An exploratory psychometric network analysis of depression scales in a sample of adolescents

There is heterogeneity in existing depression scales, which may lead to measurement bias. This study aimed to investigate the clustering of depressive symptoms in adolescents, including central symptoms as well as similarities and differences among four commonly used depression scales. Additionally, the study examined gender differences in network structures to explore the suitability of these scales.

This study performed an exploratory psychometric network analysis of depression in 620 Chinese adolescents aged 15-17 years using R, which included four depression scales. The mean age of the adolescents was 15.95 ± 0.66 years. Among them, 279 (45.0 %) were boys, 316 (51.0 %) were girls, and 25 (4.0 %) did not report gender.

The network analysis revealed seven distinct symptom clusters among adolescents with depressive symptoms, including "Negative Emotions and Pessimism", "Loss of Positive Emotions", "Interpersonal Issues", "Retardation and Attention Issues", "Fear and Decision-making Difficulties", "Irritability or Stress" and "Low Self-esteem and Self-efficacy". These clusters varied in item distribution across the different scales. Moreover, network comparisons indicated notable gender differences in the structure of depressive symptom networks. Girls exhibited stronger associations between depressive symptoms, particularly concentrating core symptoms in clusters related to "Interpersonal Issues" and "Low Self-esteem and Self-efficacy".

Heterogeneity among depression scales may bias detection and identification in adolescents. Selecting appropriate scales based on participant characteristics and symptom clusters is essential. Furthermore, future screening and interventions should account for gender differences.