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Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

The factor structure of the 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) in young Chinese civil servants

Authors: Ying Liang, Lei Wang, Xican Yin

Published in: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a commonly used screening instrument for measuring mental disorders. However, few studies have measured the mental health of Chinese professionals or explored the factor structure of the GHQ-12 through investigations of young Chinese civil servants.

Method

This study analyses the factor structure of the GHQ-12 on young Chinese civil servants. Respondents include 1051 participants from six cities in eastern China. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) is used to identify the potential factor structure of the GHQ-12. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) models of previous studies are referred to for model fitting.

Results

The results indicate the GHQ-12 has very good reliability and validity. All ten CFA models are well fitted with the actual data.

Conclusion

All the ten models are feasible and fit the data equally well. The Chinese version of the GHQ-12 is suitable for professional groups and can serve as a screening tool to detect anxiety and psychiatric disorders.
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Metadata
Title
The factor structure of the 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) in young Chinese civil servants
Authors
Ying Liang
Lei Wang
Xican Yin
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-016-0539-y

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