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Testing comparison models of DASS-12 and its reliability among adolescents in Malaysia
- Source :
- Comprehensive Psychiatry, Vol 55, Iss 7, Pp 1720-1725 (2014)
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Objective: The 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is frequently used in non-clinical research to measure mental health factors among adults. However, previous studies have concluded that the 21 items are not stable for utilization among the adolescent population. Thus, the aims of this study are to examine the structure of the factors and to report on the reliability of the refined version of the DASS that consists of 12 items. Method: A total of 2850 students (aged 13 to 17 years old) from three major ethnic in Malaysia completed the DASS-21. The study was conducted at 10 randomly selected secondary schools in the northern state of Peninsular Malaysia. The study population comprised secondary school students (Forms 1, 2 and 4) from the selected schools. Results: Based on the results of the EFA stage, 12 items were included in a final CFA to test the fit of the model. Using maximum likelihood procedures to estimate the model, the selected fit indices indicated a close model fit (χ2 = 132.94, df = 57, p = .000; CFI = .96; RMR = .02; RMSEA = .04). Moreover, significant loadings of all the unstandardized regression weights implied an acceptable convergent validity. Besides the convergent validity of the item, a discriminant validity of the subscales was also evident from the moderate latent factor inter-correlations, which ranged from .62 to .75. The subscale reliability was further estimated using Cronbach's alpha and the adequate reliability of the subscales was obtained (Total = 76; Depression = .68; Anxiety = .53; Stress = .52). Conclusion: The new version of the 12-item DASS for adolescents in Malaysia (DASS-12) is reliable and has a stable factor structure, and thus it is a useful instrument for distinguishing between depression, anxiety and stress.
- Subjects :
- Male
Adolescent
lcsh:RC435-571
Anxiety
Structural equation modeling
Developmental psychology
Cronbach's alpha
Predictive Value of Tests
lcsh:Psychiatry
medicine
Humans
Reliability (statistics)
DASS
Depression
Discriminant validity
Malaysia
Reproducibility of Results
Psychiatry and Mental health
Clinical Psychology
Convergent validity
Adolescent Behavior
Scale (social sciences)
Female
medicine.symptom
Psychology
Stress, Psychological
Clinical psychology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15328384
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Comprehensive psychiatry
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f00da1f4d5727756eab1f8662831f842