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Published on: September 12, 2014
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7) in Ukrainian sample during wartime
Nadiia Aleksina1, Anastasiia Shyroka2, Olga Gerasimenko3
1Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine. aleksina.nadiia@gmail.com.
The Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) is valid for assessing anxiety in Ukraine’s adult population during wartime. Symptom centrality and reporting vary significantly by age and sociodemographic factors, informing targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Mental health in crisis situations
- Sociodemographic factors in anxiety
Background:
- The Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) is a widely used screening tool for anxiety.
- Validating assessment tools is crucial in diverse populations, especially during conflict.
- Understanding sociodemographic influences on anxiety perception is vital for effective mental healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide evidence for the validity of the GAD-7 in the Ukrainian adult population during wartime.
- To determine measurement invariance of the GAD-7 across gender, age, and socioeconomic factors.
- To identify central anxiety symptoms and propose context-specific interventions.
Main Methods:
- Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to assess the GAD-7 structure.
- Network Analysis (NwA) to explore symptom interrelationships.
- Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare anxiety levels across subgroups.
Main Results:
- The GAD-7 demonstrated validity for a unidimensional anxiety model.
- Measurement invariance varied: strict invariance in older adults, displaced/non-displaced, and military/non-military groups; metric invariance in younger adults and specific subgroups.
- Anxiety symptom centrality differed by age, with GAD-1 prominent in younger individuals and GAD-5 in older adults.
Conclusions:
- The GAD-7 is a valid measure for Ukrainian adults during wartime.
- Age and sociodemographic factors significantly influence anxiety symptom structure and perception.
- Findings support using Network Analysis for understanding anxiety psychopathology and developing tailored interventions.
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