Measurement

Kessler-K6: The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - K6 version

This measure has been identified as a commonly used measure within the LifeCourse cohorts. These measures were identified to encourage potential opportunities for data harmonisation. The descriptions provided are intended to give cohort custodians and data users some common criteria to assess a survey for appropriateness to use in their own studies. It is not intended to mandate the use of any measure, or provide a comprehensive understanding of these measures.

This information was collated by the LifeCourse team from scoring manuals and documentation, publications, and official measure websites. To read about this process in more detail, access our report.

Measure No. of cohorts using measure Cost and accessibility Time to complete Key reference/s and measure information Reference frame Constructs assessed by measure Age range
Kessler-K6: The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - K6 version 9
  • Free to use
  • Not currently pre-programmed into REDCap

~2 minutes
  • Kessler, R.C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L.J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D.K., Normand, S.L., Walters, E.E. and Zaslavsky, A.M. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med, 32(6): 959-76. doi: 10.1017/S0033291702006074
  • Kessler, R.C., Barker, P.R., Colpe, L.J., Epstein, J.F., Gfroerer, J.C., Hiripi, E., Howes, M.J., Normand, S.L., Manderscheid, R.W., Walters, E.E. and Zaslavsky, A.M. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 60(2): 184-9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.60.2.184
  • Furukawa, T.A., Kessler, R.C., Slade, T. and Andrews, G. (2003). The performance of the K6 and K10 screening scales for psychological distress in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Psychol Med, 33(2): 357-62. doi: 10.1017/S0033291702006700

Past 4 weeks (28 days)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Self-report, 18+ years

Reference and/or access link:

  • Kessler, R.C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L.J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D.K., Normand, S.L., Walters, E.E. and Zaslavsky, A.M. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med, 32(6): 959-76. doi: 10.1017/S0033291702006074
  • Kessler, R.C., Barker, P.R., Colpe, L.J., Epstein, J.F., Gfroerer, J.C., Hiripi, E., Howes, M.J., Normand, S.L., Manderscheid, R.W., Walters, E.E. and Zaslavsky, A.M. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 60(2): 184-9. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.60.2.184
  • Furukawa, T.A., Kessler, R.C., Slade, T. and Andrews, G. (2003). The performance of the K6 and K10 screening scales for psychological distress in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Psychol Med, 33(2): 357-62. doi: 10.1017/S0033291702006700

Cohorts: