GAD-7, GAD-2, and GAD-mini: Psychometric properties and norms of university students in the United States

Abstract Objective The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 & GAD-2) scales are reliable and valid instruments for assessing generalized anxiety symptoms in the general and clinical populations. However, little attention has been given to the psychometric qualities of GAD-7 and reduced length versions in a diverse sample of young adult college students stratified by sex. Thus, the aims for this study are to test psychometric properties and normative values of GAD-7, GAD-2, and GAD-Mini scales. Method U.S university students (N = 4128; females n = 2527, males n = 1601) ages 18–26 years completed an online survey composed of the GAD-7, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and demographic questions. Results Exploratory principal components analysis yielded a one factor solution for GAD-7 across sexes. In reducing scale length, iterative confirmatory principal components analyses stratified by sex revealed a two-item scale (GAD-Mini) with high factor loading items, internal consistency (α ≥ 0.85), and construct validity with PHQ-2 (r ≥ 0.55). Normative data indicate that regardless of whether GAD-7, GAD-2, or GAD-Mini scores were considered, about three-quarters of men and two-thirds of women scored below the reasonable cut-points in screening for GAD. Conclusion Findings from this study may help health care providers and researchers better understand the interpretation of these scales among university students when screening for GAD.