Psychometric properties of the Reynolds Child Depression Scale in community and clinical samples

Abstract

The factor structure of the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS; Reynolds, 1989), analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis and the scale’s psychometric characteristics in a sample of 315 participants (140 boys and 175 girls) and a clinical sample of 62 participants (37 boys and 25 girls) between 10 and 12 years old, are presented. Two models are tested with confirmatory factor analysis: a one-factor model and a five-factor model. Both models show a good fit, but the one-factor model was chosen because it is the most parsimonious. The reliability coefficient ranged from .87 (at test) to .89 (at retest) in the community sample, and was .90 in the clinical sample (at test). Test-retest reliability was .66 in the community sample. Concurrent validity with other self-reports that measure depressive symptomatology was high, both in the community sample (.76) and the clinical sample (.71). There were no significant sex differences but there were differences due to age (school grade).Se analiza la estructura factorial de la Reynolds Children Depression Scale (RCDS; Reynolds, 1989) mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio y se presentan sus características psicométricas en una muestra comunitaria de 315 participantes (140 chicos y 175 chicas) y en una muestra clínica de 62 participantes (37 chicos y 25 chicas) con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y los 12 años. En el análisis factorial confirmatorio se prueban dos modelos, uno unifactorial y otro de cinco factores. El modelo unifactorial se ajusta mejor y es más parsimonioso. La fiabilidad de la RCDS es elevada para ambas muestras: consistencia interna entre 0,87 (test) y 0,89 (retest) en muestra comunitaria, y de 0,90 en la muestra clínica (test); la correlación test-retest era de 0,66 en la muestra comunitaria. La validez concurrente con otros instrumentos que miden sintomatología depresiva era elevada, tanto en muestra comunitaria (0,76) como en muestra clínica (0,71). No se aprecian diferencias según sexo, pero sí según el curso escolar