Measurement equivalence of the Kessler 6 Psychological Distress Scale for Chinese and Korean immigrants: Comparison between younger and older adults

• Published in: International journal of methods in psychiatric research Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. e1823 - n/a
• Main Author: Shon, En‐Jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Asian immigrant subgroups; Immigrants; measurement equivalence; Original; psychological distress; younger and older Asian immigrants; younger and older Asian immigrants; K6; psychological distress; Asian immigrant subgroups; measurement equivalence
• DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1823
• ISSN: 1049-8931; 1557-0657

Objectives The Kessler 6 (K6) Psychological Distress Scale is a well‐known instrument to screen for psychological distress of general populations. It is critical to perform the equivalence test of the K6 for Asian immigrant subgroups. Methods The 2012 California Health Interview Survey data were used (N = 1,210; Chinese = 640, Koreans = 570). Among 1,210, 734 were younger (18–64 years) and 476 were older (65+) adults. It was examined whether parameters in the measurement model is equivalent across the two groups, using multiple‐group analysis. The equivalence tests for Chinese and Koreans were separately performed based on different age groups (younger [18–64] vs. older [65+]). Results The younger group had good model fit (X2 = 41.27 [df = 16, p = .001], X2/df = 2.58, Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 0.99, Goodness of Fit Index [GFI] = 0.98, root mean square error or approximation [RMSEA] = 0.05, standardized root mean residual [SRMR] = 0.03), and the older group also showed good model fit (X2 = 41.70 [df = 16, p < .001], X2/df = 2.61, CFI = 0.98, GFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.04). The model for older group indicated measurement noninvariance between Chinese and Korean immigrants (ΔX2 = 17.86, Δdf = 5, p = .003, CFI = 0.972, ΔCFI = 0.009). The items “hopeless,” “restless,” and “depress,” were significantly nonequivalent between the two groups. Conclusions Clinicians/researchers should be aware of the potential risk for misclassification when they screen psychological distress of Chinese or Korean older immigrants. Professionals should pay attention to cross‐cultural comparability when interpreting results from the K6.