Internal Validity and Reliability of the GAD-7 Test in Latin America

Generalized anxiety has significantly increased in the general population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for rapid screening tools. In this context, the present study analyzed the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in healthcare workers and the general population in Latin America. A cross-sectional e-health study was conducted, surveying 11,279 Latin Americans online using snowball sampling. The sample included healthcare professionals, hospital populations, community members from various occupations, and university students from six countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, and Peru). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed separately for each country. Additionally, the instrument's internal consistency was evaluated by calculating McDonald's W index and item-total correlations based on the final items. The EFA revealed a unidimensional structure comprising the seven items of the instrument, which explained between 62.8% and 66.1% of the variance (KMO = between .900 and .910; p < .000). The CFA confirmed adequate fit indices for each country. The omega index ranged from 0.85 (Peru: CI = 0.800-0.884) to 0.95 (Argentina-Bolivia: CI = 0.901-0.985), and item-total correlations were high, ranging from .642 to .869, demonstrating the instrument's reliability. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the GAD-7 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing generalized anxiety symptoms in the Latin American population.

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Publication Details

Journal
Chronic Stress
Published
2025-03-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/24705470251315260
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.55
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Internal Validity and Reliability of the GAD-7 Test in Latin America

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Chronic Stress
Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
5.55
article

Internal Validity and Reliability of the GAD-7 Test in Latin America

Kattia Cantillo Pacheco, Raúl Quincho Apumayta, Cristian Romo, Daniela Ripoll-Córdoba, Pascual Ángel Gargiulo, Paola Andrea Martínez Sande, Régulo Antezana Iparraguirre, César Castellanos, Jorge Herrera‐Pino, N. Ocampo-Barba, Loida Camargo, Juan Carlos Cárdenas Valverde, Juan Carlos Sandoval Coronado, David Elí Salazar Espinoza, Irina Giovanna Flores Poma, Norman López, Cristian Araya, Juan Martínez, César Quispe-Ayala, Nicole Caldichoury, Indalecio Quispe-Rodríguez, Karen Alcos-Flores, Boris Zurita-Cueva, Breiner Morales-Asencio, Elsa Carmen Muñoz Romero
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Generalized anxiety has significantly increased in the general population during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for rapid screening tools. In this context, the present study analyzed the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in healthcare workers and the general population in Latin America. A cross-sectional e-health study was conducted, surveying 11,279 Latin Americans online using snowball sampling. The sample included healthcare professionals, hospital populations, community members from various occupations, and university students from six countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, and Peru). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed separately for each country. Additionally, the instrument's internal consistency was evaluated by calculating McDonald's W index and item-total correlations based on the final items. The EFA revealed a unidimensional structure comprising the seven items of the instrument, which explained between 62.8% and 66.1% of the variance (KMO = between .900 and .910; p < .000). The CFA confirmed adequate fit indices for each country. The omega index ranged from 0.85 (Peru: CI = 0.800-0.884) to 0.95 (Argentina-Bolivia: CI = 0.901-0.985), and item-total correlations were high, ranging from .642 to .869, demonstrating the instrument's reliability. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the GAD-7 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing generalized anxiety symptoms in the Latin American population.

Chronic StressVol. 9
Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University (BO), University of Cartagena (CO), Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (AR), Florida International University (US), Universidad Católica de Temuco (CL), Universidad César Vallejo (PE), Daniel Alcides Carrión National University (PE), University of the Coast (CO), Universidad Santo Tomás (CL), Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica (PE), San Cristóbal of Huamanga University (PE), Universidad de Los Lagos (CL), Ana G. Mendez University System (PR), Kennedy Clinic Hospital (EC), Arturo Prat University (CL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
5.55
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