Emotional Distress in Incarcerated Populations: Factor Structure of the Spanish Version of the DASS-21

The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is widely used to identify common mental disorders among adults and has demonstrated strong validity in clinical populations, correlating strongly with established diagnostic tools. It offers a practical alternative to comprehensive assessments like the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), particularly for rapid screening. Despite its widespread use, no prior research has examined the factor structure or predictive validity of the DASS-21 in incarcerated populations. This study analyzed responses from 1,325 incarcerated individuals across six Spanish prisons. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported a bifactor structure with a general psychological distress factor and specific depression, anxiety, and stress factors. Factor loadings indicated a dominant general distress component, with some specificity for individual subscales. These findings support the DASS-21 as a valid and robust measure of psychological distress in prison populations, highlighting its utility for mental health screening in correctional settings.