A systematic review and meta-analytic factor analysis of the depression anxiety stress scales

Abstract

The current work systematically reviews the factor structure of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), further synthesizing findings via meta-analytic factor analyses on available data. The review encompasses 78 articles consisting of 117 factor analyses. Reviewed findings varied across factor analytic approaches (Exploratory Factor Analysis versus Confirmatory Factor Analysis) and DASS versions (DASS42 versus DASS21), though its original 3-factor structure was generally supported. However, bifactor models (consisting of a general factor and group factors) were most consistently best-fitting, supporting an underlying unidimensional construct. This was generally corroborated by our meta-analytic factor analyses. Our findings fit in with broader developments in the field and reinforce the potential utility of bifactor models in illustrating the overlap between depression and anxiety. Several recommendations moving forward are discussed.