First standardisation of the short version of the Giessen-Subjective Complaints List GBB-24 in re-unified Germany

At the end of 1994 a shortened version of the Giessen Subjective Complaints List (GBB-24), was standardised using a sample of 2182 subjects aged 18 to 60 years, representative of the population of re-unified Germany (720 from East Germany, 1462 from West-Germany). The item norms are given for the whole group, while the scale norms are also subdivided according to gender, age (18-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years) and place of residence (East/West). The dependence of physical complaints on age and gender has diminished significantly since 1975, whereas the factor structure and the internal consistency of the scales have changed only slighthy. The relative influence of further socio-demographic variables (education, income, partnership status, town/country, unemployment) and attitudes hearth on the scale scores of the GBB-24 are described. The results were also correlated with data from Giessen-Test (GT) and a questionnaire on life satisfaction (Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit FLZ), collected at the same time. As expected, significant relationships were found between Scare 4 (Depression) of the Giessen-Test and all scales of the GBB-24, particularly Scale 1 "Exhaustion". A significant relationship with life satisfaction was also found, i.e. absence of complaints corresponded with greater life satisfaction. As anticipated, this relationship became most evident in the area of physical health.