test-retest reliability, very high internal consistency, ranging from 0.94 to 0.97, and high split-half reliability (above 0.93). Furthermore, it showed high validity by correlating highly with the body dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory (r= 0.72 and higher), and high discriminant validity. Thus, the Swedish version of the BSQ showed good concurrent and discriminant validity as well as high reliability.     

Exploratory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the General Health Questionnaire in Spanish adolescents

The aim of this study was to assess the homogeneity of items, reliability as a metric indicator of global quality (internal consistency and temporal stability), and the exploratory factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) in a sample of 2,010 Spanish adolescents. Mean age was 15.9 yr. (range 14-19, SD = 2.1). The test was administered twice with 20 days between responses, Answers were scored on a Likert-type scale. The internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities obtained were .93 and .94. In exploratory factor analysis, four factors explained 52.7% of the variance. These results indicated that the GHQ-28 is a psychometrically sound mental health measure in Spanish adolescents.     

《青少年心理健康素质调查表》的信效度再研究

该文报告了根据全国23个省、市、自治区51399名青少年的测验数据所计算出的《青少年心理健康素质调查表》信度和效度指标。分析结果表明,《青少年心理健康素质调查表》的信度和效度符合心理测验学的要求,并可用于青少年的素质教育、健康促进、心理健康教育和关于青少年潜能开发的研究与实践工作。     

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ)

The present study assesses the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). The questionnaire was administered to 598 healthy individuals from 15 different regions of Greece with a measure of socioeconomic characteristics and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The sample was split into two random halves, and exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor solution. This solution was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis on the second half of the sample. In terms of latent dimensions, the Greek version retains the three-factor structure as proposed by the initial authors. However, adequate fit was achieved only after omitting eight items. The shorter (10-item) version was submitted to further analysis. The shorter version provided satisfactory internal reliability and evidence indicating the validity of the scale with respect to SCL-90-R subscales. The stability of the questionnaire was verified by a high test-retest reliability over a 3-mo. period (r = .86). Sex and age differences were assessed. The 10-item version appears to be a practical, brief tool for clinical use.     

Reliability and validity of a Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory

The rapid increase of patients with eating disorders in Japan has male necessary the reliable and valid measurement of psychological factors in eating disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Eating Disorder Inventory. 766 females without eating disorders and 139 female patients with eating disorders responded to the Eating Attitude Test and the Eating Disorder Inventory. Principal factor extraction with promax rotation isolated 9 interpretable factors with satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach alpha range=.74-.90). Compared with controls, patients scored significantly higher on all factors after minimizing the influence of Body Mass Index. There were strong correlations among factor scores and scores on the Eating Attitudes Test, particularly among patients. These results indicate the Eating Disorder Inventory as showing psychometrically sound internal consistency and concurrent validity.     

Reliability and validity of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire

This study investigates the reliability and validity of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSORF). The SCSORF and religiosity measures (i.e., Age Universal Religious Orientation Survey, Religious Life Inventory, and the God Control measure from the Belief in Personal Control Scale) were administered to three samples. Results suggest that the SCSORF is both reliable and valid.