Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children: psychometric testing of the Chinese version.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children.


BACKGROUND
The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately detects depressive symptoms in children is crucial before any psychological intervention can be appropriately planned and evaluated. There is no such an instrument for Chinese children.


METHODS
A test-retest, within-subjects design was used. A total of 313 primary school students between the ages of 8 and 12 years were invited to participate in the study in 2009. Participants were asked to respond to the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children, short form of the State Anxiety Scale for Children and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children were assessed.


RESULTS
The newly-translated scale demonstrated adequate internal consistency, good content validity and appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis added further evidence of the construct validity of the scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the newly-translated scale can be used as a self-report assessment tool in detecting depressive symptoms of Chinese children aged between 8 and 12 years.
Li
Ho Cheung William
HC
School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, China. william3@hku.hk
Chung
Oi Kwan Joyce
OK
Ho
Ka Yan
KY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics; D058028:Research Report; D012649:Self Concept; D014177:Translations