Assessing the Smallest Detectable Change of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale Score in an Adult Population in Japan

Uchida, Hiroyuki; Kuroiwa, Chiaki; Ohki, Satoshi T.; Takahashi, Kana; Tsuchiya, Kenji; Kikuchi, Senichiro; Hirao, Kazuki

doi:10.2147/prbm.s417446

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 62 publications

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“…In our sample, we observed statistically significant associations between higher pet attachment and lower generalized anxiety symptoms overall, and strong correspondence between higher pet attachment and lower symptoms of both depression and anxiety among dog owners in particular. Although statistically significant, these results cannot be interpreted as clinically meaningful, due to effect sizes lower than established minimal clinically important differences 103 or smallest detectable change, 104 or due to lack of established minimal clinically important differences. 105 However, obtained effects are in line with previous research findings 106 , 107 and regardless of clinical significance, reductions in psychological distress are associated with better overall mental health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Żebrowska,

Strohmaier,

Huttenhower

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceUnderstanding how attachment to pets can alleviate depression and anxiety offers valuable insights for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly for those with insecure attachment styles from childhood trauma.ObjectiveTo determine if a close bond with a pet is associated with reduced depression and anxiety, especially among women who experienced childhood abuse.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study involved women who voluntarily enrolled in the Mind Body Study (MBS), a substudy of the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS2) focusing on psychosocial factors. Women reporting childhood abuse were oversampled to capture their psychosocial distress in adulthood. MBS participants were invited to complete comprehensive online questionnaires, which were administered twice (March 2013 and February 2014).ExposurePet attachment measured by Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS).Main Outcomes and MeasuresLevels of depression and anxiety (10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD-10]; Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6]; 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Crown Crisp Experiential Index phobic anxiety subscale [CCI]), considered individually and combined into an overall z-score measure of anxiety and depression symptoms.ResultsA total of 214 women (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [3.9] years) were included; 156 women (72.6%) reported a history of childhood abuse. Of 688 invited MBS participants in 2013, 293 (42.6%) expressed interest; there were 228 completed questionnaires (response rate, 77.8%) in 2013 and 208 questionnaires (response rate, 71.0%) in 2014. LAPS scores were provided by 140 participants (65.4%), 78 (55.7%) for dogs and 46 (32.9%) for cats. Overall higher pet attachment on the LAPS score was significantly associated with lower GAD-7 scores (β = −0.17; 95% CI, −0.29 to −0.06), but there was no association for phobic anxiety or depression. There were no statistically significant associations between cat attachment and depression or anxiety. Higher dog attachment was associated with significantly lower scores in depression (CESD-10: β, −0.47; 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.26; K6: β = −0.42; 95% CI, −0.54 to −0.31), generalized anxiety (GAD-7: β = −0.47; 95% CI, −0.65 to −0.3), and the overall measure of anxiety and depression (z score: β = −0.12; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.08), but there was no association between dog attachment and phobic anxiety (CCI: β = −0.08; 95% CI, −0.24 to 0.09). All effect sizes for associations were higher when analyses were restricted to women with a history of childhood abuse.Conclusions and relevanceIn this explorative cross-sectional study, strong attachment to pets, especially dogs, was associated with lower anxiety and depression symptoms. The favorable association was particularly apparent in women with a history of childhood abuse.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Żebrowska,

Strohmaier,

Huttenhower

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

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Physical Activity Moderates the Relationship Between Frequency of Past 90-Day Cannabis Use on Psychological Distress Among a National Sample of College Students

Zeiger,

Conner

2024

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Consistency as the Currency in Psychological Measures: A Reliability Generalization Meta‐Analysis of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K‐10 and K‐6)

Wojujutari,

Idemudia

2024

Depression and Anxiety

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Background: Psychological distress is a critical concern in mental health, significantly impacting the quality of life across lifespan. Reliable and culturally adaptable assessment tools are essential for effective diagnosis and intervention. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scales (K‐10 and K‐6) are widely used for their efficiency and psychometric strength, but the reliability of K‐10 and K‐6 across different populations and settings remains to be determined.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the reliability generalization (RG) of the K‐10 and K‐6 scales across diverse demographic and cultural contexts, providing a comprehensive meta‐analysis of their performance.Method: A RG meta‐analysis was conducted using data from peer‐reviewed articles published between 2002 and 2024, sourced from databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The analysis included 48 studies that reported reliability measures like Cronbach’s α, focusing on the psychometric properties of the scales across various populations and settings.Results: The meta‐analysis revealed high internal consistency for both the K‐10 (mean α = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.88, 0.91]) and K‐6 (mean α = 0.84, 95% CI [0.80, 0.88]) scales. Reliability varied across different populations and languages. For the K‐10, the highest reliability was found among adolescents (α = 0.93) and carers (α = 0.91). The K‐10 demonstrated exceptional reliability in settings such as Australia (α = 0.97) and significant variability in Tanzania (α = 0.78). The K‐6 scale showed high reliability among outpatients (α = 0.89) and the general population (α = 0.87). The scales were adapted into multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Swahili, Farsi, Indonesian, Japanese, Hindi, and Portuguese, reflecting their global applicability and adaptability.Conclusion: The Kessler Psychological Distress Scales (K‐10 and K‐6) are reliable tools for measuring psychological distress in general and clinical populations. Their high reliability and adaptability across diverse settings highlight their value in clinical practice and research. These findings support the continued use and adaptation of these scales in global mental health assessments, emphasizing the importance of cultural and linguistic considerations.

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Assessing the Smallest Detectable Change of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale Score in an Adult Population in Japan

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Physical Activity Moderates the Relationship Between Frequency of Past 90-Day Cannabis Use on Psychological Distress Among a National Sample of College Students

Consistency as the Currency in Psychological Measures: A Reliability Generalization Meta‐Analysis of Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K‐10 and K‐6)

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