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Park, Kim, and Cho: Factor Structure of the 12-Item General Health Questionnaire in the Korean General Adult Population
Original Article
Journal of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Journal of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012; 51(4): 178-184.

Published online: 30 July 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jkna.2012.51.4.178

Factor Structure of the 12-Item General Health Questionnaire in the Korean General Adult Population

Jong-Ik Park, MD, PhD1, Young Ju Kim, MA1, Maeng Je Cho, MD, PhD2

1Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

2Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Maeng Je Cho, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. Tel +82-2-2072-3155, Fax +82-2-747-5774, mjcho@snu.ac.kr

Received 4 March 2012       Revised 4 May 2012       Accepted 18 May 2012

Copyright © 2012 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Abstract

Objectives

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) has been used extensively in a variety of settings across countries. The objectives of this study were to test the factor structure and internal consistency of the GHQ-12 in the Korean general population and to test relationships among the scales, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the EuroQoL-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D).

Methods

Data were acquired from a sample of 6,510 Koreans, aged 18 to 64 years old, who were randomly selected based on the 2005 census (2,581 men and 3,929 women). Participants completed the GHQ-12, the CES-D, and the EQ-5D. Exploratory factor analysis was performed for extraction of factor structures of the GHQ-12. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used for assessment of internal consistency. Finally, correlation analysis was performed for assessment of the relationships among the three instruments.

Results

Results of principal axis factoring with oblique rotation solution showed that the GHQ-12 was a measure of psychological distress with a two-factor structure that jointly accounted for 38% of the variance. The internal consistency of the GHQ-12 was high (Cronbach's α=0.79). Concurrent validity indicated a significant positive correlation with the CES-D (r=0.68, p<0.01) and a significant negative correlation with the EQ-5D(r=-0.36, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Findings of this study demonstrated that the Korean version of the GHQ-12 has a two-factor structure and is a reliable and valid instrument that can be used for measurement of psychological distress in Korean adults.

Keywords: GHQ-12, Factor analysis, Psychological distress

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