Structure of a Depression Measure among American Indian Elders: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the CES-D Scale

Abstract

This research examines differences in depressive symptomology among urban, rural off-reservation, and reservation-residing American Indians, age 55 years or older, of the eastern Great Lakes region. It analyzes the measurement structure of one commonly used depression scale, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and tests alternative models for the full sample (N = 277) as well as the three residential strata. Findings show that a 12-item version developed by Liang et al. for use with Mexican Americans provided a superior fit over the original 20-item version. The shortened scale included items more conceptually valid for this American Indian population. Furthermore, tests of invariance revealed that only the 12-item version had similar factor structures and factor loadings across the three residential strata.

Risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms among American Indian older adults: Adverse childhood experiences and social support

“…For example, culture and ACE are inextricably interwoven together; the reporting accuracy of ACE may vary due to individuals' background (e.g., age, gender, race) or culture (Easton, 2012). Also, some depression scales, such as the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, have been found to be conceptually valid in an AI population in the great region (Chapleski, Lamphere, Kaczynski, Lichtenberg, & Dwyer, 1997). However, the validity of the GDS has not yet been evaluated with AI/ AN populations.…”

A longitudinal examination of the measurement properties and predictive utility of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale among North American Indigenous adolescents.

“…The CES-D (Radloff, 1977) is one of the most widely used measures of depressive symptoms and has been included in a number of studies with Indigenous samples (e.g., Beals, Manson, Keane, & Dick, 1991; Chapleski, Lamphere, Kaczynski, Lichtenberg, & Dwyer, 1997; Dick, Beals, Keane, & Manson, 1994; Manson, Ackerson, Dick, Baron, & Fleming, 1990). The CES-D was developed to assess symptoms associated with major depression, specifically, “depressed mood, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, psychomotor retardation, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances” (Radloff, 1977, p. 386).…”

American Indian Elders and Depression: Short-and Long-Term Effects of Life Events

“…Shore and Manson (1981) warn that it is a serious error to generalize from the EuroAmerican Westernized view of depression to Indian experiences and behavior. Although there have been many studies employing the CES-D in different groups (Liang, Van Tran, Krause, & Markides, 1989;McCallum, Mackinnon, Simons, & Simons, 1995), only a few studies have addressed Chapleski et al / American Indian Elders 43 older American Indians (Baron, Manson, Ackerson, & Brenneman, 1989;Chapleski, Lamphere, Kaczynski, Lichtenberg, & Dwyer, 1997;Somervell, Beals, Kinzie, Boehnlein, Leung, & Manson, 1993a, 1993b.…”

“…A 12-item model found to be valid for American Indian elders (Chapleski, Lamphere, et al, 1997) is used as the dependent measure. The 12-item scale was previously found to have three positive attributes that favor its use over the original 20-item scale-parsimony, better overall goodness of fit to the data, and conceptual appropriateness.…”