Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28754
Title: The Psychometric Properties of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) in a General Population Sample of Adolescents
Contributor(s): Mewton, Louise (author); Kessler, Ronald C (author); Slade, Tim (author); Hobbs, Megan J  (author)orcid ; Brownhill, Louise (author); Birrell, Louise (author); Tonks, Zoe (author); Teesson, Maree (author); Newton, Nicola (author); Chapman, Cath (author); Allsop, Steve (author); Hides, Leanne (author); McBride, Nyanda (author); Andrews, Gavin (author)
Publication Date: 2016-10
Early Online Version: 2015-11-30
DOI: 10.1037/pas0000239
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/28754
Abstract: The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6; Kessler et al., 2002) is a screener for psychological distress that has robust psychometric properties among adults. Given that a significant proportion of adolescents experience mental illness, there is a need for measures that accurately and reliably screen for mental disorders in this age group. This study examined the psychometric properties of the K6 in a large general population sample of adolescents (N = 4,434; mean age = 13.5 years; 44.6% male). Factor analyses were conducted to examine the dimensionality of the K6 in adolescents and to investigate sex-based measurement invariance. This study also evaluated the K6 as a predictor of scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997). The K6 demonstrated high levels of internal consistency, with the 6 items loading primarily on 1 factor. Consistent with previous research, females reported higher mean levels of psychological distress when compared with males. The identification of sex-based measurement noninvariance in the item thresholds indicated that these mean differences most likely represented reporting bias in the K6 items rather than true differences in the underlying psychological distress construct. The K6 was a fair to good predictor of abnormal scores on the SDQ, but predictive utility was relatively low among males. Future research needs to focus on refining and augmenting the K6 scale to maximize its utility in adolescents.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Grant Details: NHMRC/1047291
Source of Publication: Psychological Assessment, 28(10), p. 1232-1242
Publisher: American Psychological Association
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1939-134X
1040-3590
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 110319 Psychiatry (incl. Psychotherapy)
111714 Mental Health
170109 Personality, Abilities and Assessment
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 320221 Psychiatry (incl. psychotherapy)
520503 Personality and individual differences
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920410 Mental Health
920408 Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being)
920501 Child Health
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200409 Mental health
200501 Adolescent health
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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