Construct validity of the HSCL-25 and SCL-90-Somatization scales among Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin migrants in Finland

One of the most fundamental issues in psychiatric assessment across different sociocultural and linguistic groups is assuring test reliability and validity. We analyze the construct validity of the HSCL-25 depression and anxiety scales and the SCL-90-Somatization scale in a population-based study (Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study) among 1356 Russian, Somali and Kurdish origin migrants (aged 18–64 years old) in Finland using an Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling approach. The results revealed problems in establishing measurement invariance of the HSCL-25 depression and anxiety and SCL-90-Somatization scales. Two types of exploratory analysis (Exploratory Factor Analysis and Network Analysis) confirmed the mismatch between the theoretical structure and the data set. In addition, there were considerable group differences between the Russian, Somali and Kurdish groups, with the Somali group in particular showing differing results. The results are discussed in relation to sociocultural variation in manifesting psychological distress and psychiatric assessment in multicultural settings.