Validating an American scale in Hong Kong: the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)

Area of Science:

• Psychological Assessment
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is widely used to assess depressive symptoms.
• Validating translated instruments is crucial for accurate cross-cultural mental health research.
• Previous validation of the CES-D in Chinese populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the construct validity of a Chinese-language version of the CES-D.
• To assess the scale's reliability and factor structure in a Hong Kong Chinese married couple sample.
• To evaluate the scale's convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the scale's factor structure.
• The sample comprised 138 Hong Kong Chinese married couples.
• Validity was assessed against measures of social desirability, life satisfaction, and stressful life events.

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure: depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems.
• The Chinese CES-D demonstrated adequate convergent, discriminant, and structural validity.
• The scale showed significant relationships with life satisfaction and stressful life events, supporting its nomological validity.

Conclusions:

• The Chinese-language CES-D is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing depression in Hong Kong Chinese married couples.
• The findings support the use of the CES-D in cross-cultural research on depression.
• The scale's ability to differentiate between depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems is confirmed.