Validation of a Portuguese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)

Aims: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in children, and in adolescents, as in adults. Once its occurrence during childhood and adolescence leads to serious consequences in adulthood, its early detection is an important goal. Self-report instruments have a key role on accessing thoughts, feelings and behaviors in an easily, reliably and validly way. The aim of the current study is to assess psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the Portuguese translation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). Methods: A school-based sample of 417 adolescents aged 12-18 years (M = 15,20, SD = 1,72) was involved in this study. Translation and Back Translation was made. To study convergent and divergent validity there were used the Portuguese versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS 21), of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and of the Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS) which measure, respectively, negative emotional states (depression, anxiety and stress), depressive symptoms and global life satisfaction. Results: Factor analysis revealed three factors (mood, interpersonal relationships and happiness) that explain 54% of the variance. The results show that the scale has an excellent internal consistency (alpha = 0,90), good temporal stability (r = 0,72) as an adequate convergent and divergent validity. Results showed that depressive symptoms varied in function of age and gender. Conclusions: The results of the present study provide initial adequate validity and reliability of the CES-DC. Nevertheless some limitations to this study, the results suggest that CES-DC can be a useful questionnaire in the assessment of depressive symptoms in Portuguese adolescents.