title: [Does the GHQ-12 scoring system affect its factor structure? An exploratory study of Ibero American students].
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate whether the scoring system of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) alters the instrument's factor structure. The method considered 1,972 university students from nine Ibero American countries. Modeling was performed with structural equations for 1, 2, and 3 latent factors. The mechanism for scoring the questions was analyzed within each type of structure. The results indicate that models with 2 and 3 factors show better goodness-of-fit. In relation to scoring mechanisms, procedure 0-1-1-1 for models with 2 and 3 factors showed the best fit. In conclusion, there appears to be a relationship between the response format and the number of factors identified in the instrument's structure. The model with the best fit was 3-factor 0-1-1-1-formatted, but 0-1-2-3 has acceptable and more stable indicators and provides a better format for two- and three-dimensional models.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urzúa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Filosofía y Psicología, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica, Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caqueo-Urízar
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bargsted
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatría Norte, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Matías
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irarrázaval
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011594:Psychometrics; D013030:Spain; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult