Psychometric Properties of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a Portuguese Sample during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic

TL;DR

This study evaluated the DASS-21 mental health scale in Portuguese students during the early stages of the pandemic and found it reliable and valid for measuring depression, anxiety, and stress.

Contribution

The study validates the DASS-21 for use in Portuguese higher education students during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

28.5% of participants showed depressive symptoms, 36.2% anxiety symptoms, and 35.7% stress symptoms.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the DASS-21.

The DASS-21 demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0.90) and good discriminant validity.

Abstract

The COVID-19 global crisis has resulted in significant disruptions in the lives of students in higher education, leading to negative consequences for their academic achievements and general psychological well-being.

In this study, we sought to examine the psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) among students in Portuguese higher education institutions during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and its efficacy in capturing mental health symptoms due to a global health crisis.

In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sampling method was used to enlist a total of 1522 participants. The sample consisted of 75.1% women and 79.2% undergraduate students. Participants completed an electronic survey that was designed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) — a self-report instrument measuring anxiety, depression, and stress.

The findings of the study indicated a significant occurrence of depressive symptoms [≥10] (N = 434, 28.5%), anxiety symptoms [≥7] (N = 551, 36.2%), and stress symptoms [≥11] (N = 544, 35.7%). Based on the collected data, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted in order to examine the factor structure of the scale. The analysis revealed a three-factor solution that corresponded to the three subscales of the DASS-21. The Heterotrait-Monotrait (HTMT) correlation ratio was then used to assess the discriminant validity, with good results. Results showed that the DASS21 has satisfactory reliability indexes (Cronbach’s α > 0.90).

In light of the notable changes in living conditions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the present study has shown that the DASS-21 instrument has maintained its reliability and validity. Consequently, this finding supports the appropriateness of using the DASS-21 as a screening tool for assessing mental health among students in Portugal. Moreover, it is recommended that academics and healthcare practitioners use the DASS-21 as a tool for assessing the levels of psychological distress experienced by students. Additional validation studies of this scale are required, using bigger and more representative populations.

None Declared