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Cited by 446Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychometric Methodologies and TestingMental Health Treatment and Access

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 43 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Psychometric evaluation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener GAD-7, based on a large German general population sample

Hinz, Andreas, Klein, Annette M., Brähler, Elmar, Glaesmer, Heide, Luck, Tobias, Riedel-Heller, Steffi G., Wirkner, Kerstin, Hilbert, Anja·2017·Journal of Affective Disorders
DOI 10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.012
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Abstract

Background The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scales GAD-7 and GAD-2 are instruments for the assessment of anxiety. The aims of this study are to test psychometric properties of these questionnaires, to provide normative values, and to investigate associations with sociodemographic factors, quality of life, psychological variables, and behavioral factors.Methods A German community sample (n=9721) with an age range of 18-80 years was surveyed using the GAD-7 and several other questionnaires.Results Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the unidimensionality and measurement invariance of the GAD-7 across age and gender. Females were more anxious than males (mean scores: M=4.07 vs. M=3.01; effect size: d=0.33). There was no linear age trend. A total of 5.9% fulfilled the cut-off criterion of 10 and above. Anxiety was correlated with low quality of life, fatigue, low habitual optimism, physical complaints, sleep problems, low life satisfaction, low social support, low education, unemployment, and low income. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were also associated with heightened anxiety, especially in women. When comparing the GAD-7 (7 items) with the ultra-short GAD-2 (2 items), the GAD-7 instrument was superior to the GAD-2 regarding several psychometric criteria.Limitations The response rate (33%) was low. Because of the cross-sectional character of the study, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. A further limitation is the lack of a gold standard for diagnosing anxiety.Conclusions The GAD-7 can be recommended for use in clinical research and routine.

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  1. Daig, 2013, Are urban dwellers more depressed and anxious than the rural population? Results of a representative survey, Psychother. Psychosom. Med., 63, 445

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Metadata

Authors
Hinz, A., Klein, A. M., Brähler, E., Glaesmer, H., Luck, T., Riedel-Heller, S. G., Wirkner, K., & Hilbert, A.
Affiliations
  • Leipzig University (DE)
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
Corresponding author
Hinz, Andreas
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Affective Disorders
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-03
Volume
210
Pages
338-344
ISSN
0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.012
OpenAlex
W2562471806
Cited by
443
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 65 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 2
FWCI
14.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • European Union
  • European Regional Development Fund
  • Free State of Saxony (713-241202, 14505/2470, 14575/2470)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
GAD-7, GAD-2, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety screening, psychometric properties, reference values, measurement invariance, sex differences in anxiety, quality of life, sleep disorders, social support, smoking, alcohol consumption, German general population
MeSH terms
Patient Health Questionnaire, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alcohol Drinking, Anxiety Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Smoking, Socioeconomic Factors, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute, Young Adult

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