GAD-7, GAD-2, and GAD-mini: Psychometric properties and norms of university students in the United States

Abstract

Objective: The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 & GAD-2) scales are reliable and valid instruments for assessing generalized anxiety symptoms in the general and clinical populations. However, little attention has been given to the psychometric qualities of GAD-7 and reduced length versions in a diverse sample of young adult college students stratified by sex. Thus, the aims for this study are to test psychometric properties and normative values of GAD-7, GAD-2, and GAD-Mini scales.

Method: U.S university students (N = 4128; females n = 2527, males n = 1601) ages 18-26 years completed an online survey composed of the GAD-7, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and demographic questions.

Results: Exploratory principal components analysis yielded a one factor solution for GAD-7 across sexes. In reducing scale length, iterative confirmatory principal components analyses stratified by sex revealed a two-item scale (GAD-Mini) with high factor loading items, internal consistency (α ≥ 0.85), and construct validity with PHQ-2 (r ≥ 0.55). Normative data indicate that regardless of whether GAD-7, GAD-2, or GAD-Mini scores were considered, about three-quarters of men and two-thirds of women scored below the reasonable cut-points in screening for GAD.

Conclusion: Findings from this study may help health care providers and researchers better understand the interpretation of these scales among university students when screening for GAD.

Keywords: Anxiety; Generalized anxiety disorder; Psychometrics; University students; Young adults.