Children’s Depression Inventory: Testing Measurement Invariance for the Hierarchical Factor Model Across Children and Adolescents in a Clinic-Referred Sample

Abstract

The Children’s Depression Inventory is a self-report scale for screening depressive disorders in children and adolescents. The original model proposed by Kovacs has a hierarchical factor structure: Five first-order and a single second-order factors. This study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine support for this model. It also examined measurement invariance of this model across selfratings provided by clinic-referred children (N=459) and adolescents (N=343), and the differences in the first- and second-order latent factor mean scores across these groups. The findings supported the hierarchical factor structure, and also full measurement invariance for this model across the groups compared. Also all latent mean scores were higher in the adolescent group. These findings indicate support for the original CDI model proposed by Kovacs, and also that the ratings provided by clinic-referred children and adolescents can be compared as they are not confounded by different measurement properties. Also, depression is higher among adolescents than children.