The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: construct validity and prediction of depressive symptoms in a sample of Chinese undergraduates.
BACKGROUND
The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) was developed to measure two dimensions of depression-prone personality, Dependency and Self-criticism. We investigated the construct validity and prediction of DEQ in a Chinese sample, and explored whether Blatt's conceptualizations of depression-prone personality variables are appropriate for the Chinese context.


METHODS
The original version of the DEQ was translated into Chinese (DEQ-C). During the initial assessment, 640 Chinese university students completed the DEQ-C and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Six months later, the CES-D was re-administered.


RESULTS
A principal components analysis yielded a three-factor model that was consistent with Blatt's theory. However, these three factors emerged in a different order in comparison to the original sample. Factorial validity was also acceptable with low correlations between each DEQ-C factor in males (r=.01 approximately -0.14), and females (r=0.19 approximately 0.28). Convergent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between the CES-D and both Dependency and Self-criticism. Predictive validity was demonstrated by hierarchical multiple regression analyses showing that Self-criticism predicted increased depressive symptoms both in males (beta=0.27, p<0.01) and in females (beta=0.16, p<0.05); Dependency predicted levels of depressive symptoms only in females (beta=0.11, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Chinese version of the DEQ demonstrated satisfactory validity, including construct validity and predictive validity, the DEQ-C can be considered as an appropriate tool for assessing personality vulnerability to depression in Chinese college students.
Yao
Shuqiao
S
The Medical Psychological Research Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, People's Republic of China. Shuqiaoyao@163.com
Fang
Jianqun
J
Zhu
Xiongzhao
X
Zuroff
David C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult