Testing the hierarchical structure of the Children's Depression Inventory: a multigroup analysis.
Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the aims were (a) to obtain, describe, and compare different solutions of three, five, and six first-order factors raised in the previous literature about the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI); (b) analyze the number and nature of the second-order factors; (c) test which model best reproduces the CDI structure; and (d) test possible developmental differences between child and adolescent samples. The CDI was applied to 4,707 Spanish children and adolescents with an age range between 7 and 16 years. Results show that best models considered five or six factors, including Social Problems (Anhedonia), Negative Affect, Externalizing, School Problems, and Negative Self-Esteem (Self-Deprecation). Also, a factor of Biological Dysregulation obtained some support. Higher-order factors do not reproduce the classical distinction between internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Finally, no large developmental differences in the CDI structure were found between children and adolescents samples.
García
Luis F
LF
Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. luis.garcia@uam.es
Aluja
Anton
A
Del Barrio
Victoria
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept