Multidimensional Structure and Latent Profiles of Psychological Distress in Youth: An Integrated Factor–Cluster Analysis

Background: Psychological distress in adolescents and young adults is a major public health concern and is increasingly conceptualized as a multidimensional construct involving overlapping somatic and cognitive symptoms. Understanding its latent structure and heterogeneity is essential for improving the assessment and early intervention.

Objective: To examine the latent structure, interdimensional relationships, and subgroup variability of psychological distress using an integrated analytical framework.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 736 participants aged 15–24 years. Psychological distress was assessed using Conn’s Psychological Distress Battery. Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with oblique rotation) was used to identify latent dimensions. Group differences were evaluated using t-tests and ANOVA, while multiple linear regression identified independent predictors. K-means clustering was applied to standardized factor scores to identify distinct distress profiles.

Results: Sampling adequacy was excellent (KMO = 0.98), and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (χ² = 16116.6, df = 435, p < 0.001), confirming the suitability of the data for factor analysis. A two-factor solution explained 53.5% of the total variance, representing somatic and cognitive dimensions of distress that were strongly correlated (r = 0.85, p < 0.001), suggesting a substantial shared underlying distress component. Male gender and university-level education were associated with higher distress levels, with a small-to-moderate gender effect (Cohen’s d = 0.42). In multivariable regression analyses, male gender (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) and university education (β = 0.85, p < 0.001) independently predicted higher distress. Cluster analysis identified three distinct profiles corresponding to high, moderate, and low distress levels.

Conclusions: Psychological distress in youth is multidimensional and heterogeneous, characterized by interrelated symptom domains and distinct profiles. These findings support multidimensional and person-centered assessment approaches and may inform more targeted early intervention strategies.