Description

The Children’s Depression Scale (DSFC) is a psychometric tool designed to assess depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. It includes 20 questions that examine various aspects of depression, such as mood, energy levels, and emotional responses. Participants rate the intensity of their symptoms using a Likert scale.

Data Analysis and Use

The analysis of data from the DSFC includes the following procedures:
Descriptive Statistics:
Means and Standard Deviations: Calculation of means and standard deviations for each question or for the overall depression score.
Reliability:
Assessment of the internal consistency of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure the reliability of the results.
Correlations:
Examining Correlations: Investigating correlations between scores on different questions to understand the relationships between different aspects of depressive symptoms.
Factor Analysis:
Factor Analysis: Using factor analysis to identify underlying factors contributing to depressive symptoms, if necessary.

Objective

The main goal of the DSFC is to provide a reliable tool for assessing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. It is used for:
Research Purposes: Studying the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms and their relationship with other psychological or social variables.
Clinical Assessment: Evaluating the need for intervention or treatment and monitoring progress during therapy.
Policy and Strategy: Developing strategies and policies for the prevention and treatment of depression in children and adolescents.

Calibration

Calibration of the DSFC includes:
Internal Consistency Assessment: Calculating the reliability of the tool using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure consistency in responses.
Comparative Analysis: Comparing DSFC results with data from other studies and assessment tools to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

References

Ferdinand, R. F., & van der Ende, J. (1997). The Children’s Depression Scale: A comparison of the DSFC and the Beck Depression Inventory for assessing depressive symptoms in children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(2), 163-170.
Cedars, R., & Barrett, D. (2001). The use of the DSFC in assessing depression in children and adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 26(4), 221-227.
Wood, B., & Chaplin, J. (2005). Psychometric properties of the Children’s Depression Scale (DSFC) in a sample of children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34(3), 432-439.
Kovacs, M. (1992). The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 28(1), 70-83.