Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109247

Jose R. Rodriguez-Gomez, MD, MPH, PhD, Mariel G. Davila-Martinez, MS, and Luis C. Collazo-Rodriguez, MS. Clinical Psychology Ph.D Program, Carlos Albizu University, San Juan Campus, PO Box 9023711, San Juan, PR 00902, 7877256500, jrodriguez@albizu.edu

Depression is a substantive pathology with a high prevalence in the Puerto Rican elderly population (Alsina & Rodríguez, 1995; Rodríguez, 1997). The Beck Depression Inventory- Second Edition (BDI-II) developed by Beck, Steer, and Brown (1996) is one of the most useful measures for depression in many countries (Beck, Steer, & Garbin, 1988). However, no in depth analyses of the instrument with Puerto Rican elderly have been done. This research addressed the issue through the assessment of the psychometric properties of the BDI-II. The construct validity of the BDI-II was examined by means of a factor analysis. A preliminary exploratory analysis yielded four factors accounting for 42% of total variance (Rodríguez, Joglar, & Dávila, 2004). A confirmatory factor analysis was performed including the 21 items that make up the instrument, using principal component analysis as the extraction method and Varimax rotation. This analysis revealed that the BDI-II measures the dimensions of depression described in the scientific literature concerning the Puerto Rican population (Bernal, Bonilla, & Santiago, 1995; Bonilla et al., 2004; Lugo, Rodríguez, & Martínez, 1999; Rosado, Rodríguez, & Martínez, 1995). Four factors summarize the BDI-II items accounting for 52% of total variance. The suggested factorial structure is negative attitudes, cognitive-behavioral, biological, and somatic. This study yields further data supporting the reliability, validity, and practical utility of the BDI-II. Implications for potential research with minorities and clinical uses of the BDI-II are also discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the psychometric properties of the BDI-II in a sample of Puerto Rican elderly.
• Discuss the clinical and investigative implications of culturally sensitive instruments.

Keywords: Assessments, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.