الصورة العربية لاختبار اكتئاب الشيخوخة : دراسة عاملية على عينة من المسّنين الفلسطينيين

Abstract EN

The major aim of this study is to validate the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) among the community dwelling elderly in Palestine.

A available random sample of (101) older subjects participated in the study.

The measurements of the study were self informant version of the 15-item GDS, Zung Depression Scale, Beck Depression Scale, and Spielberger's State-Trait Personality Inventory (STPI).

The GDS-15 was found to have sufficient internal consistency reliability (α=0.83) and split-half coefficient of (0.80).

Construct validity was achieved by calculating a pattern of correlations with Zung's scale, Beck's scale and (STPI) component factors.

The Varimax rotation of factor analysis extracted of the GDS- 15 extracts three interpretable factors: a) lack of energy and activeness b) melancholic insight of life and c) deteriorated selfesteem.

These factors accounted for 31.9%, 9.30%, and 8.23% of the variance on the GDS-15, respectively.

The study concludes that GDS-15 item is as effective as GDS-30 item for screening of depression in older subjects in clinical and community environments.