Factorial validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale short form in older population in China

The objective of this study was to explore the factor structure of a shortened ten-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D 10) used in a national survey in China.

This secondary research is based on the wave I (2011) of the China Health Aging Retirement and Longevity Study (CHARLS). CHARLS recruited a nationally representative community sample of households with members aged 45 years or above. A subsample of 742 respondents aged 60 years and older were used for this study. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test three competing models and determine the best-fit model for the elderly Chinese sample. Factorial invariance across gender was also examined. R2 coefficient was used to measure the reliability of each item.