Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory

The assessment of mental health, particularly depression, in university student populations is crucial for effective intervention and support. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D10) among 322 university students in...

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Main Authors: Anita Padmanabhanunni, Tyrone B. Pretorius
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-12-01
Series:Psych
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/6/1/2
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author Anita Padmanabhanunni
Tyrone B. Pretorius
author_facet Anita Padmanabhanunni
Tyrone B. Pretorius
author_sort Anita Padmanabhanunni
collection DOAJ
description The assessment of mental health, particularly depression, in university student populations is crucial for effective intervention and support. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D10) among 322 university students in the Western Cape province of South Africa, employing both classical test theory and item response theory. Participants were also assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and a short form of the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The results reveal satisfactory reliability indices for the CES-D10 based on Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. However, Item 8 was identified as problematic across multiple metrics, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis; therefore, the exclusion of this item is recommended for improved scale performance. The 9-item version displayed superior fit in the CFA and better construct validity than the 10-item scale. Scores on the CES-D10 were positively correlated with perceived stress and hopelessness and negatively correlated with life satisfaction, supporting the criterion-related validity of the scale. The study extends the psychometric validation literature of the CES-D10 by incorporating Rasch analysis, underscoring the benefits of using multiple statistical frameworks to achieve robust findings. These results have relevance for mental health assessment among university students in developing contexts, providing an evidence-based tool for early intervention.
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spelling doaj.art-e91be4b597c7420d9d533315d96570802024-03-28T10:45:49ZengMDPI AGPsych2624-86112023-12-0161213310.3390/psych6010002Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test TheoryAnita Padmanabhanunni0Tyrone B. Pretorius1Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7530, South AfricaDepartment of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7530, South AfricaThe assessment of mental health, particularly depression, in university student populations is crucial for effective intervention and support. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10 (CES-D10) among 322 university students in the Western Cape province of South Africa, employing both classical test theory and item response theory. Participants were also assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and a short form of the Beck Hopelessness Scale. The results reveal satisfactory reliability indices for the CES-D10 based on Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. However, Item 8 was identified as problematic across multiple metrics, including exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch analysis; therefore, the exclusion of this item is recommended for improved scale performance. The 9-item version displayed superior fit in the CFA and better construct validity than the 10-item scale. Scores on the CES-D10 were positively correlated with perceived stress and hopelessness and negatively correlated with life satisfaction, supporting the criterion-related validity of the scale. The study extends the psychometric validation literature of the CES-D10 by incorporating Rasch analysis, underscoring the benefits of using multiple statistical frameworks to achieve robust findings. These results have relevance for mental health assessment among university students in developing contexts, providing an evidence-based tool for early intervention.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/6/1/2center for epidemiological studies depression scale-10depressionrasch analysisclassical test theoryitem response theory
spellingShingle Anita Padmanabhanunni
Tyrone B. Pretorius
Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
Psych
center for epidemiological studies depression scale-10
depression
rasch analysis
classical test theory
item response theory
title Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
title_full Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
title_fullStr Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
title_full_unstemmed Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
title_short Further Refinement of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10: Complementary Evidence from Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory
title_sort further refinement of the center for epidemiological studies depression scale 10 complementary evidence from item response theory and classical test theory
topic center for epidemiological studies depression scale-10
depression
rasch analysis
classical test theory
item response theory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2624-8611/6/1/2
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