Validation, Factorial Invariance, and Latent Mean Differences Across Sex of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in Ecuadorian University Sample

Public Significance Statement The present study validated a Spanish and online version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) among Ecuadorian university students. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in the educational context is high. Consequently, the present study has confirmed the factorial invariance and the nonexistence of statistically significant differences in the latent scores across sex. These findings allow the possibility of measuring the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress without bias in a new reality provoked by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in which paper questionnaires could be replaced by online questionnaires. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression is a topic of concern for general population but also for the educational context. Consequently, due to the great rates of anxiety, depression, and stress problems in undergraduates, the use of a standardized instrument to accurately detect these constructs in the university context is needed. As a result, the present study pretends to examine the psychometric characteristics of the online version of the short Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in Ecuadorian university sample, including the validation, and the testing of factorial invariance and latent differences analyses based on sex. The total of individuals that formed the sample were 3,060 students (M (age) = 22.7, SD = 2.46) from the Central University of Ecuador, and they participated via the internet, fulfilling the 21 items that formed the DASS-21. Regarding the results, the three-factor structure of the online version of the DASS-21 was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis, adequate internal consistency values and factorial invariance based on sex were confirmed, and no statistically significant latent mean differences in the scale across sex were found. In consequence, the results of the current investigation give a reliable, consistent, and online measure of stress, anxiety, and depression, which could help to assess and treat emotional problems originated among the Ecuadorian university population.