title: The psychometric properties of the generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale in Hispanic Americans with English or Spanish language preference.
abstract: The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7) is a self-report questionnaire that is widely used to screen for anxiety. The GAD-7 has been translated into numerous languages, including Spanish. Previous studies evaluating the structural validity of the English and Spanish versions indicate a unidimensional factor structure in both languages. However, the psychometric properties of the Spanish language version have yet to be evaluated in samples outside of Spain, and the measure has not been tested for use among Hispanic Americans. This study evaluated the reliability, structural validity, and convergent validity of the English and Spanish language versions of the GAD-7 for Hispanic Americans in the United States. A community sample of 436 Hispanic Americans with an English (n = 210) or Spanish (n = 226) language preference completed the GAD-7. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the goodness-of-fit of the unidimensional factor structure of the GAD-7 across language-preference groups. Results from the multiple-group CFA indicated a similar unidimensional factor structure with equivalent response patterns and item intercepts, but different variances, across language-preference groups. Internal consistency was good for both English and Spanish language-preference groups. The GAD-7 also evidenced good convergent validity as demonstrated by significant correlations in expected directions with the Perceived Stress Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Physical Health domain of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF assessment. The unidimensional GAD-7 is suitable for use among Hispanic Americans with an English or Spanish language preference.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.
authors.forename: Rina S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University.
authors.forename: Vanessa L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Malcarne
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Roesch
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Georgia Robins
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating