Confirmatory factor analysis of the geriatric depression scale

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychometrics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a common screening tool for depression in older adults.
• Existing factor structures of the GDS lack independent confirmation for subdimension scoring.
• Investigating the GDS's factor structure is crucial for accurate depression assessment in the elderly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To confirm the factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) using confirmatory factor analysis.
• To provide independent validation for proposed subdimensions of the GDS.
• To enhance the utility of the GDS for assessing depression in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on an independent sample of 294 adults aged 60-98 residing in retirement facilities.
• The analysis utilized a factor structure derived from an earlier exploratory principal components analysis of the 30-item GDS.
• A measurement model using 26 GDS items across five factors was evaluated.

Main Results:

• A five-factor measurement model, utilizing 26 items from the GDS, demonstrated a good fit (goodness-of-fit index = .90).
• The identified subdimensions include Dysphoric Mood, Withdrawal-Apathy-Vigor, Hopelessness, Cognitive, and Anxiety.
• This confirmatory analysis provides empirical support for distinct GDS subdimensions.

Conclusions:

• The five validated subdimensions of the GDS may improve scoring precision and clinical utility.
• These findings support the preliminary use of GDS subscales in health, mental health, and research settings.
• Further research is warranted to fully establish the clinical utility of these GDS subscales.