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Factor Structure and Reliability of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales in a Large Portuguese Community Sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 June 2013

José Vasconcelos-Raposo ,
Helder Miguel Fernandes  and
Carla M. Teixeira
José Vasconcelos-Raposo
Affiliation:
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal)
Helder Miguel Fernandes*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal)
Carla M. Teixeira
Affiliation:
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Helder Miguel Fernandes. Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. Rua Dr. Manuel Cardona, 5000-558 Vila Real (Portugal). Phone: +351-259330100. Fax: +351-259330167. E-mail: [email protected].
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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to assess the factor structure and reliability of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in a large Portuguese community sample. Participants were 1020 adults (585 women and 435 men), with a mean age of 36.74 (SD = 11.90) years. All scales revealed good reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha values between .80 (anxiety) and .84 (depression). The internal consistency of the total score was .92. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the best-fitting model (*CFI = .940, *RMSEA = .038) consisted of a latent component of general psychological distress (or negative affectivity) plus orthogonal depression, anxiety and stress factors. The Portuguese version of the DASS-21 showed good psychometric properties (factorial validity and reliability) and thus can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

Keywords

depressionanxietystressDASS-21
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 16 , 2013 , E10
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2013 

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Footnotes

The authors would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions on the manuscript.

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