The factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire in a literate Kenyan population

Psychology

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https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.1420
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Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Child, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Health Status, Humans, Kenya, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Psychometrics, Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult

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The factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire in a literate Kenyan population. / Abubakar, Amina; Fischer, Ronald.
In: Stress and Health, Vol. 28, No. 3, 08.2012, p. 248-254.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Bibtex

@article{a3ec22a539e240e4bd0f37f19a9cb101,

title = "The factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire in a literate Kenyan population",

abstract = "The study evaluated the factorial structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a population of Kenyan adults and adolescents. A sample of 1216 people aged 12-60 years completed the English version of the GHQ-12. To evaluate the factor structure of the GHQ-12, a confirmatory analysis using MPLUS was carried out. A unidimensional model of GHQ-12 as originally conceptualized did not provide a good fit for the data (Comparative Fit Index = 0.843, Tuckler Lewis Index = 0.841, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation = 0.078, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.063). Unidimensional models, which partial out the effects of negative wording showed an adequate fit to the data. Additionally, multidimensional models showed an excellent fit to the data. Based on the principles of parsimony, pattern of item loading and the correlation between identified factors in the multidimensional models, it was concluded that the GHQ-12 is a unidimensional measure whose structure is significantly influenced by wording effects. The GHQ-12, when applied to a literate population in Africa, showed similar factor structure as in other regions of the world; hence, it can be recommended for use as a screening tool for general symptoms of psychological distress.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Child, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Health Status, Humans, Kenya, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Psychometrics, Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult",

author = "Amina Abubakar and Ronald Fischer",

year = "2012",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1002/smi.1420",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "248--254",

journal = "Stress and Health",

issn = "1532-3005",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Inc.",

number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire in a literate Kenyan population

AU - Abubakar, Amina

AU - Fischer, Ronald

PY - 2012/8

Y1 - 2012/8

N2 - The study evaluated the factorial structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a population of Kenyan adults and adolescents. A sample of 1216 people aged 12-60 years completed the English version of the GHQ-12. To evaluate the factor structure of the GHQ-12, a confirmatory analysis using MPLUS was carried out. A unidimensional model of GHQ-12 as originally conceptualized did not provide a good fit for the data (Comparative Fit Index = 0.843, Tuckler Lewis Index = 0.841, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation = 0.078, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.063). Unidimensional models, which partial out the effects of negative wording showed an adequate fit to the data. Additionally, multidimensional models showed an excellent fit to the data. Based on the principles of parsimony, pattern of item loading and the correlation between identified factors in the multidimensional models, it was concluded that the GHQ-12 is a unidimensional measure whose structure is significantly influenced by wording effects. The GHQ-12, when applied to a literate population in Africa, showed similar factor structure as in other regions of the world; hence, it can be recommended for use as a screening tool for general symptoms of psychological distress.

AB - The study evaluated the factorial structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a population of Kenyan adults and adolescents. A sample of 1216 people aged 12-60 years completed the English version of the GHQ-12. To evaluate the factor structure of the GHQ-12, a confirmatory analysis using MPLUS was carried out. A unidimensional model of GHQ-12 as originally conceptualized did not provide a good fit for the data (Comparative Fit Index = 0.843, Tuckler Lewis Index = 0.841, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation = 0.078, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.063). Unidimensional models, which partial out the effects of negative wording showed an adequate fit to the data. Additionally, multidimensional models showed an excellent fit to the data. Based on the principles of parsimony, pattern of item loading and the correlation between identified factors in the multidimensional models, it was concluded that the GHQ-12 is a unidimensional measure whose structure is significantly influenced by wording effects. The GHQ-12, when applied to a literate population in Africa, showed similar factor structure as in other regions of the world; hence, it can be recommended for use as a screening tool for general symptoms of psychological distress.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Child

KW - Factor Analysis, Statistical

KW - Female

KW - Health Status

KW - Humans

KW - Kenya

KW - Male

KW - Mass Screening

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Models, Statistical

KW - Psychometrics

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1002/smi.1420

DO - 10.1002/smi.1420

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22282374

VL - 28

SP - 248

EP - 254

JO - Stress and Health

JF - Stress and Health

SN - 1532-3005

IS - 3

ER -

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