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

Background: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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]). Conclusion: 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.