title: A factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory in a mildly depressed population.
abstract: Investigated a factor analysis of the responses of mildly depressed college students to the items of the Beck Depression Inventory (N = 446). A varimax rotation of a principal-axis factor analysis yielded only one well-defined factor, "Hopelessness," which was characterized by sadness, pessimism, dissatisfaction and suicidal thoughts. The depression syndrome for this mildly depressed group was unlike syndromes previously reported for a psychiatric population.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology