Adaptação da escala de depressão, ansiedade e estresse (DASS-21) para a língua brasileira de sinais.

Abstract

This study aimed to adapt the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) into Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS) in order to improve access to psychological assessment for deaf individuals. The research followed an exploratory design with a mixed-methods approach, involving five deaf participants in the final application and 11 volunteers—both hearing and deaf signers—in the adaptation process, in addition to a collaborator who developed the digital version of the scale. The methodological path included rigorous stages of translation, back-translation, semantic and conceptual validation, video recording, development of an interactive platform, and evaluation by expert judges. The results showed that the adapted version was well understood by deaf participants, who reported feeling represented by the language used and comfortable with the response format. The digital platform proved to be accessible and user-friendly, respecting the visual and linguistic features of LIBRAS. The application in a clinical context revealed that, although the scale is not diagnostic, it can serve as an efficient screening tool for psychological distress symptoms, promoting greater autonomy and a sense of being welcomed for deaf patients. This study contributes to more inclusive practices in mental health, strengthens the principles of Inclusive Psychological Assessment, and points to promising avenues for the use of technology as a tool for linguistic accessibility.