Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the French Version of the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) in Non-Clinical Adults

Audrey Krings,Sylvie Blairy,Catherine Bortolon,Hanan Yazbek

doi:10.5334/pb.542

Abstract

Behavioral activation (BA) is a well-established empirical treatment for depression that aims to improve depressive mood by increasing activation and reducing avoidance. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate activation and avoidance when a BA treatment is applied. The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) was developed to measure the changes in activation and avoidance over the course of BA treatment of depression. This study aims to validate the French version of this scale. In a first study, 131 bilingual adults were recruited to explored internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity of the final French version. In a second study, 409 non-clinical adults completed an online survey assessing concurrent measures. Results of the first study suggested good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity. The second study revealed a confirmatory factor analysis supporting the original four-factor structure, with Activation, Avoidance/Rumination, Work/School Impairment, and Social Impairment subscales. Results also revealed that a 5-factor model distinguishing Behavioral Avoidance and Rumination had a better fit than the original four-factor structure. All subscales showed adequate internal consistency and good construct validity with evidence of convergent validity with depressive symptoms, brooding, psychological flexibility, negative automatic thought, behavioral inhibition and activation system. Furthermore, the French BADS total scale and subscales showed a good ability to predict depressive symptoms. The French version of the BADS appears to be a reliable tool for clinician and researchers to assess mechanisms of change in BA interventions.

Highlights

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide (Kessler & Bromet, 2013)
New confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) taking into account the covariance between error variables 11 and 12 support acceptable fit with χ2 =.859.320, df = 268, p < .001, χ2/df = 3.20, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = .074, p < .001, 90% confidence intervals (CIs) [.068; .079], Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = .979, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = .982, SRMR =
The preliminary investigation of the psychometric properties of the pre-final French version realized in Study 1 with a testretest in a French-English bilingual sample revealed that the translated version had good test-retest reliability, good internal consistency and good construct validity

Summary

Introduction

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide (Kessler & Bromet, 2013). A lower rate of RCPR can be explained by both decreased activation, that is, a reduction in the degree of focused, goal-directed engagement in activities, and increased avoidance, which is defined as the tendency to avoid negative aversive states that can, result in limited exposure to potentially rewarding activities. Both of these phenomena are involved in the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms (Chen, Liu, Rapee, & Pillay, 2013; Collado, Castillo, Maero, Lejuez, & MacPherson, 2014; Wagener, Baeyens, & Blairy, 2016)

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