Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the GHQ-12: Can I See that Again?

Campbell, Anne; Walker, Judi; Farrell, Gerry

doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.2003.01208.x

Cited by 81 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(100 reference statements)

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“…6 (Cheung, 2002 ;Kalliath et al 2004 ;Shevlin & Adamson, 2005). Campbell et al (2003) used CFA to compare seven models using data from 500 primary care attendees in Tasmania and original investigators' scoring methods. No model achieved 'good' or ' better than good ' fit, but all fitted equally well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the 12-item General Health Questionnaire be used to measure positive mental health?

et al. 2007

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Background. Well-being is an important determinant of health and social outcomes. Measures of positive mental health states are needed for population-based research. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) has been widely used in many settings and languages, and includes positively and negatively worded items. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the GHQ-12 assesses both positive and negative mental health and that these domains are independent of one another.Method. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were conducted using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the Health Survey for England (HSE). Regression models were used to assess whether associations with individual and household characteristics varied across positive and negative mental health dimensions. We also explored higher-level variance in these measures, between electoral wards.Results. We found a consistent, replicable factor structure in both datasets. EFA results indicated a two-factor solution, and CFA demonstrated that this was superior to a one-factor model. These factors correspond to ‘symptoms of mental disorder’ and ‘positive mental health’. Further analyses demonstrated independence of these factors in associations with age, gender, employment status, poor housing and household composition. Statistically significant ward-level variance was found for symptoms of mental disorder but not positive mental health.Conclusions. The GHQ-12 measures both positive and negative aspects of mental health, and although correlated, these dimensions have some independence. The GHQ-12 could be used to measure positive mental health in population-based research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the 12-item General Health Questionnaire be used to measure positive mental health?

et al. 2007

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“…'concentrate', 'enjoy normal activities', and 'feeling reasonably happy') [8][9]. In addition to this a significant number of population-based studies have provided support for Graetz's [10] three-factor model comprising Anxiety / Depression, Social Dysfunction and Loss of Confidence [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The factor structure of the GHQ-12: the interaction between item phrasing, variance and levels of distress

et al. 2012

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The GHQ-12 is a self-report instrument for measuring psychological morbidity.Previous work has suggested several multidimensional models for this instrument, although it has recently been proposed that these may be an artefact resulting from a response bias to negatively phrased items. The aim here was to explore the dimensionality of the GHQ-12.Methods: Cluster analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were applied to waves of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA wave 1 and 3), in order to evaluate fit and factorial invariance over time of the GHQ-12.Results: Two categories of respondents were identified: high and low scorers. Item variances were higher across all items for high scorers and higher for negatively-phrased items (for both high and low scorers). The unidimensional model accounting for variance observed with negative phrasing (Hankins, 2008) was identified as having the best model fit across the two time points.Conclusions: Item phrasing, item variance and levels of respondents distress affect the factor structure observed for the GHQ-12 and may perhaps explain why different factor structures of the instrument have been found in different populations.

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“…We consider our approach to be quite unique in that it has been possible to test the theoretical grounding which underwrites CASP-19 within two major national studies. This approach is quite distinct from evaluations which typically focus upon the evaluation of a well-known measure, for example the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and then carry out repeat exploratory analyses across different data sets (Campbell et al 2003;Kalliath et al 2004). We are primarily interested in testing the strength of our theory and, therefore, the appropriateness of our preferred model.…”

Section: Analytical Strategy and Criteria For Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evaluation of a Self-enumerated Scale of Quality of Life (CASP-19) in the Context of Research on Ageing: A Combination of Exploratory and Confirmatory Approaches

et al. 2007

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Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the GHQ-12: Can I See that Again?

Abstract: It was concluded that the 'best fit' was achieved by a model based on an early factor analytic study using an Australian sample. It was suggested that researchers wanting to extract scales from the GHQ-12 could use this model.

Cited by 81 publications

References 68 publications

Can the 12-item General Health Questionnaire be used to measure positive mental health?

Can the 12-item General Health Questionnaire be used to measure positive mental health?

The factor structure of the GHQ-12: the interaction between item phrasing, variance and levels of distress

The Evaluation of a Self-enumerated Scale of Quality of Life (CASP-19) in the Context of Research on Ageing: A Combination of Exploratory and Confirmatory Approaches

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