Validation of the Japanese Version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—Revised: A Preliminary Analysis

• Main Authors: Hirohito Tsuboi, Yui Takakura, Hiromasa Tsujiguchi, Sakae Miyagi, Keita Suzuki, Thao Thi Thu Nguyen, Kim Oanh Pham, Yukari Shimizu, Yasuhiro Kambayashi, Naoko Yoshida, Akinori Hara, Hiroyuki Nakamura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Behavioral Sciences
• Subjects: CES-D; CESD-R; depressive symptoms; epidemiological study; Japanese version
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/8/107

To make the Japanese version of the CESD-R—a revised version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale (CES-D)—in the assessment of depressive symptoms in a general population. The English version of CESD-R was translated into Japanese, and back-translated into English by three native speakers of Japanese and English; then, we selected the version most completely consistent with the original items. The CESD-R was applied to 398 community-dwelling people (191 men: 48.0%, and 207 women: 52.0%) who were over 40 years old. The Japanese version of the CES-D was also carried out in the same population. Factor analysis was performed. Additionally, the correlations between the CESD-R and CES-D results were identified. The CESD-R scores showed a significantly positive correlation with CES-D scores (<i>r</i> = 0.74, <i>p</i> < 0.0005). Analysis of the CESD-R yielded a Cronbach’s alpha result of 0.90. Factor analysis revealed one principal factor in the CESD-R, whereas the original CES-D had two factors because of reversed items. The Japanese version of the CESD-R appears to have the reliability to be applicable for assessing depressive symptoms in population-based samples. However, because the Japanese expressions for some items might be unusual, our study population was also limited; further studies on other populations and on incorporating improved Japanese terminology will be needed.