PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE CENTER-FOR-EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDIES DEPRESSION SCALE (CES-D) IN A SAMPLE OF WOMEN IN MIDDLE LIFE

The Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was comp leted by 675 women taking part in a longitudinal investigation of heal th-related issues. The data were submitted to confirmatory factor anal ysis using LISREL 7 and a 4-factor model was found to fit the data mod erately well. A second-order depression factor was also identified. Th e results provide support for the construct validity of the total and subscale scores from this measure. The scale was found to have good re liability. Evidence was found that scores on the subscale measuring so matic features of depression may be inflated in women who have experie nced a chronic health problem in the past 12 months. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.