Psychiatry Investig.  2019 Nov;16(11):808-815. 10.30773/pi.2019.0074.

Alternative Models Examination and Gender Measurement Invariance of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire among Nigerian Adolescents

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria. alobatee2002@gmail.com
  • 2Department of Mental Health, State Specialist Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria.
  • 3Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the factor structures of the a priori alternative models of the 12-items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), its psychometric characteristics and gender measurement invariance in a sample of non-clinical Nigerian adolescents (n=1326; M(age)=15.16).
METHODS
The sample consisted of 606 (45.7%) males, who completed the GHQ-12 in addition to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). We compared 21 models to identify which has the best fit indices applying confirmatory factor analysis. Gender measurement invariance was examined with nested multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA).
RESULTS
The model that best captures psychological distress was a three-factor model that was initially described among the Australian general population (CFI=0.952, SRMR=0.0310, RMSEA=0.042) (90%CI=0.035-0.049). The internal consistencies (ω) of this model and its dimensions were modestly satisfactory. The criterion validity of this model was supported via significant correlations with the other study measures. MGCFA supported the configural, metric and scalar gender invariances of this model.
CONCLUSION
A three-factor GHQ-12 model (anhedonia/sleep disturbances; social performance and Loss of confidence) is useful as a psychological distress assessment tool among Nigerian adolescents.

Keyword

General Health Questionnaire-12; Nigerian adolescents; Factor structure; Psychometric properties; Gender invariance

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Anxiety
Depression
Humans
Male
Psychometrics
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