The German version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children: psychometric evaluation in a population-based survey of 7 to 17 years old children and adolescents--results of the BELLA study.

TY - JOUR

T1 - The German version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children: psychometric evaluation in a population-based survey of 7 to 17 years old children and adolescents--results of the BELLA study.

AU - Barkmann, Claus

AU - Erhart, Michael

AU - Schulte-Markwort, Michael

AU - The BELLA study group

PY - 2008/12/1

Y1 - 2008/12/1

N2 - OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychometric properties and test the theoretical quality of the German version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies depression scale for children (CES-DC), a 20-item screening instrument measuring the frequency of parent- and self-reported depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. METHODS: Using a population-based, representative sample of n=2,863 7 to 17-year-old German children and adolescents, factorial validity were determined by means of linear structural equation modelling. Cross-sectional coefficients of reliability, inter-rater agreement as well as descriptive statistics of the scales were calculated. RESULTS: In a population-based German sample, the four-factor version of the CES-DC following Radloff (Appl Psychol Meas 1:385-401, 1977) is considered to have good factorial validity and stability across age and informant versions. The main problems of the questionnaire are the high item difficulties, strong floor effects of the scales and low cross-sectional reliability, which are acceptable only for screening purposes. The low inter-rater agreement indicates that parental assessment can replace self-assessment only to a limited degree. CONCLUSION: The strengths and weaknesses of the CES-DC are discussed taking previous data and comparable tests into consideration. Particular advantages are the existence of the parent-report form and the adult version, as well as its multifactorial structure. Parental assessment should be supplemented by self-report data whenever possible.

AB - OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychometric properties and test the theoretical quality of the German version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies depression scale for children (CES-DC), a 20-item screening instrument measuring the frequency of parent- and self-reported depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. METHODS: Using a population-based, representative sample of n=2,863 7 to 17-year-old German children and adolescents, factorial validity were determined by means of linear structural equation modelling. Cross-sectional coefficients of reliability, inter-rater agreement as well as descriptive statistics of the scales were calculated. RESULTS: In a population-based German sample, the four-factor version of the CES-DC following Radloff (Appl Psychol Meas 1:385-401, 1977) is considered to have good factorial validity and stability across age and informant versions. The main problems of the questionnaire are the high item difficulties, strong floor effects of the scales and low cross-sectional reliability, which are acceptable only for screening purposes. The low inter-rater agreement indicates that parental assessment can replace self-assessment only to a limited degree. CONCLUSION: The strengths and weaknesses of the CES-DC are discussed taking previous data and comparable tests into consideration. Particular advantages are the existence of the parent-report form and the adult version, as well as its multifactorial structure. Parental assessment should be supplemented by self-report data whenever possible.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adolescent Psychiatry

KW - Age Distribution

KW - Child

KW - Child Psychiatry

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Depressive Disorder

KW - Factor Analysis, Statistical

KW - Female

KW - Germany

KW - Health Surveys

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Parents

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - Psychometrics

KW - Questionnaires

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Self Disclosure

KW - Sex Distribution

U2 - 10.1007/s00787-008-1013-0

DO - 10.1007/s00787-008-1013-0

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 19132311

VL - 17

SP - 116

EP - 124

JO - EUR CHILD ADOLES PSY

JF - EUR CHILD ADOLES PSY

SN - 1018-8827

IS - 1

M1 - 1

ER -