The factor structure of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) in a non-clinical sample

The goal of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the German version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) in a non-clinical sample. The DAS is a self-report inventory derived from Beck's cognitive theory of depression to measure beliefs constituting predispositions to depression. The 40-Item German version of the DAS was completed by 502 university students. In a subsample, additional depression and anxiety scales were administered. Through principal component analysis two factors were identified: "performance evaluation" and "approval by others". Correlations with anxiety and depression scales show indications of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales. Moreover, in a sample of participants who had been previously depressed, elevated scores were only found on the "approval by others" factor. Results are discussed with respect to theoretical reformulations of Beck's theory of depression, in particular the personality-event congruence hypothesis.