Examining factorial structure and measurement invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)-18 among drug users

Jichuan Wang, Brian C. Kelly, Brenda M. Booth, Russel S. Falck, Carl Leukefeld, Robert G. Carlson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the factorial structure of the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18) and test its measurement invariance among different drug using populations. A total sample of 710 drug users was recruited using respondent-drive sampling (RDS) from three states: Ohio (n = 248), Arkansas (n = 237), and Kentucky (n = 225). The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) show: 1) the BSI-18 has a three-factor structure (somatization, depression, and anxiety) with an underlying second-order factor (global severity index of distress); and 2) its factorial structure and metric (factor loadings) are invariant across populations under study. However, the scalars (intercepts) of the BSI-18 items are not invariant, and the means of the latent factors also varied across populations. Our findings provide evidence of a valid factorial structure of the BSI-18 that can be readily applied to studying drug using populations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-29
Number of pages7
JournalAddictive Behaviors
Volume35
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant numbers R01 DA15363 and R01 DA14340 . The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or any other governing agency.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant numbers R01 DA15363 and R01 DA14340 . The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or any other governing agency.

FundersFunder number
National Institute on Drug AbuseR01 DA14340, R01DA015363

    Keywords

    • BSI-18
    • CFA model
    • Drug users
    • Measurement invariance
    • Psychological distress

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Medicine (miscellaneous)
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Toxicology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

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