The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Psychometric properties of the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) in a large representative sample of Finnish adolescents
Open accessAbstract
Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are common among adolescents and can lead to severe psychosocial impairment, yet there is a lack of a good quality scale to measure symptoms of generalized anxiety in young people. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) is a self-report scale used to measure GAD symptoms and has been validated in adult populations, but the measure's psychometric properties regarding adolescents are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability, factorial validity, and construct validity of the GAD-7 in adolescents in a nationally representative sample from a general population. Our study was based on Finnish survey data on 111,171 adolescents aged 14-18 years. Our results show that the GAD-7 demonstrates good psychometric properties in adolescents. The internal consistency of the GAD-7 was good (Cronbach's α = 0.91) and the instrument's unidimensional factor structure was supported. The associations of GAD-7 sum scores with self-report measures of depression and social anxiety supported construct validity. The psychometric properties of the GAD-7 in this sample of adolescents were similar to those reported among adults. However, studies in which diagnostic interviews are performed are needed to demonstrate the diagnostic efficacy of the measure in this age group.
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“The GAD-7 produced good psychometric properties in adolescents [138]”
From Efficacy of a transdiagnostic Internet prevention approach in adolescents (EMPATIA study): study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (2024) · cites this paper as [138]
In the citing paper
“The measurement scale was evaluated in a large population study of Finnish adolescents aged 14 to 18 years and indicated good psychometric properties for adolescents (Tiirikainen et al., 2019).”
From Effectiveness of and processes related to internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with anxiety disorders: a randomized controlled trial (2023) · cites this paper as Tiirikainen et al., 2019
In the citing paper
“The measure has also been validated in adolescent populations with Cronbach’s α=0.90 and high convergent and discriminant validity.35”
From Pilot evaluation of the Sleep Ninja: A smartphone application for adolescent insomnia symptoms (2019) · cites this paper as [35]
In the citing paper
“This is a reliable, valid, and responsive screening instrument commonly used in primary care settings [44] and has been extensively studied and validated in diverse adolescent populations, including for screening in primary care settings in Finland [45], China [46], Korea [47], Ghana [48], and Canada [49].”
From Chatbot-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adolescents With Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Feasibility and Acceptability Study (2022) · cites this paper as [45]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Tiirikainen, K., Haravuori, H., Ranta, K., Kaltiala-Heino, R., & Marttunen, M.
- Affiliations
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Helsinki University Hospital (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Tiirikainen, Kati
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 272
- Pages
- 30-35
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2903552347
- Cited by
- 345
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 53 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 7
- FWCI
- 23.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- 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
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, GAD-7, generalized anxiety disorder, adolescents, psychometric properties, reliability statistics, factorial validity, construct validity, internal consistency, anxiety symptoms, depression, social anxiety, Finnish adolescents
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Anxiety Disorders, Female, Finland, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Reproducibility of Results
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