Reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology

Abstract

The use of self-report measures for the assessment of depression in children has gained wide popularity as a component in the evaluation of children's mental health and well-being. However, the extent to which children are reliable and consistent reporters of their depressive symptoms is sometimes called into question. This study examined the test-retest reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology on the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS; Reynolds, 1989a). The sample consisted of 220 children, in grades 3 through 6, representing a cross-section of ethnic groups. Children were tested twice, with a 4-week interval between testings. Results showed a high degree of stability in children's responses to the RCDS, with a test-retest reliability coefficient of .85 for the total sample, and a mean difference between testings of less than 2 points. Test-retest reliability coefficients were also computed for males and females, for each grade, and for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian children. Overall, the results lend strong support for the reliability and stability of children's self-reported depressive symptomatology as assessed by the RCDS.

The Construct of Resilience: A Critical Evaluation and Guidelines for Future Work

“…For example, substantial evidence suggests that ratings of parent-child relationships, or of peer relationships, vary considerably depending on whose reports they are based on: a parent's, the target child's, or an "objective" observer's (Achenbach, McConaughy, & Howell, 1987;Hart, Lahey, Loeber, & Hanson, 1994;Kazdin, 1990;Reynolds & Graves, 1989;Rothbaum & Weisz, 1994;Weisz et al, 1988). Moreover, it is clear that none of these reports necessarily captures "the truth" any more than do others.…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Disorders in Adults with Developmental Disabilities

“…A battery of tests was administered by reading all scale items to the participant and using four flashcards to visually prompt a scale ranging from ''never'' to ''a lot''. Tests included the Beck Anxiety Inventory [23], the Reynolds Child Depression Scale [24], the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire [25] and the Cognitions Checklist [26]. The authors found a high correlation between anxiety and depression in the study group and between negative affect and maladaptive cognitions.…”

Social Behavior and Skills in Children

“…Internal consistency coefficients are reported to be 0.90 with a test-retest reliability of 0.85 (Reynolds & Graves, 1989). The correlation between the RCDS and other measures of childhood depression, such as the CDI and CDRS, range from 0.7 to 0.79 (Stark, Reynolds, & Kaslow, 1987) and with structured clinical interviews, such as the SADS, at 0.76 (Reynolds, 1989).…”