Psychometric Properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale in Adolescents: An Effective Screening Tool for School and Community Settings

Abstract

Objective: Anxiety disorders are prevalent among children and adolescents. Identifying anxiety symptoms in primary care, school, and community settings has implications for service planning, resource allocation, and prevention and treatment programming. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale is a commonly used instrument for evaluating anxiety symptoms. Still, it has yet to be validated in vulnerable groups, such as Spanish-speaking adolescents who are at risk due to socioeconomic disadvantages. Methods: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the GAD-7 for adolescents in a sample of middle and high school students in Puerto Rico. Secondary data from 566 students in fifth to twelfth grade in Puerto Rico were collected as part of a school-based services program. Results: A confirmatory factor analysis evidenced the 1-factor structure of the GAD-7, while a test of invariance supported the equality of the factor loadings across gender and school level. The scores of the GAD-7 showed positive and significant correlations with the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale—providing evidence of convergent validity—and the reliability estimates of the GAD-7 were adequate. Conclusion: Thus, the GAD-7 has optimal psychometric properties in terms of construct and convergent validity and internal consistency. It is a useful instrument for assessing anxiety in Spanish speaking youth in Puerto Rico.