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.
| Translated title of the contribution | Does the GHQ-12 scoring system affect its factor structure? An exploratory study of Ibero American students |
|---|---|
| Original language | Portuguese |
| Pages (from-to) | 1305-1312 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Cadernos de Saude Publica |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2015 |
Keywords
- Questionnaires
- Statistical factors analysis
- Statistical models