Psychometric Assessment of the GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire-12 items): Evaluating the Reliability, Validity, and Comparison of Factor Structure in Indian Undergraduate Students

Authors

  • Deepesh Rathore Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8511-3984
  • Shailja Rana Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Zakir Husain College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
  • Prof. N. K. Chadha Professor, Department of Psychology, Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25215/1003.145

Keywords:

General Health Questionnaire-12, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Scale Validation, Indian Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the GHQ-12 in the Indian undergraduate student population. Although it is the most widely used scale of psychological distress, the debate around its factor structure is still ongoing. Method: A sample of (n=432) Indian undergraduate students aged 17 to 22 years were taken. The English version of GHQ-12 was used. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Convergent validity was examined by the correlation coefficients with life satisfaction, subjective happiness, and a measure of general worry. A comparison of the different models of GHQ-12 proposed in the literature was made using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood estimates. Result: Cronbach’s alpha (.784) reliability coefficient indicates adequate reliability. Correlation coefficients with life satisfaction (r= -529, p<.01), subjective happiness (r= -460, p<.01), and general worry (r= .424, p<.01) were also along the expected lines. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) showed a good fit to the data (Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) = 0.0319, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.989, Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.982, Root Mean Square of Error Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.039). Hence, the findings indicated a seven items two-factor model consisting of Social Dysfunction and Anxiety/Depression.

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Published

2022-11-05

How to Cite

Deepesh Rathore, Shailja Rana, & Prof. N. K. Chadha. (2022). Psychometric Assessment of the GHQ-12 (General Health Questionnaire-12 items): Evaluating the Reliability, Validity, and Comparison of Factor Structure in Indian Undergraduate Students. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.25215/1003.145