Depressive Life Experiences Scale – DLES
Assesses the frequency, intensity, and impact of six types of depressogenic life experiences.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Depressive Life Experiences Scale – DLES was developed by William E. Snell, Jr., Sharyn S. Belk, & Ruven C. Hawkins II (1986). It is designed to measure Depressive life experiences. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 6 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Social Exits, Interpersonal Disharmony, Personal Inertia, Personal Frustrations, Personal Inadequacies, Others’ Misfortunes.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Social Exits | 1 | 1 |
| Interpersonal Disharmony | 2 | 1 |
| Personal Inertia | 3 | 1 |
| Personal Frustrations | 4 | 1 |
| Personal Inadequacies | 5 | 1 |
| Others' Misfortunes | 6 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = One time, 2 = Two times, 3 = Three times, 4 = Four times, 5 = Five or more times.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
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.