title: Using the SRQ-20 factor structure to examine changes in mental distress following typhoon exposure.
abstract: Empirical research is limited regarding postdisaster assessment of distress in developing nations. This study aimed to evaluate the factor structure of the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) before and after an acute trauma, Typhoon Xangsane, in order to examine changes in mental health symptoms in an epidemiologic sample of Vietnamese adults. The study examined a model estimating individual item factor loadings, thresholds, and a latent change factor for the SRQ-20's single "general distress" common factor. The covariates of sex, age, and severity of typhoon exposure were used to evaluate the disaster-induced changes in SRQ-20 scores while accounting for possible differences in the relationship between individual measurement scale items and the latent mental health construct. Evidence for measurement noninvariance was found. However, allowing sex and age effects on the pre-typhoon and post-typhoon factors accounted for much of the noninvariance in the SRQ-20 measurement structure. A test of no latent change failed, indicating that the SRQ-20 detected significant individual differences in distress between pre- and post-typhoon assessment. Conditioning on age and sex, several typhoon exposure variables differentially predicted levels of distress change, including evacuation, personal injury, and peri-event fear. On average, females and older individuals reported higher levels of distress than males and younger individuals, respectively. The SRQ-20 is a valid and reasonably stable instrument that may be used in postdisaster contexts to assess emotional distress and individual changes in mental health symptoms.
authors: Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.
authors: Kelcey J
authors: KJ
authors: Stratton
authors: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University.
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Aggen
authors: School of Psychology, Murdoch University.
authors: Lisa K
authors: LK
authors: Richardson
authors: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University.
authors: Erin C
authors: EC
authors: Berenz
authors: Health Department, Da Nang City.
authors: Trinh Luong
authors: TL
authors: Tran
authors: Da Nang Mental Health Hospital, Da Nang City.
authors: Lam Tu
authors: LT
authors: Trung
authors: Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.
authors: Nguyen Thanh
authors: NT
authors: Tam
authors: Research and Training Center for Community Development.
authors: Tran
authors: T
authors: Tuan
authors: Research and Training Center for Community Development.
authors: La Thi
authors: LT
authors: Buoi
authors: Research and Training Center for Community Development.
authors: Tran Thu
authors: TT
authors: Ha
authors: Research and Training Center for Community Development.
authors: Tran Duc
authors: TD
authors: Thach
authors: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University.
authors: Ananda B
authors: AB
authors: Amstadter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004190:Disasters; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam