Development of the Chinese age norms of CES-D in urban area

Abstract

Objective:To test applicability of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)in different age groups in urban China,and to develop age norms.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,the CES-D was administrated to 16047 community participants with average age of(37.7±21.3) years(age ranged 11~100) in 21 provinces,who were as the norming sample.Criterion validity was tested in 349 psychiatric patients with average age of(32.0±12.1) years(age ranged 16~81) in 4 cities.A subsample(199 workers,100 college students,and 30 teachers in Beijing,Dongguan,and Baotou) was drawn from the national sample to provide 8 week interval test-retest reliability.Results:The Cronbach α was 0.90 for the scale,and 0.68~0.86 for its factors.The 8 week interval test-retest correlation was 0.49 for the scale(P0.01)and 0.39~0.51 for factors(P0.01).The result of confirmatory factor analysis supported the original 4-factor structure(RMSEA=0.057,CFI=0.976,GFI=0.948).Patients scored higher than community sample [(21.72±13.39) vs.(13.24±10.33),P0.01],and depression patients scored the highest[(27.82±14.42),P0.01].Age difference was significant.Age groups over 60-year-old scored higher than all the other age groups under 60-year-old (P0.01).Conclusion:The Chinese version of CES-D shows good reliability and validity across all ages in urban population.