title: Measuring mental health following traumatization: psychometric analysis of the Kuwait Raha Scale using a random national household data set.
abstract: The authors report on the psychometric properties of the Kuwait Raha Scale (KRS), a measure developed to assess well-being among Kuwaitis. Specific aims of the study were to (a) evaluate competing models of the latent structure of the KRS using exploratory factor analysis and identify the best model, (b) compare the model developed from a nationally representative sample with the initial model reported with Kuwaiti undergraduate students, and (c) assess the discriminant validity of the KRS with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Factor analysis suggested that a 5-factor model best suited the data, whereas the development of the KRS indicated a 4-factor model. Differences in the latent structure found between the current study and the original examination of the KRS factor structure may be attributed to the demographics of the samples used in the 2 studies. Whereas the earlier study used a sample of undergraduate college students, the current study acquired a nationally representative sample of the Kuwaiti population. Discriminant validity of the KRS with the GHQ indicated that the KRS and the GHQ measure different dimensions of health. Implications for theory and research are discussed, with particular attention to overcoming the challenges confronting the meaning and measurement of well-being in developing countries and stimulating interdisciplinary research.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research and Development Service, Research Enhancement Award Program, James A. Haley VA Medical Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Figley
authors.forename: Hadi Ridha
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ashkanani
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Naser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological