General health questionnaire--12 items: adaptation study to the Portuguese population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the validity and reliability of the GHQ-12 in Portugal.


METHODS
Using a standard 'forward-backward' translation procedure, the English language version of the questionnaire was translated into Portuguese. To test reliability the internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Validity was performed using convergent validity. Finally, the factor structure of the questionnaire was extracted by performing principal component analysis using varimax rotation.


RESULTS
In all 790 undergraduates entered into the study. Reliability analysis showed satisfactory result (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.91). Convergent validity indicated a significant negative correlation between the GHQ-12 and social support scores as expected (r = -0.54, P < 0.001). The principal component analysis showed that the GHQ-12 was a measure with two-factor structure.


CONCLUSIONS
The Portuguese version of the GHQ-12 has a good structural characteristic for measuring psychological well being.
Laranjeira
Carlos António
CA
High School of Health Sciences Jean Piaget, College Jean Piaget, Viseu, Portugal. carloslaranjeira@hotmail.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires