Comparing short versions of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS): A psychometric study in the Italian general population

Mental health disorders are a growing concern in Italy, where prevalence rates for anxiety and depression reach 5.1 % and 3.5 %, respectively (ESEMeD study), compounded by post-COVID-19 socioeconomic stressors. Validated, efficient tools for screening are urgently needed. This study compares the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 and its short forms, the DASS-12, DASS-10, and DASS-8, in the Italian general population.A total of 204 Italian adults (M age = 35.14, SD = 12.84) participated via an online survey. We evaluated test-retest reliability, convergent validity with the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and structural validity through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Reliability was high across all versions (r = 0.94–0.98). Convergent validity with the BRCS showed negative correlations (r = −0.39 to −0.14), with the strongest associations for the depression subscales of DASS-12 (r = −0.39) and DASS-21 (r = −0.359), likely due to their alignment with cognitive-emotional resilience, while weaker anxiety correlations reflect its somatic focus. CFA results showed that the DASS-8 had the best model fit (CFI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.064). It also demonstrated the strongest bifactor structure, with the highest omega hierarchical coefficient and explained variance.While all versions performed adequately, trade-offs emerged: the DASS-8 offered excellent fit but limited domain coverage; the DASS-10 showed structural inconsistencies; and the DASS-12 provided a balanced compromise. The DASS-8 is recommended for rapid screening in primary care and digital health platforms, supporting scalable public health strategies for early detection and intervention. The DASS-12 may be preferable when construct differentiation is essential.