Psychometric properties of a Swahili-translated Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) in sample of aging Kenyans.

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, is increasing among Kenyans. However, there is a lack of understanding about its prevalence rates among aging people, and we lack culturally standardized and concise tools to measure it. Method: This study utilized a sample of 376 older individuals obtained from three regions in Kenya to investigate the distribution, prevalence, and psychometric properties of a Swahili-translated version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). A significant advantage of the K6 is its capacity to measure various mental health factors despite its conciseness. Results: Distribution assessments reveal that most participants reported high psychological distress scores (13 or above), and women experienced significantly higher rates compared to men. The K6 indicators showed high internal consistency for the sample (alpha =.83). Exploratory factor analysis showed the six items loading to on 1 factor and subsequent confirmatory analysis demonstrated excellent fit (CFI = .95; RMSEA = .03) for the one-factor model. Discussion: The high occurrence of psychological distress among the sample highlights this mental health problem as a potentially urgent area of need in the entire Kenyan population. Factor analysis results suggest that the Swahili-translated K6 is a concise tool with great potential for assessing psychological distress among older Kenyans