Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS)

The psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), and its short form (DASS-21), were studied in 365 Spanish university students. According to the confirmatory factor analysis of the DASS, none of the models (3 factors, a second-order factor underlying the three factors) had an acceptable fit. With regard to the DASS-21 the three-factor model had the best fit; this fit can be said to be acceptable but not good enough. Correlations with other questionnaires of anxiety, depression and positive/negative affect revealed a satisfactory convergent validity and an acceptable divergent validity. The discriminant validity was satisfactory, although the anxiety scale did not distinguish between anxious (n=23) and depressed (n=12) patients.