A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment
Abstract Background The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) is a widely used scale for screening depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. This study aims to uncover the optimal factor structure of the DES-DC and presents an alternate conceptualization of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00717-z |
| _version_ | 1797275833606340608 |
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| author | Yanhua Zhao Jiahui Niu Jing Huang Yan Meng |
| author_facet | Yanhua Zhao Jiahui Niu Jing Huang Yan Meng |
| author_sort | Yanhua Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) is a widely used scale for screening depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. This study aims to uncover the optimal factor structure of the DES-DC and presents an alternate conceptualization of adolescent depression by estimating bifactor models and several competing models using a sample of Chinese adolescents. Methods The participants were 533 adolescents (49.7% boys, 49.7% girls, 3 participants did not report) between 12 and 18 years of age attending public secondary schools in the middle part of mainland China. Data were collected in classrooms using a questionnaire survey. A structural equation modeling approach was used to estimate and compare a series of competing models for the DES-DC. Results A Bifactor exploratory structural equation model (Bi-ESEM) with the best model fit was retained for representing the current data. Tests of measurement invariance demonstrated strict measurement equivalence across gender and age. No gender and age differences have been found in the general depression factor. Findings provided evidence for the composite reliability and construct validity of DES-DC. Depressive symptoms positively related to the Big Five trait neuroticism, negative emotions, loneliness, social anxious behaviors, and disruptive behaviors during school and negatively related to agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, physical health status, school connectedness, and academic self-efficacy. Conclusions This study provides support for the one general factor construct of the CES-DC and the continuum concept structure of adolescent depression. Moreover, this research offers empirical evidence for comparing depression symptoms among adolescent populations with diverse genders and age groups. Additionally, the findings replicate and expand upon the implications of depressive symptoms on adolescents’ traits, well-being, social-relational adjustment, and academic adaptation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:19:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-269cf68396fa4530bc8dce11f1aac52e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:19:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-269cf68396fa4530bc8dce11f1aac52e2024-03-05T17:42:31ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002024-02-0118111410.1186/s13034-024-00717-zA bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustmentYanhua Zhao0Jiahui Niu1Jing Huang2Yan Meng3School of Psychology, Henan UniversitySchool of Psychology, Henan UniversitySchool of Psychology, Henan UniversitySchool of Education, Henan UniversityAbstract Background The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) is a widely used scale for screening depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. This study aims to uncover the optimal factor structure of the DES-DC and presents an alternate conceptualization of adolescent depression by estimating bifactor models and several competing models using a sample of Chinese adolescents. Methods The participants were 533 adolescents (49.7% boys, 49.7% girls, 3 participants did not report) between 12 and 18 years of age attending public secondary schools in the middle part of mainland China. Data were collected in classrooms using a questionnaire survey. A structural equation modeling approach was used to estimate and compare a series of competing models for the DES-DC. Results A Bifactor exploratory structural equation model (Bi-ESEM) with the best model fit was retained for representing the current data. Tests of measurement invariance demonstrated strict measurement equivalence across gender and age. No gender and age differences have been found in the general depression factor. Findings provided evidence for the composite reliability and construct validity of DES-DC. Depressive symptoms positively related to the Big Five trait neuroticism, negative emotions, loneliness, social anxious behaviors, and disruptive behaviors during school and negatively related to agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, physical health status, school connectedness, and academic self-efficacy. Conclusions This study provides support for the one general factor construct of the CES-DC and the continuum concept structure of adolescent depression. Moreover, this research offers empirical evidence for comparing depression symptoms among adolescent populations with diverse genders and age groups. Additionally, the findings replicate and expand upon the implications of depressive symptoms on adolescents’ traits, well-being, social-relational adjustment, and academic adaptation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00717-zBifactorCenter for epidemiological studies depression scale for childrenAdolescenceMeasurement invarianceSocial and academic adjustment |
| spellingShingle | Yanhua Zhao Jiahui Niu Jing Huang Yan Meng A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Bifactor Center for epidemiological studies depression scale for children Adolescence Measurement invariance Social and academic adjustment |
| title | A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment |
| title_full | A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment |
| title_fullStr | A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment |
| title_full_unstemmed | A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment |
| title_short | A bifactor representation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for children: gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents’ social and academic adjustment |
| title_sort | bifactor representation of the center for epidemiological studies depression scale for children gender and age invariance and implications for adolescents social and academic adjustment |
| topic | Bifactor Center for epidemiological studies depression scale for children Adolescence Measurement invariance Social and academic adjustment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00717-z |
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