Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents
Abstract Background Scales measuring depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults are widely used for epidemiological purposes. The purpose of this study is to use Rasch measurement theory to examine the psychometric properties of a six-item scale intended to measure depressive symptoms in Norwegia...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01373-5 |
| _version_ | 1818109099581112320 |
|---|---|
| author | Annette Løvheim Kleppang Anne Mari Steigen Hanne Søberg Finbråten |
| author_facet | Annette Løvheim Kleppang Anne Mari Steigen Hanne Søberg Finbråten |
| author_sort | Annette Løvheim Kleppang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Scales measuring depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults are widely used for epidemiological purposes. The purpose of this study is to use Rasch measurement theory to examine the psychometric properties of a six-item scale intended to measure depressive symptoms in Norwegian adolescents. Methods The study is based on cross-sectional data from Ungdata, a survey conducted by the Norwegian Social Research Institute in cooperation with Regional Centres for Drug Rehabilitation in 2017. The target group comprised 13- to 19-years olds in Norway. Six items with four response categories, intended to measure depressive symptoms, were analysed. The analysis focused on invariance, including differential item functioning across gender and school levels. In addition, targeting, possible multidimensionality, response dependency, and the categorisation of the items were analysed. Results The scale measuring depressive symptoms shows good reliability and, on the whole, the items work well. However, one item, ‘had sleep problems’, clearly misfit and another, ‘worried too much about things’, works differently for males and females. Conclusions The scale has the potential to measure depressive symptoms in adolescents though there is room for improvement. To further improve the scale, the item concerning sleep problems should be rephrased. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:25:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c66f1e5081534ded8b55e1ce04215607 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T02:25:52Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-c66f1e5081534ded8b55e1ce042156072022-12-22T01:23:56ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252020-05-011811810.1186/s12955-020-01373-5Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescentsAnnette Løvheim Kleppang0Anne Mari Steigen1Hanne Søberg Finbråten2Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Health and Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesDepartment of Health and Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background Scales measuring depressive symptoms in adolescents and adults are widely used for epidemiological purposes. The purpose of this study is to use Rasch measurement theory to examine the psychometric properties of a six-item scale intended to measure depressive symptoms in Norwegian adolescents. Methods The study is based on cross-sectional data from Ungdata, a survey conducted by the Norwegian Social Research Institute in cooperation with Regional Centres for Drug Rehabilitation in 2017. The target group comprised 13- to 19-years olds in Norway. Six items with four response categories, intended to measure depressive symptoms, were analysed. The analysis focused on invariance, including differential item functioning across gender and school levels. In addition, targeting, possible multidimensionality, response dependency, and the categorisation of the items were analysed. Results The scale measuring depressive symptoms shows good reliability and, on the whole, the items work well. However, one item, ‘had sleep problems’, clearly misfit and another, ‘worried too much about things’, works differently for males and females. Conclusions The scale has the potential to measure depressive symptoms in adolescents though there is room for improvement. To further improve the scale, the item concerning sleep problems should be rephrased.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01373-5AdolescentsDepressionRasch measurement theoryPsychometricsSurveys and questionnaires |
| spellingShingle | Annette Løvheim Kleppang Anne Mari Steigen Hanne Søberg Finbråten Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Adolescents Depression Rasch measurement theory Psychometrics Surveys and questionnaires |
| title | Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents |
| title_full | Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents |
| title_fullStr | Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents |
| title_short | Using Rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in Norwegian adolescents |
| title_sort | using rasch measurement theory to assess the psychometric properties of a depressive symptoms scale in norwegian adolescents |
| topic | Adolescents Depression Rasch measurement theory Psychometrics Surveys and questionnaires |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12955-020-01373-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annetteløvheimkleppang usingraschmeasurementtheorytoassessthepsychometricpropertiesofadepressivesymptomsscaleinnorwegianadolescents AT annemaristeigen usingraschmeasurementtheorytoassessthepsychometricpropertiesofadepressivesymptomsscaleinnorwegianadolescents AT hannesøbergfinbraten usingraschmeasurementtheorytoassessthepsychometricpropertiesofadepressivesymptomsscaleinnorwegianadolescents |