Anxiety Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anxiety, including details on anxiety disorder, panic attacks, medication, counselling, therapy.

Alternative factor models and factorial invariance of the GHQ-12: a large sample analysis using confirmatory factor analysis.

Shevlin M, Adamson G

School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Londonderry, United Kingdom. m.shevlin@ulster.ac.uk

This study tested alternative factor models of the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), based on previous research findings, with a large sample using confirmatory factor analysis. An alternative models framework was used to test 6 factor analytic models. A 3-factor model was the best explanation of the sample data. The 3 factors were labeled Anxiety-Depression, Social Dysfunction, and Loss of Confidence. The model was found to be factorially invariant between men and women. The utility of the 3 subscales, as opposed to the total GHQ-12 score, is questioned as they appear to provide little information beyond that of a general factor.

Published 20 July 2005 in Psychol Assess, 17(2): 231-6.
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