The reliability and validity of depression scales for use in Hanoi high school students: a pilot study

Objective: The percentage of depression in adolescent varied by study area and scale, but according to most of studies using self-reported screening scales of depression indicated that this rate was above 40%. A pilot study was conducted on a small sample size in the fourth wave of COVID pandemic in 2021 to evaluate the validity of the scale and test the questionnaire before conducting a baseline investigation. To assess the validity and reliability of depression scales namely Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS) and Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD).

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 119 Hanoi high school students who answered online interviews. Data was analyzed by using exploratory factor analysis.

Results: showed that the RADS scale was divided into 4 components (1.Feelings of loneliness, depression, and despair; 2.Feelings of anxiety; 3.Not feeling importance of self-worth; 4.Not getting on well with people) with the Cronbach’s alpha of components ranged from 0.7899 to 0.9445 and general score of 0.9446. The CESD was analyzed into 3 components (1.Feeling depressed, disappointed, insomnia and poor appetite; 2.Feeling difficult to get on well with people; 3.Not feeling happy) with a general Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.8978 and components ranging from 0.6857 to 0.8978.

Conclusion: Factor analysis showed that both scales performed with high validity and reliability, making it possible to conduct future research to accurately assess depression in high school students in Hanoi.

File download

Related article

• The reliability and validity of depression scales for use in Hanoi high school students: a pilot study
• The association between Depression, Anxiety and Stress with risk behaviors and past trauma experience among students in Hanoi, 2022
• Preparedness for hospital safety during COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of private hospitals in Vietnam
• Very Late Presentation to HIV Care in Ho Chi Minh City: Social Support and Other Associated Factors
• Health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province and some associated factors
• Assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practices of using household insecticides among residents and factors related to practices in Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri Province, 2022
• Knowledge and factors related to the understanding of using plastic bags by homemakers in Quan Hau town, Quang Ninh district, Quang Binh province in 2022
• Factors associated with quality of life in outpatient with type 2 diabetes at Ha Dong General Hospital
• A review of government expenditure on National Plan on Action for Nutrition (NPAN) in Viet Nam during 2017-2020
• Mental health of adolescents in COVID-19 social distancing and lockdowns: A scoping review
• Global health officers’ competency gaps on knowledge and skills and its associated factors in Vietnam
• Impact of covid-19 pandemic on the hypertension control: perspectives from health system