Measuring psychological distress using the K10 in Kenya

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Psychometrics
• Global Health

Background:

• The Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) is a widely used global screening tool.
• No prior data existed on the K10's psychometric properties in Kenya.
• This study addresses the need for validation in a Kenyan context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reliability, factor structure, and construct validity of the K10 in Kenyan adults.
• To assess the K10's suitability for measuring psychological distress in Kenya.
• To evaluate the K10 for use in clinical and epidemiological settings in Kenya.

Main Methods:

• 2556 adults from outpatient clinics in Kenya were included.
• Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA & CFA) were used to evaluate factor structure and construct validity.

Main Results:

• The K10 demonstrated good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85.
• EFA suggested a two-factor solution, while CFA supported a unidimensional model.
• The K10 mean score was 3.4.

Conclusions:

• The K10 is a reliable and valid measure for psychological distress in Kenyan adults.
• The K10 can be effectively used in general medical settings for screening anxiety and depressive disorders.
• Findings support the K10's utility in both clinical and epidemiological research in Kenya.