Depressive symptoms among American Indian adolescents: Psychometric characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

Abstract

The psychometric characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were investigated with American Indian boarding school students (A' = 188; Grades 9-12). The CES-D showed good internal consistency (a = .82). Its dimensional structure was different from that described for adults, both Indian and non-Indian. Of the Indian students, 58% were classified as depressed, using the standard cutoff score of 16 or more, consistent with past studies of this age group. Alternative scoring methods were considered, based on persistence of symptoms as well as derived DSM-III and Research Diagnostic Criteria algorithms. Major gender differences were observed in the prevalence of reported symptoms as well as patterns of endorsement for certain CES-D items. The CES-D should be used with caution with American Indian adolescents, given the observed variation in its dimensional structure and uncertainty regarding appropriate cutoffThe assessment of depression and associated symptomatology among adolescents has proceeded along several, often independent, lines. One approach applies self-report measures originally constructed for adults to this segment of the population.

Coping and responses to stress in Navajo adolescents: Psychometric properties of the Responses to Stress Questionnaire

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Posttraumatic stress hyperarousal symptoms mediate the relationship between childhood exposure to violence and subsequent alcohol misuse in Mi'kmaq youth

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