Abstract
The high rate of anxiety disorders, depression and stress detected in Chilean university students requires a standardized instrument of diagnosis, enabling timely intervention for these disturbances. The aim of thisstudy was to determine the psychometric properties of the Abbreviated Scales of Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) for Chilean university students, thus validating the scale. The sample consisted of 484 students of Universidad Austral de Chile selected through random sampling using a cross-sectional correlation
design. Construct validity was verified by exploratory factor analysis which yielded a three-factor structure, explaining 49.99% of total variance. Concurrent and divergent validity was verified by the BAI, BDI-II and SCL-90. Adequate reliability and internal consistency of DASS-21 was found using Cronbach’s Alpha.
