Abstract
The Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression (CES-D) scale is a well-validated and frequently used measure for assessing symptoms associated with depression. This scale was developed primarily on the basis of American populations, however, and previous research has suggested that the original factor structure may not be appropriate for all populations. One such population is the Filipino population. This study represents the first study we are aware of to examine the factor structure of the CES-D scale in a sample of Filipino seafarers. Seafaring is considered a high stress and high risk occupation. Based on data collected from 135 Filipino seafarers, we conducted factor analyses to identify the appropriate factor structure for the CES-D in this population. We found that a three-factor structure better described the responses of Filipinos in our sample than the standard four-factor structure. The Filipino factor structure appears to collapse depressive affect and somatic factors found in previous research, while including a specific factor of social-focused symptoms of depression. This structure maintains the positive affect factor found in previous work. Implications of this for clinical psychology assessment and practice in the Philippines are discussed.
Highlights
Literature suggests that depression is conceptualized differently among cultures (e.g. Kirmayer, 2001; Kleinman 2004)
Factor I consists of a combination of depressed affect items and somatic retardation items, Factor II consists of a combination of interpersonal items, depressed affect and one somatic retardation item, and Factor III consists of positive affect items
Ten out of the 20 items that make up the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression (CES-D) loaded on the first factor, comprising 18.8 per cent of the variance explained
Summary
Literature suggests that depression is conceptualized differently among cultures (e.g. Kirmayer, 2001; Kleinman 2004). The combination of depressed affect items and somatic retardation items is an interesting finding, similar to those of other Asian cultures (Kuo, 1984 & Ying, 1988), and similar to a study of adolescent Filipino-Americans (Edman, Danko, Andrade, Mc Ardle, Foster, & Glipa, 1998) suggesting that Filipinos do not differentiate physical symptoms from emotional ones. The implications of these findings in understanding depression from a Filipino perspective are discussed. On the other hand, Marsella’s (2003) investigation on depression across cultures reveals that somatic symptoms and physical complaints often dominate the presentation of depressive experiences in non-Western cultures and that self-deprecation, suicidal ideation and behaviors, and existential grievances tend to be less common
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