A LATENT TRAIT-STATE MODEL OF ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION USING THE CENTER-FOR-EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDIES DEPRESSION SCALE

This study utilized the latent trait-state model for estimating stable and changing components of depressive symptomology in adolescents. Th e factorial structure of the CES-D was assessed separately for males a nd females at four measurement occasions, at six-month intervals. The variance decomposition of general trait, state, specific trait, and ra ndom error parameters for the CES-D scores was estimated simultaneousl y and tested statistically. Parameter estimates indicated that the CES -D measured both trait- and state-depression about equally well, and t hat the trait-specific variance parameter was statistically significan t, but substantially smaller than those associated with general trait- and state-depression. Findings are discussed with regard to depressiv e mood fluctuations among adolescents and the potential usefulness of the latent trait-state model to capture such dynamic features of devel opment.