Depression among southern rural African American women: a factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II.
BACKGROUND
This is the first reported study involving a factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, which was administered to a sample of southern rural African American women.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II using data collected from southern rural African American women.


METHODS
Using a correlational, descriptive design, 206 southern rural African American women were invited to participate in a face-to-face interview that occurred in a variety of community-based settings.


RESULTS
The factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II resulted in a two-factor solution. Symptoms such as pessimism and worthlessness loaded high on the first factor (cognitive). The second factor explained somatic-affective symptoms of depression, with factor loadings high on tiredness and fatigue and loss of energy.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of the Beck Depression Inventory-II among African American people would generate needed information about how depressive symptoms may be expressed among them. Knowledge gained from this study promises to be useful for developing appropriate research studies and population-specific treatment approaches for this group of women.
Gary
Faye A
FA
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4904, USA. fgary@case.edu
Yarandi
Hossein N
HN
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005221:Fatigue / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009341:Negativism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*