Rasch analysis and ordinal-to-interval conversion tables for the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale

J Health Psychol. 2020 Sep;25(10-11):1374-1383. doi: 10.1177/1359105318755261. Epub 2018 Feb 5.

Abstract

This study conducted Rasch analysis of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale using responses of 400 participants to produce ordinal-to-interval conversion algorithms not available to date. Minor modifications such as removing the non-fitting item 5 and combining subscales items into super-items were necessary to achieve the best model fit (χ2(15) = 20.28, p = 0.16). The results support internal validity of the modified 20-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and include ordinal-to-interval conversion tables for use with non-clinical populations that improve reliability and precision of the measure.

Keywords: Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale; Rasch analysis; distress; measurement; psychometrics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety*
  • Depression*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychometrics / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Stress, Psychological*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult