Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
A self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was developed by Lenore Sawyer Radloff (1977). It is designed to measure Depressive symptoms. The scale is intended for use with General population (adolescents to older adults).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Depressed Affect, Positive Affect, Somatic and Retarded Activity, Interpersonal.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Depressed Affect | 3,6,9,10,14,17,18 | 7 |
| Positive Affect | 4,8,12,16 | 4 |
| Somatic and Retarded Activity | 1,2,5,7,11,13,20 | 7 |
| Interpersonal | 15,19 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Rarely or none of the time (less than 1 day), 1 = Some or a little of the time (1-2 days), 2 = Occasionally or a moderate amount of time (3-4 days), 3 = Most or all of the time (5-7 days).
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subclinical depressive symptoms: 0 – 15
- Clinically significant depressive symptoms: 16 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha 0.85 to 0.90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.