A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25
Background: The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) is a commonly used questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression in trauma-affected refugees. Despite numerous studies evaluating criterion validity and reliability, few studies have assessed the construct validity of the scale. Methods: In the...
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doaj-1fd86c8ba10c41c5b142d48a800e78892021-04-22T13:42:29ZengElsevierJournal of Affective Disorders Reports2666-91532021-04-014100096A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25Erik Vindbjerg0Erik Lykke Mortensen1Guido Makransky2Tine Nielsen3Jessica Carlsson4Competence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Copenhagen, Denmark; Corresponding author.Department of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkUCL University College, Department of Applied Research in Education and Social Sciences, Odense, DenmarkCompetence Centre for Transcultural Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Ballerup, Copenhagen, DenmarkBackground: The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) is a commonly used questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression in trauma-affected refugees. Despite numerous studies evaluating criterion validity and reliability, few studies have assessed the construct validity of the scale. Methods: In the current study, a Rasch analysis was carried out based on responses from 635 Arabic and Persian speaking refugees. Results supported the use of an eight- or nine-item anxiety subscale score. Results: The anxiety subscale fit the Rasch model with limited modifications, including the exclusion of purely somatic items. Results for the depression subscale revealed a range of issues. While a shortened scale which accounted for gender differences allowed for a fit with the Persian speaking sample, no fit could be obtained for the Arabic speaking sample. We discuss whether more flexible psychometric models may be necessary to derive valid estimates of depression in some cultures. Limitations: Both constructs studied, anxiety and depression, were comorbid to PTSD in the included sample. Most respondents were chronically affected and often troubled by extensive post-settlement stress. Results may not generalize to other populations, e.g. non-refugees or more recently arrived refugees. Conclusions: Purely somatic items have no clear place in the HSCL-25 anxiety subscale, while the anxiety items show good potential to fit a Rasch model. The HSCL-25 depression subscale may not be suitable for summating a single total score, reflecting the need for either a simpler scale or a more complex approach to assessing responses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915321000238Rasch analysisItem response theoryRefugeesTransculturalAnxietyDepression |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Erik Vindbjerg Erik Lykke Mortensen Guido Makransky Tine Nielsen Jessica Carlsson |
spellingShingle |
Erik Vindbjerg Erik Lykke Mortensen Guido Makransky Tine Nielsen Jessica Carlsson A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 Journal of Affective Disorders Reports Rasch analysis Item response theory Refugees Transcultural Anxiety Depression |
author_facet |
Erik Vindbjerg Erik Lykke Mortensen Guido Makransky Tine Nielsen Jessica Carlsson |
author_sort |
Erik Vindbjerg |
title |
A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 |
title_short |
A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 |
title_full |
A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 |
title_fullStr |
A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 |
title_full_unstemmed |
A rasch-based validity study of the HSCL-25 |
title_sort |
rasch-based validity study of the hscl-25 |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports |
issn |
2666-9153 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Background: The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) is a commonly used questionnaire to assess anxiety and depression in trauma-affected refugees. Despite numerous studies evaluating criterion validity and reliability, few studies have assessed the construct validity of the scale. Methods: In the current study, a Rasch analysis was carried out based on responses from 635 Arabic and Persian speaking refugees. Results supported the use of an eight- or nine-item anxiety subscale score. Results: The anxiety subscale fit the Rasch model with limited modifications, including the exclusion of purely somatic items. Results for the depression subscale revealed a range of issues. While a shortened scale which accounted for gender differences allowed for a fit with the Persian speaking sample, no fit could be obtained for the Arabic speaking sample. We discuss whether more flexible psychometric models may be necessary to derive valid estimates of depression in some cultures. Limitations: Both constructs studied, anxiety and depression, were comorbid to PTSD in the included sample. Most respondents were chronically affected and often troubled by extensive post-settlement stress. Results may not generalize to other populations, e.g. non-refugees or more recently arrived refugees. Conclusions: Purely somatic items have no clear place in the HSCL-25 anxiety subscale, while the anxiety items show good potential to fit a Rasch model. The HSCL-25 depression subscale may not be suitable for summating a single total score, reflecting the need for either a simpler scale or a more complex approach to assessing responses. |
topic |
Rasch analysis Item response theory Refugees Transcultural Anxiety Depression |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915321000238 |
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