The German Version of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) — Factorial structure, psychometric properties, and population-based norms

PurposeThe Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) has often been used in cross-cultural settings and in studies focussing on asylum seekers, refugees etc. It is available in a number of languages. The present study investigates the psychometric properties of the German version of the HSCL-25 and delivers population-based norms.MethodsPsychometric properties are investigated in a population-based representative sample of the German general population (N = 2516). Seven different factorial models are compared using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsTwo out of the seven models show the best model fit. Because of the high inter-correlations of the factors of the tripartite model, the bifactor model is the preferable factor solution. The internal consistencies (Cronbach’s alpha) were 0.84, 0.92, and 0.94 for the anxiety, the depression and the total score, respectively. The correlations of both subscales of this model with the subscales of the Brief-Symptom-Inventory-18 or the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 point out, that there is only marginal differential information of the subscales.ConclusionConsidering the third (“general”) factor of the bifactor model with all items loading on it and the absence of differential correlations of the subscales with the external criteria (PHQ-4, BSI-18) the HSCL-25 seems to assess something like “mental distress” with a focus on symptoms of depression and anxiety. The population-based norms support the application of the HSCL-25 for individual diagnostics as well as for the comparison of specific samples with the general population.