EMERGENCE OF THE DASS-16: A PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION AMONG NON-CLINICAL FILIPINO UNDERGRADUATES

The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) assesses distress, but its factorial structure remains debated. Thus, this study examined the factor structure and construct validity of the DASS-21 among non-clinical Filipino undergraduates across two phases. Phase 1 (n = 701) employed exploratory factor analysis, which suggested that the original three-factor structure was not optimal. Sequential item removal produced a 16-item, two-factor solution (DASS-16) encompassing Cognitive–Affective Dysphoria and Anxiety–Tension Arousal. Phase 2 (n = 899) employed confirmatory factor analysis to compare competing models, with the DASS-16 demonstrating superior fit and measurement invariance across psychology and non-psychology students. Latent mean comparisons revealed higher endorsement among psychology students, consistent with the differential exposure hypothesis. Findings support the DASS-16 as a psychometrically robust and culturally sensitive tool for Filipino undergraduates. However, the exclusion of multiple physiological hyperarousal items and the absence of concurrent validity evidence highlight the need for further empirical testing before widespread adoption.