Evaluation the DASS-8 as a rapid screening tool for mental health in the Malaysian population

Rising rates in depression and suicide across the globe highlight the urgent need for reliable screening tools to identify psychological distress. The 8-item Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-8) offers potential as a brief, efficient measure of psychological wellbeing, but requires validation in Malaysian populations. This study aimed to conduct comprehensive psychometric testing of the DASS-8 in a Malaysian sample. Study 1 involved 665 Malaysian participants who completed an online survey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to examine the internal structure of DASS-8. Study 2 included 202 participants who completed surveys before and after an experimental task to assess short-term temporal stability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis were conducted. The DASS-8 demonstrated excellent psychometric properties with high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.86). Both EFA and CFA revealed a unidimensional factor structure, contrasting with the three-factor structure (depression, anxiety, stress) found in longer DASS versions. Short-term temporal stability and interclass correlation coefficients supported the scale’s temporal stability (ICC = 0.87, 95% CI [0.83, 0.90]). The DASS-8 shows strong psychometric properties in Malaysian samples and functions effectively as a brief measure of general psychological distress rather than as a tool for distinguishing between specific emotional states.