Psychiatry Research
Volume 109, Issue 1 , Pages 61-69, 31 January 2002

Measurement adequacy of the CES-D among a sample of older African–Americans

  • Kristie Long Foley

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Piedmont Plaza II, Suite 512, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-336-716-9881; fax: +1-336-713-4157
    • ,
  • Peter S Reed

      Affiliations

    • Center on Minority Aging, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 730 Airport Rd, CB# 3465, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    • ,
  • Elizabeth J Mutran

      Affiliations

    • Center on Minority Aging, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 730 Airport Rd, CB# 3465, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    • ,
  • Robert F DeVellis

      Affiliations

    • Thurston Arthritis Research Center and Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, 730 Airport Rd, CB# 3465, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

Received 10 July 2001; received in revised form 3 December 2001; accepted 4 December 2001.

Abstract 

This manuscript examines the measurement adequacy of the CES-D when applied in older African–Americans (n=227). The response distribution was skewed towards less symptomatology on all items, and the internal consistency of the CES-D was acceptable (α=0.86). An exploratory factor analysis revealed four underlying factors of depressive symptomatology: (1) depressive/somatic; (2) positive; (3) interpersonal; and (4) social well-being. The primary factor was a combination of depression and somatic symptoms, a commonly reported uni-dimensional factor among ethnic groups. Additionally, a fourth factor emerged that has not previously been identified, labeled ‘social well-being’. This factor consisted of three items that may tap into the social interactions of the elderly: appetite, hopeful, and talk. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on the unique measurement properties of the CES-D across diverse populations.

Keywords:  Depression, Ethnicity, Reliability, Mental health, Factor analysis

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PII: S0165-1781(01)00360-2

Psychiatry Research
Volume 109, Issue 1 , Pages 61-69, 31 January 2002

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