Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students.
<h4>Background</h4>Psychometric validity of the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) has not been studied among Ethiopians. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 using Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical theory among Ethiopian university...
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| Format: | Article |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325238 |
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| author | Md Dilshad Manzar Mohammed Salahuddin Dejene Nureye Faizan Z Kashoo Majumi M Noohu Jazi Shaydied Alotaibi Majed Sulaiman Alamri Mark D Griffiths |
| author_facet | Md Dilshad Manzar Mohammed Salahuddin Dejene Nureye Faizan Z Kashoo Majumi M Noohu Jazi Shaydied Alotaibi Majed Sulaiman Alamri Mark D Griffiths |
| author_sort | Md Dilshad Manzar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Psychometric validity of the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) has not been studied among Ethiopians. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 using Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical theory among Ethiopian university students.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 364 Ethiopian university students. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the DASS-21.<h4>Results</h4>Factor analysis and measures of quality of factor estimates, construct stability, and robustness of unidimensionality supported a one-factor structure. Item parameters were satisfactory for all but three items using both CTT and IRT. Some CTT parameters indicated deviation from unidimensionality for three items. Two items had poor communality, and IRT infit/outfit values above 1.4. The findings indicated adequate divergent validity (weak-moderate correlation) for the general distress measure of DASS-21 with respect to HAM-A, excellent reliability (McDonald's ω and Cronbach's α both 0.93), and item-level measurement invariance across sexes.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The psychometric validity of the DASS-21 among Ethiopian university students was robust, as shown by analysis using classical and item response theory measures. However, some item-level psychometric characteristics for two items were sub-optimal in both CTT and IRT. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8fd86cd107e4ed7b7ded4c32faebd7b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8fd86cd107e4ed7b7ded4c32faebd7b2025-08-20T03:57:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01207e032523810.1371/journal.pone.0325238Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students.Md Dilshad ManzarMohammed SalahuddinDejene NureyeFaizan Z KashooMajumi M NoohuJazi Shaydied AlotaibiMajed Sulaiman AlamriMark D Griffiths<h4>Background</h4>Psychometric validity of the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) has not been studied among Ethiopians. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 using Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical theory among Ethiopian university students.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 364 Ethiopian university students. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the DASS-21.<h4>Results</h4>Factor analysis and measures of quality of factor estimates, construct stability, and robustness of unidimensionality supported a one-factor structure. Item parameters were satisfactory for all but three items using both CTT and IRT. Some CTT parameters indicated deviation from unidimensionality for three items. Two items had poor communality, and IRT infit/outfit values above 1.4. The findings indicated adequate divergent validity (weak-moderate correlation) for the general distress measure of DASS-21 with respect to HAM-A, excellent reliability (McDonald's ω and Cronbach's α both 0.93), and item-level measurement invariance across sexes.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The psychometric validity of the DASS-21 among Ethiopian university students was robust, as shown by analysis using classical and item response theory measures. However, some item-level psychometric characteristics for two items were sub-optimal in both CTT and IRT.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325238 |
| spellingShingle | Md Dilshad Manzar Mohammed Salahuddin Dejene Nureye Faizan Z Kashoo Majumi M Noohu Jazi Shaydied Alotaibi Majed Sulaiman Alamri Mark D Griffiths Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. PLoS ONE |
| title | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. |
| title_full | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. |
| title_fullStr | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. |
| title_short | Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21): Further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students. |
| title_sort | depression anxiety and stress scale 21 dass 21 further psychometric exploration using robust item response theory and classical theory measures among university students |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0325238 |
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