The Kessler 6 psychological distress scale (K6) in swedish: a psychometric study of reliability, factor structure and measurement invariance in a large population-based sample

Background

Psychological distress is a major public health concern, and brief, reliable screening instruments are essential for early detection and monitoring. The six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) is widely used internationally; however, evidence regarding its psychometric properties in Sweden remains limited. This study examined the reliability, factor structure, and measurement invariance of the Swedish version of the K6 in a large population-based sample.