title: Factor Structure of the Parent-Report Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) in an Outpatient Mental Health Sample.
abstract: The current investigation examined the internal structure and discriminant validity of the parent-report Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-P), a commonly used measure of depressive symptoms in youth. A total of 1493 families with youth ages 5 to 18 (61.02 % male) presenting for treatment at an outpatient mental health clinic were randomly allocated to an Exploratory Sample 1 or to a Replication Sample 2. Internal structure of the MFQ-P was examined using exploratory factor analysis in Sample 1 (N = 769) and then replicated using confirmatory factor analysis in Sample 2 (N = 724). Results of the exploratory factor analysis yielded a 5-factor structure comprised of core mood, vegetative, suicidality, cognitive, and agitated distress symptom subscales. The 5-factor solution was replicated in Sample 2 with adequate fit, (CFI = 0.908, TLI = 0.974, RMSEA =0.067). Results lend statistical support for 5 candidate subscales of the MFQ-P. These potential subscales may aid in efficient identification of critical symptoms of depression.
authors.affiliation: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA. mjeffrey@ucsd.edu.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeffreys
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rozenman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, California State University-Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Warnick
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dauser
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scahill
authors.affiliation: Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woolston
authors.affiliation: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92120, USA.|Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Robin Weersing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Construct validity; Depression; Mood and Feelings Questionnaire; Psychometrics; Youth