Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Gender Groups of the 15-Item Geriatric Depression Scale Among Chinese Elders.

Jiayue He,Haofei Zhao,Jinyao Yi,Shuqiao Yao

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01360

Abstract

The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) is widely used to screen depression among elders. But the factor structure of the Chinese version GDS-15 remains unclear. This study was conducted to determine the best-fit factor structure of GDS-15 and to assess measurement invariance across gender groups in a sample of Chinese elders recruited from Mainland China (final sample N = 2428). The best-fit factor structure was examined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multigroup CFA was utilized to test the measurement invariance across genders of the factor structure. The results of CFA revealed that a three-factor model, including life satisfaction (four items), general depressive affect (seven items), and withdrawal (three items), fits the structure of the GDS-15 best. Measurement invariance across genders was supported, fully assuming different degrees of invariance.

Highlights

Depression is a common mental disorder among older adults, with some 15% of communitydwelling older adults experiencing clinically significant depressive symptoms (Blazer, 2003)
This study investigated the level of depression in the elderly, with 2,470 participants, and 42 failed to respond to all Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-15 items
The results showed that the threefactor model of GDS-15 is an excellent fit of the data in both males and females

Summary

Introduction

Depression is a common mental disorder among older adults, with some 15% of communitydwelling older adults experiencing clinically significant depressive symptoms (Blazer, 2003). The 15-item GDS (GDS-15) retains the advantages of the original 30item GDS, including simplicity of administration, an easy response format, and economy of time, and its validity and reliability have been demonstrated repeatedly (Cwikel and Ritchie, 1989; Lesher and Berryhill, 1994; Almeida and Almeida, 1999; Fountoulakis et al, 1999; Tang et al, 2005; Chaaya et al, 2008) Both ICD-10 criteria and DSM-IV criteria have shown that the GDS-15 is valid for Factor Structure and Invariance of the GDS-15 measuring depression (Almeida and Almeida, 1999). The scale has been translated into multiple languages and translated versions have been proved for assessing depressive symptoms in people from various ethnic backgrounds (Iwamasa et al, 1998; Liu et al, 1998; Ishine et al, 2005; Malakouti et al, 2006; Onishi et al, 2006; Chiesi et al, 2018), including ethnic Chinese people living in Western countries (Mui, 1996; Lai, 2000)

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