The Study of psychometric properties of the self-rating depression scale for children and adolescents

The aim of this study was evaluation of psychometric properties of self-rating depression scale for 12-17 year old in adolescents. This study is descriptive. After translating and pilot study this scale, a sample with the size of 797 students (401 girls and 396 boys) studying at the first and second grade of high school in Qods city of Tehran Province, with method multi stage random sampling was selected. For the validity of convergent and divergent, Beck Depression Inventory, childhood depression inventory, catastrophic cognitions scale and self-efficacy adolescent questionnaires were administered. To investigate factor structure of adolescent depression questionnaire used exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0/77 and test-retest was 0/75, Therefore, Reliability coefficients were satisfactory. The results of confirmatory factor analysis support Birleson’s model. Correlation analysis showed that adolescents Depression Inventory correlate positively with Beck Depression Inventory, the Children's Depression Inventory and catastrophic cognitions scale and has negative correlation with self-efficacy adolescent questionnaire that this relationship indicates convergent validity of adolescent depression questionnaire with Beck Depression Inventory, Children's Depression Inventory and catastrophic cognitions and divergent validity with self-efficacy adolescent questionnaire, moreover, depression was significant difference between the sexes. Factor analysis of adolescent depression questionnaire, showed better fit with observed data; Confirmatory factor structure, reliability and validity of adolescent depression questionnaire were acceptable for research applications, Individual and group counseling and clinical diagnosis