Abstract
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale is one of the most widely used tools to measure depressive symptoms in epidemiological studies. Given the importance of cross-racial measurement equivalence of the CES-D scale for research, we performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the 12-item CES-D in a nationally representative sample of Black and White adults in the United States. We used data from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001-2003. A total number of 3570 Blacks (African-Americans) and 891 non-Hispanic Whites were included in the present study. CFA was carried out on the 12-item CES-D scale using multi-group structural equation modeling. For both Blacks and Whites, the best fitting model was found to be the 3-factor model, indicating invariance of factor structure between Blacks and Whites. A statistically different fit of the models with and without constraints indicated lack of invariance of factor loadings between Blacks and Whites. Some of the positive (i.e., "as good" and "hopeful") and interpersonal (i.e., "people were unfriendly") items showed poor loadings, even in the 3-factor solution that allowed separate domains for positive affect, negative affect, and interpersonal problems. Despite the good fit of our final model, more items (i.e., "as good," "hopeful," "keeping mind," and "everything effort") had poorer loadings in Blacks than Whites (i.e., "as good"). There is invariance in factor structure but lack of invariance in factor/item loadings between Blacks and Whites. These findings have implications for cross-racial studies of depressive symptoms using CES-D scale among Blacks and Whites. Further research is warranted to scrutinize the role of socioeconomics and culture in explaining the lack of invariance of the CES-D scale between Blacks and Whites.
Highlights
Depression accounts for the largest portion of global burden of mental disorders [1]
Through the literature on factor analysis of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) scale among racial and ethnic groups, often invariance of factor structure has been demonstrated while the invariance of loadings has been difficult to establish [24, 37]
The current study showed invariance for factor structure; lack of invariance for item loadings of the 12-item CES-D scale between Blacks and Whites
Summary
Depression accounts for the largest portion of global burden of mental disorders [1]. The abbreviated versions were mainly developed to lower respondent burden and accelerate administration and scoring of the scale [18]. They mostly reduced on the number of items for negative affect and somatic symptoms while sparing items for interpersonal problems. In this way, a 12-item version of the CES-D scale has been developed and used in some major epidemiological studies including the National Survey of American Life (NSAL) [22, 25]. Given the importance of cross-racial measurement equivalence of the CES-D scale for research, we performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the 12-item CES-D in a nationally representative sample of Black and White adults in the United States
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