The four-factor model of depressive symptoms in dementia caregivers: a structural equation model of ethnic differences.
Previous studies have suggested that 4 latent constructs (depressed affect, well-being, interpersonal problems, somatic symptoms) underlie the item responses on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. This instrument has been widely used in dementia caregiving research, but the fit of this multifactor model and the explanatory contributions of multifactor models have not been sufficiently examined for caregiving samples. The authors subjected CES-D data (N = 1,183) from the initial Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health Study to confirmatory factor analysis methods and found that the 4-factor model provided excellent fit to the observed data. Invariance analyses suggested only minimal item-loading differences across race subgroups and supported the validity of race comparisons on the latent factors. Significant race differences were found on 3 of the 4 latent factors both before and after controlling for demographic covariates. African Americans reported less depressed affect and better well-being than White caregivers, who reported better well-being and fewer interpersonal problems than Hispanic caregivers. These findings clarify and extend previous studies of race differences in depression among diverse samples of dementia caregivers.
Roth
David L
DL
Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Ackerman
Michelle L
ML
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Okonkwo
Ozioma C
OC
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Burgio
Louis D
LD
Center for Mental Health & Aging, University of Alabama.
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data