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The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire: construct validity and prediction of depressive symptoms in a sample of Chinese undergraduates
Author(s) -
Yao Shuqiao,
Fang Jianqun,
Zhu Xiongzhao,
Zuroff David C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.20465
Subject(s) - psychology , construct validity , clinical psychology , context (archaeology) , convergent validity , external validity , personality , incremental validity , test validity , self criticism , depression (economics) , predictive validity , discriminant validity , psychometrics , developmental psychology , social psychology , paleontology , macroeconomics , economics , internal consistency , biology
Background: The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) was developed to measure two dimensions of depression‐prone personality, Dependency and Self‐criticism. We investigated the construct validity and prediction of DEQ in a Chinese sample, and explored whether Blatt's conceptualizations of depression‐prone personality variables are appropriate for the Chinese context. Methods: The original version of the DEQ was translated into Chinese (DEQ‐C). During the initial assessment, 640 Chinese university students completed the DEQ‐C and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D). Six months later, the CES‐D was re‐administered. Results: A principal components analysis yielded a three‐factor model that was consistent with Blatt's theory. However, these three factors emerged in a different order in comparison to the original sample. Factorial validity was also acceptable with low correlations between each DEQ‐C factor in males ( r =.01∼−0.14), and females ( r =0.19∼0.28). Convergent validity was supported by significant positive correlations between the CES‐D and both Dependency and Self‐criticism. Predictive validity was demonstrated by hierarchical multiple regression analyses showing that Self‐criticism predicted increased depressive symptoms both in males (β=0.27, p<0.01) and in females (β=0.16, p<0.05); Dependency predicted levels of depressive symptoms only in females (β=0.11, p<0.05). Conclusions: The Chinese version of the DEQ demonstrated satisfactory validity, including construct validity and predictive validity, the DEQ‐C can be considered as an appropriate tool for assessing personality vulnerability to depression in Chinese college students. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.