This study aimed to present validity evidence based on internal structure of the Kessler Scale of Psychological Distress (K10), to show its relations with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and to present a social distribution of distress in the present sample. Participated in the study 717 residents of Aracaju, State of Sergipe, by means of household data collection. A sociodemographic questionnaire, K10, and PSS-10 were used as instruments. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed using

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... Factor software, which indicated the scale unidimensionality, explaining 69.9% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha was 0.93, and the model adjustment indices were satisfactory. A positive and statistically significant association between K10 and PSS-10 was observed. Regarding the social distribution, the levels of distress were higher in women, patients with chronic diseases, users of controlled drugs, and unemployed participants. It was concluded that K10 presented robust psychometric properties for the detection of distress in general population.