PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF SCALES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF PSYCHOSOCIALVARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENCE

In preparation for a community-based study of depression in adolescenc e, several pilot studies were conducted with samples of adolescents. T he purpose of these studies was to evaluate the reliability and associ ation with depression of several instruments when used with older (14- to 18-year-old) adolescents. These instruments included measures of c ognitions, body image, self-esteem, self-awareness, social interaction s with peers and family, social support, micro- and macrostressful fif e events, anxiety and tension, positive affect, antisocial or oppositi onal behavior, suicidal ideation, and vocabulary. The internal consist ency reliability and stability of most of the instruments were satisfa ctory. In addition, most instruments were associated with a measure of depression, Radloff's Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression S cale. Several of the scales were successfully abbreviated using techni ques based on factor analysis and item analysis.