The reliability and validity of depression scales for use in Hanoi high school students: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: The percentage of depression in adolescent varied by study area and scale, but according to most of studies using self-reported screening scales of depression indicated that this rate was above 40%. A pilot study was conducted on a small sample size in the fourth wave of COVID pandemic in 2021 to evaluate the validity of the scale and test the questionnaire before conducting a baseline investigation. To assess the validity and reliability of depression scales namely Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS) and Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD). Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 Hanoi high school students who answered online interviews. Data was analyzed by using exploratory factor analysis. Results: showed that the RADS scale was divided into 4 components (1.Feelings of loneliness, depression, and despair; 2.Feelings of anxiety; 3.Not feeling importance of self-worth; 4.Not getting on well with people) with the Cronbach’s alpha of components ranged from 0.7899 to 0.9445 and general score of 0.9446. The CESD was analyzed into 3 components (1.Feeling depressed, disappointed, insomnia and poor appetite; 2.Feeling difficult to get on well with people; 3.Not feeling happy) with a general Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.8978 and components ranging from 0.6857 to 0.8978. Conclusion: Factor analysis showed that both scales performed with high validity and reliability, making it possible to conduct future research to accurately assess depression in high school students in Hanoi.