title: Measurement invariance of the depressive symptoms scale during adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined (1) the factor structure of a depressive symptoms scale (DSS), (2) the sex and longitudinal invariance of the DSS, and (3) the predictive validity of the DSS scale during adolescence in terms of predicting depression and anxiety symptoms in early adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from the Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study, an ongoing prospective cohort study of 1,293 adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analytical sample included 527 participants who provided complete data or had minimal missing data over follow-up. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that an intercorrelated three-factor model with somatic, depressive, and anxiety factors provided the best fit. Further, this model was invariant across sex and time. Finally, DSS scores at Time 3 correlated significantly with depressive and anxiety symptoms measured at Time 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the DSS is multidimensional and that it is a suitable instrument to examine sex differences in somatic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms, as well as changes in these symptoms over time in adolescents. In addition, it could be used to identify individuals at-risk of psychopathology during early adulthood.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, 125 University Pr,, Montpetit Hall, Room 339, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada. jennifer.brunet@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sabiston
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaiton
authors.forename: Nancy C P
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Gisèle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Tracie A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: O'Loughlin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012727:Sex Characteristics