Examining the construct validity of the Portuguese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 among college students

Authors

  • Sara Monteiro Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; 2Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Ana Bártolo 1Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Ana Torres 2Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; ESEnfCVPOA - School of Nursing Portuguese Red Cross Oliveira de Azeméis, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal
  • Anabela Pereira 1Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; CIDTFF - Didactic Research Center and Technology in the Training of Trainers, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
  • Emília Albuquerque Portuguese Oncology Institute of Coimbra - Francisco Gentil, E.P.E, Coimbra, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v33i2.1421

Keywords:

depression, PHQ-9, college students, validation

Abstract

The present study examines a new factor structure and the convergent validity of the Portuguese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) with college students. This measure has been used to evaluate depressive symptoms in adults. The total sample included 958 college students. Data were collected from a Web-based survey carried out in schools forming the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra. Students completed the PHQ-9 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) subscales as convergent measures. Results pointed to good fit of a second-order factor model with three first-order factors (somatic, cognitive and affective dimensions of depression). Strong positive correlations were found between PHQ-9 scores and HADS depression and BSI depression subscales. Our findings reinforce the PHQ-9 as a valid tool in higher education settings. Future studies should re-examine the dimensional structure of the tool considering its implications for the clinical interpretation of the measure.

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Published

2019-12-30

How to Cite

Monteiro, S., Bártolo, A., Torres, A., Pereira, A., & Albuquerque, E. (2019). Examining the construct validity of the Portuguese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 among college students. PSICOLOGIA, 33(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v33i2.1421

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 2 (2019)

Section

Non-thematic articles

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