A factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory in a mildly depressed population

Investigated a factor analysis of the responses of mildly depressed college students to the items of the Beck Depression Inventory (N = 446). A varimax rotation of a principal-axis factor analysis yielded only one well-defined factor, "Hopelessness," which was characterized by sadness, pessimism, dissatisfaction and suicidal thoughts. The depression syndrome for this mildly depressed group was unlike syndromes previously reported for a psychiatric population.