Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Greek Version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for Youth (DASS-Y)

Accurate assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress during adolescence is essential for early identification of emotional difficulties and the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies. The present study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for Youth (DASS-Y). A cross-sectional validation design was employed in a school-based community sample of 302 Greek adolescents (47.4% female; M age = 14.62 years, SD = 1.52). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate competing structural models. Results supported the expected three-factor correlated structure representing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, which demonstrated superior fit relative to the single-factor model and good fit according to conventional criteria (e.g., CFI = 0.997, RMSEA = 0.057, SRMR = 0.051). Substantial inter-factor correlations ( r = .76–0.83) indicated considerable shared variance among the negative emotional dimensions, consistent with broader internalizing distress conceptualizations reported in previous DASS research. Internal consistency was high across subscales (Cronbach’s α = 0.83–0.89; McDonald’s ω = 0.84–0.90). Evidence for convergent validity was indicated by positive associations with measures of anxiety, depression, and negative affect, whereas discriminant validity was supported by negative associations with positive affect, self-compassion, life satisfaction, and self-efficacy. Overall, the findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the reliability and construct validity of the Greek DASS-Y as a brief screening instrument suitable for research and school- based assessment of adolescent emotional symptoms. Further research is needed to examine longitudinal stability, measurement invariance, bifactor structure, and clinical applicability.