Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Ana Bártolo
Data de Publicação: 2017
Outros Autores: Sara Monteiro, Anabela Pereira
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
Texto Completo: https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332
Resumo: The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale has been presented as a reliable and valid measure to assess generalized anxiety symptoms in several clinical settings and among the general population. However, some researches did not support the original one-dimensional structure of the GAD-7 tool. Our main aim was to examine the factor structure of GAD-7 comparing the one-factor model fit with a two-factor model (3 somatic nature symptoms and 4 cognitive-emotional nature symptoms) in a sample of college students. This validation study with data collected cross-sectionally included 1,031 Portuguese college students attending courses in the six schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Measures included the GAD-7, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the University Student Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures confirmed that neither factor structure was well fitting. Thus, a modified single factor model allowing the error terms of items associated with relaxing difficulties and irritability to covary was an appropriate solution. Additionally, this factor structure revealed configural and metric invariance across gender. A good convergent validity was found by correlating global anxiety and depression. However, this measure showed a weak association with consumption behaviors. Our results are relevant to clinical practice, since the comprehensive approach to GAD-7 contributes to knowing generalized anxiety symptoms trajectory and their correlates within the university setting.
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spelling Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college studentsAnxietyStudentsSurveys and QuestionnairesThe Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale has been presented as a reliable and valid measure to assess generalized anxiety symptoms in several clinical settings and among the general population. However, some researches did not support the original one-dimensional structure of the GAD-7 tool. Our main aim was to examine the factor structure of GAD-7 comparing the one-factor model fit with a two-factor model (3 somatic nature symptoms and 4 cognitive-emotional nature symptoms) in a sample of college students. This validation study with data collected cross-sectionally included 1,031 Portuguese college students attending courses in the six schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Measures included the GAD-7, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the University Student Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures confirmed that neither factor structure was well fitting. Thus, a modified single factor model allowing the error terms of items associated with relaxing difficulties and irritability to covary was an appropriate solution. Additionally, this factor structure revealed configural and metric invariance across gender. A good convergent validity was found by correlating global anxiety and depression. However, this measure showed a weak association with consumption behaviors. Our results are relevant to clinical practice, since the comprehensive approach to GAD-7 contributes to knowing generalized anxiety symptoms trajectory and their correlates within the university setting.La escala de la Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) se ha presentado como una medida confiable y válida para evaluar los síntomas de ansiedad generalizada en varios contextos clínicos y entre la población en general. Sin embargo, algunas investigaciones no apoyan la estructura original unidimensional de la herramienta GAD-7. Nuestro objetivo principal fue examinar la estructura de factores de GAD-7 comparando el ajuste de modelo de un factor con un modelo de dos factores (tres síntomas de naturaleza somática y cuatro síntomas de naturaleza cognitivo-emocional) en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios. Este estudio de validación con datos recogidos transversalmente incluyó 1.031 estudiantes universitarios portugueses que asisten a cursos en las seis escuelas del Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Las medidas incluyeron el GAD-7, la Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) y University Student Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Los procedimientos de análisis factorial confirmatorio (CFA) confirmaron que ninguna de las estructuras de factores era adecuada. Así, un modelo de factor único modificado que permite los términos de error de los elementos asociados con las dificultades de relajación y la irritabilidad a covaria fue una solución adecuada. Adicionalmente, esta estructura de factores reveló la invariancia configural y métrica a través del género. Se encontró una buena validez convergente al correlacionar la ansiedad y la depresión globales. Sin embargo, esta medida mostró una asociación débil con los comportamientos de consumo. Nuestros resultados son relevantes para la práctica clínica, ya que el enfoque integral de GAD-7 contribuye a conocer la trayectoria de síntomas ansiedad generalizada y sus correlatos en el ámbito universitario.A escala Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) tem sido apresentada como medida confiável e válida para avaliar os sintomas da ansiedade generalizada em diversos contextos clínicos e na população geral. Entretanto, algumas pesquisas deixam de apoiar a estrutura unidimensional original da ferramenta GAD-7. O estudo teve como objetivo principal examinar a estrutura fatorial da GAD-7, comparando o ajuste do modelo com um fator versus dois fatores (três sintomas de natureza somática e quatro sintomas de natureza cognitivo-emocional) em uma amostra de alunos universitários. O estudo de validação, com coleta de dados transversais, incluiu 1.031 universitários portugueses matriculados nas seis escolas do Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. As medidas incluíram a escala GAD-7, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) e University Student Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Os procedimentos da análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC) confirmaram que nenhuma das estruturas fatoriais demonstrou bom ajuste. Portanto, uma solução apropriada seria um modelo unifatorial modificado que permitisse a covariância dos termos de erro dos itens associados a dificuldades de relaxamento e irritabilidade. Além disso, essa estrutura fatorial revelou invariância métrica e de configuração entre os sexos. Foi encontrada uma boa validade convergente ao correlacionar a ansiedade global com a depressão. Entretanto, essa medida mostrou fraca associação com comportamentos de consumo. Nossos resultados são relevantes para a prática clínica, uma vez que a abordagem abrangente à escala GAD-7 contribui para o conhecimento da história dos sintomas de ansiedade generalizada e seus correlatos no contexto universitário.Reports in Public HealthCadernos de Saúde Pública2017-09-28info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontext/htmlapplication/pdfhttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332Reports in Public Health; Vol. 33 No. 9 (2017): SeptemberCadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 33 n. 9 (2017): Setembro1678-44640102-311Xreponame:Cadernos de Saúde Públicainstname:Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)instacron:FIOCRUZenghttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332/13482https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332/13483Ana BártoloSara MonteiroAnabela Pereirainfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2024-03-06T15:29:15Zoai:ojs.teste-cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br:article/6332Revistahttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csphttps://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/oaicadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br||cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br1678-44640102-311Xopendoar:2024-03-06T13:07:14.519288Cadernos de Saúde Pública - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)true
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
title Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
spellingShingle Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
Ana Bártolo
Anxiety
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
title_short Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
title_full Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
title_fullStr Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
title_full_unstemmed Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
title_sort Factor structure and construct validity of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) among Portuguese college students
author Ana Bártolo
author_facet Ana Bártolo
Sara Monteiro
Anabela Pereira
author_role author
author2 Sara Monteiro
Anabela Pereira
author2_role author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Ana Bártolo
Sara Monteiro
Anabela Pereira
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Anxiety
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
topic Anxiety
Students
Surveys and Questionnaires
description The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale has been presented as a reliable and valid measure to assess generalized anxiety symptoms in several clinical settings and among the general population. However, some researches did not support the original one-dimensional structure of the GAD-7 tool. Our main aim was to examine the factor structure of GAD-7 comparing the one-factor model fit with a two-factor model (3 somatic nature symptoms and 4 cognitive-emotional nature symptoms) in a sample of college students. This validation study with data collected cross-sectionally included 1,031 Portuguese college students attending courses in the six schools of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Measures included the GAD-7, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the University Student Risk Behaviors Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) procedures confirmed that neither factor structure was well fitting. Thus, a modified single factor model allowing the error terms of items associated with relaxing difficulties and irritability to covary was an appropriate solution. Additionally, this factor structure revealed configural and metric invariance across gender. A good convergent validity was found by correlating global anxiety and depression. However, this measure showed a weak association with consumption behaviors. Our results are relevant to clinical practice, since the comprehensive approach to GAD-7 contributes to knowing generalized anxiety symptoms trajectory and their correlates within the university setting.
publishDate 2017
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2017-09-28
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
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dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332
url https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332/13482
https://cadernos.ensp.fiocruz.br/ojs/index.php/csp/article/view/6332/13483
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health
Cadernos de Saúde Pública
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health
Cadernos de Saúde Pública
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Reports in Public Health; Vol. 33 No. 9 (2017): September
Cadernos de Saúde Pública; v. 33 n. 9 (2017): Setembro
1678-4464
0102-311X
reponame:Cadernos de Saúde Pública
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instacron:FIOCRUZ
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instacron_str FIOCRUZ
institution FIOCRUZ
reponame_str Cadernos de Saúde Pública
collection Cadernos de Saúde Pública
repository.name.fl_str_mv Cadernos de Saúde Pública - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
repository.mail.fl_str_mv cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br||cadernos@ensp.fiocruz.br
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