Factor Structure of the Depression Self-Rating Scale in an Iranian Adolescent Sample

Abstract

Previous research showed concurrent validity for the Depression Self-rating Scale for Iranian adolescents, so the present purpose was to evaluate construct validity. The scale was distributed to 2,012 school students in Grades 5 to 10. Factor analysis using varimax rotation yielded four factors interpretable as depressed mood, hopelessness, lack of pleasurable activities, and physiological symptoms. These factors accounted for 44% of the variance and provide some support for construct validity of the scale in Iranian adolescents.