Measuring Latinos' perceptions of depression: A confirmatory factor analysis of the Illness Perception Questionnaire.

Abstract

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire adapted for a clinical sample of low-income Latinos suffering from depression. Participants (N = 339) were recruited from public primary care centers. Their average age was 49.73 years and the majority was foreign born females of either Mexican or Central American descent. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the factor structure of this measure. Construct and discriminant validity and internal consistency were evaluated. After the elimination of three items because of low factor loadings (< .40) and the specification of seven error covariances, a revised model composed of 24 items had adequate goodness-of-fit indices and factor loadings, supporting construct validity. Each of the subscales reported satisfactory internal consistency. Intercorrelations between the 5 illness perception factors provided initial support for the discriminant validity of these factors in the context of depression. The establishment of the psychometric properties of this adapted measure will pave the way for future studies examining the role illness perceptions play in the help seeking and management of depression among Latinos. Keywords depression; illness perceptions; confirmatory factor analysis; Latinos; illness representations Latinos face substantial disparities in accessing and receiving quality depression treatments (Lewis-Fernández, Das, Alfonso, Weissman, & Olfson, 2005). Explanations for these disparities are multifaceted and include lack of health insurance, cost, stigma, language barriers, and lack of reliable sources of care (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2001). Recent studies suggest that patient-related factors, including perceptions of depression and its treatments and treatment preferences, may contribute to these inequities in depression care (Cabassa, Lester, & Zayas, 2007;Cooper et al., 2003;Givens, Houston, Van-Voorhees, Ford, & Cooper, 2007). For instance, Latinos are less Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Leopoldo J. Cabassa, School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411. cabassa@usc.edu. NIH Public Access Author ManuscriptCultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 January 11. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript likely than Whites to endorse a biological etiology of depression, tend to view antidepressants as addictive and harmful, and prefer counseling over medications. (Cooper et al., 2003;Givens et al., 2007;Karasz & Watkins, 2006). The study of Latinos' perceptions of depression can produce valuable knowledge about how they recognize their need for care and manage this common disorder. It can inform the development of selfmanagement programs and patient-centered interventions aimed at increasing treatment adherence and improving quality of care (Brown, Battista, Bruehlman, Sereika, Thase, & Dunbar-Jacob, 2005).Il...

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