Psychometric properties of GAD-7 in Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2023.1.39902

Keywords:

anxiety, COVID-19, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Measure Invariance, health psychology

Abstract

This paper aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) in a Brazilian non-clinical sample. To this end, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis and measurement invariance were performed, as well as investigating evidence of reliability and validity based on the relationship with other variables. In addition, anxiety levels were tracked in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics was verified. 4805 people participated, of both sexes and from all regions of the country, with an average age of 31.3 years (SD = 11.91). The results showed one-dimensionality of GAD-7 and its measurement equivalence between individuals with different levels of education and sex. The scale showed validity converging with the Questionnaire on Patient Health. Most of the participants had a moderate and severe level of anxiety. It was observed that the female gender and lower education level increased the chances of significant anxious symptoms.

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Author Biographies

Luanna dos Santos Silva, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Mestra em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), em São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.

Michelle de Farias Leite, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Mestra em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), em São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.

Amanda Lima Barros Feitosa, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Graduanda em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), em São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.

André Faro, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Doutor em Psicologia pela Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), em Salvador, BA, Brasil; com pós-doutorado pela Johns Hopkins University (JHU), em Baltimore, MD, Estados Unidos; mestre em Ciências da Saúde pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), em São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil. Professor da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS), em São Cristóvão, SE, Brasil.

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Published

2023-10-23

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dos Santos Silva, L., de Farias Leite, M., Lima Barros Feitosa, A., & Faro, A. (2023). Psychometric properties of GAD-7 in Brazil. Psico, 54(1), e39902. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2023.1.39902

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Vol. 54 No. 1 (2023): Single Volume - Continuous Flow of Publication

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