Assessing Longitudinal Invariance of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults.
OBJECTIVE
The longitudinal invariance of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale among middle-aged and older adults is unknown. This study examined the factorial invariance of the CES-D scale in a large cohort of community-based adults longitudinally.


METHODS
1,204 participants completed the 20-item CES-D scale at 4 time points 1 year apart. Structural equation modeling was used to identify best fitting model using longitudinal data at baseline and at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up.


RESULTS
The 4-factor model showed partial invariance over 3 years. Two of the 6 noninvariant items were consistently noninvariant at the 3 follow-up points.


CONCLUSIONS
Special consideration should be given to these 2 items when using the CES-D scale in healthy adults (45-75 years old).
Indiana University, USA.
Mulubrhan F
MF
Mogos
Jason W
JW
Beckstead
Kevin E
KE
Kip
Mary E
ME
Evans
Roger A
RA
Boothroyd
Aryan N
AN
Aiyer
Steven E
SE
Reis
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results