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Initial development of a brief measure of psychological distress
Gary R Elkins1, William I Fisher, Aimee K Johnson
1Baylor University, 77 Cottonwood, Waco, Texas 76706, USA. Gary_Elkins@baylor.edu
Abstract:
This paper addresses the preliminary development, construct validity, and psychometric properties of a brief self-report measure of psychological distress. 40 items were originally generated by doctoral level psychologists for use in the preliminary clinical sample. Inpatients from a psychiatric unit (N = 125) completed the items, and a principal-components analysis with a direct oblimin rotation was used to evaluate construct validity. The study indicated a four-factor solution, using the constructs of Depression, Hopelessness, Anxiety, and Anger, with good estimates of reliability. After evaluation of factor structure, item analyses, and reliability estimates, a redacted 19-item scale was identified.
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