Beck depression inventory, second edition, Czech version: demographic correlates, factor structure and comparison...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) is a widely used self-report measure for assessing depression severity.
• Understanding demographic influences and factorial structure is crucial for accurate interpretation of BDI-II scores.
• Cross-cultural validation and norm development enhance the clinical utility of psychometric instruments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between demographic characteristics (sex, age, education) and BDI-II total scores in a Czech sample.
• To determine the factorial structure of the Czech version of the BDI-II.
• To compare findings with international studies and establish preliminary normative data for the Czech population.

Main Methods:

• Correlation analysis and non-parametric tests were employed to examine demographic associations.
• Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was utilized to assess the scale's factorial structure.
• Data from 450 participants were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Women and participants with lower education reported significantly higher BDI-II scores compared to men and those with higher education, respectively.
• Age did not show a significant relationship with total BDI-II scores.
• CFA confirmed a two-factor structure, comprising cognitive-affective and somatic dimensions. Czech participants generally scored lower than those in international samples.

Conclusions:

• The study recommends using the BDI-II total score alongside cognitive-affective and somatic subscores for comprehensive assessment.
• Findings underscore the necessity of developing region-specific normative data for self-report depression scales.
• Preliminary normative data, stratified by gender and education, are provided for the Czech version of the BDI-II.