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

Accurate assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress in youth is fundamental for understanding emotional well-being and guiding prevention and intervention efforts. The present study aimed to translate, adapt, and examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales for Youth (DASS-Y; Szabó & Lovibond, 2022). A community sample of 302 adolescents (47.4% female; M  = 14.62 years, SD  = 1.52) completed the DASS-Y along with measures of anxiety and depression (RCADS), positive and negative affect (PANAS-C), self-compassion (SCS-Y), life satisfaction (SLSS), and self-efficacy (GSE). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the expected three-factor correlated model representing Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, which showed excellent fit to the data (CFI = .997, TLI = .996, RMSEA = .057, SRMR = .051). Internal consistency was high across subscales (Cronbach’s α = .83–.89; McDonald’s ω = .84–.90). Convergent validity was supported by strong positive correlations with RCADS and PANAS-C Negative Affect, while discriminant validity was confirmed through negative correlations with Positive Affect, Self-Compassion, Life Satisfaction, and Self-Efficacy. These results replicate the factorial structure and reliability patterns of the original Australian validation and demonstrate that the Greek DASS-Y is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate instrument for assessing depression, anxiety, and stress among Greek youth. Future research should evaluate its clinical utility and longitudinal stability in diverse youth populations.