Multidimensional Structure and Latent Profiles of Psychological Distress in Youth: An Integrated Factor-Cluster...

Background: Psychological distress in adolescents and young adults is a major public health concern and is increasingly conceptualized as a multidimensional construct involving overlapping somatic and cognitive symptoms. Understanding its latent structure and heterogeneity is essential for improving the assessment and early intervention. Objective: To examine the latent structure, interdimensional relationships, and subgroup variability of psychological distress using an integrated analytical framework. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 736 participants aged 15-24 years. Psychological distress was assessed using Conn's Psychological Distress Battery. Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with oblique rotation) was used to identify latent dimensions. Group differences were evaluated using t-tests and ANOVA, while multiple linear regression identified independent predictors. K-means clustering was applied to standardized factor scores to identify distinct distress profiles. Results: Sampling adequacy was excellent (KMO = 0.98), and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (χ² = 16116.6, df = 435, p < 0.001), confirming the suitability of the data for factor analysis. A two-factor solution explained 53.5% of the total variance, representing somatic and cognitive dimensions of distress that were strongly correlated (r = 0.85, p < 0.001), suggesting a substantial shared underlying distress component. Male gender and university-level education were associated with higher distress levels, with a small-to-moderate gender effect (Cohen's d = 0.42). In multivariable regression analyses, male gender (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and university education (β = 0.85, p < 0.001) independently predicted higher distress. Cluster analysis identified three distinct profiles corresponding to high, moderate, and low distress levels. Conclusions: Psychological distress in youth is multidimensional and heterogeneous, characterized by interrelated symptom domains and distinct profiles. These findings support multidimensional and person-centered assessment approaches and may inform more targeted early intervention strategies.