Psychometric Comparison of Anxiety Scales Across Cultures and Time

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has evaluated the internal structure and invariance of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and the Child and Adolescent Behaviour Inventory (CABI) across six countries and over two timepoints. The research, conducted by a team of international collaborators, aimed to assess the validity of these freely accessible tools in promoting local research in resource-limited settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated the internal structure of the DASS and CABI using confirmatory factor analysis, with data from 566 adults (85.51% female) with children aged 2 to 17.
  • The DASS depression subscale achieved scalar invariance across five countries and across timepoints, with CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.060, and SRMR = 0.069.
  • The CABI extract achieved scalar invariance across two countries and across timepoints, with CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.963, RMSEA = 0.068, and SRMR = 0.085.
  • The study provides evidence of validity for the internal structure of the DASS and CABI extracts across cultures and over time, supporting their use in resource-limited settings.
  • The research was funded by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), LEGO Foundation, Oak Foundation, Human Safety Net, UNICEF Philippines, UNICEF Malaysia, and University of Oxford.

Statistics:

  • 566 adults (85.51% female) participated in the study.
  • The study was conducted across six countries: North Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Philippines, and South Africa.
  • The DASS depression subscale achieved scalar invariance across five countries (CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.956, RMSEA = 0.060, SRMR = 0.069).
  • The CABI extract achieved scalar invariance across two countries (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.963, RMSEA = 0.068, SRMR = 0.085).

Sources:

  • Six-country Psychometric Comparison of Women Responses To the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass) and the Child and Adolescent Behaviour Inventory (Cabi) Across Cultures and Time (2025). Journal of Affective Disorders; 387.
  • Francisco Antonio Calderon Alfaro, Jamie Lachman, Qing Han, Stephanie Eagling-Peche, Lucie Cluver, Frances Gardner, Catherine L. Ward, Kufre Okop, Rosanne Jocson, Ivo Kunovski, Marija Raleva, Rumaya Juhari, Jennel Reyes, Liane Pena Alampay, and Viorel Babii. Journal of Affective Disorders (2025).
  • NewsRx. Findings from University of Oxford Reveals New Findings on Anxiety Disorders [Six-country Psychometric Comparison of Women Responses To the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass) and the Child and Adolescent Behaviour Inventory (Cabi) Across ...]. Health & Medicine Week (2025).