Depressive Life Experiences Scale – DLES
Measures the frequency and intensity of six distinct categories 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, & Raymond 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 10 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Social Exits, Interpersonal Disharmony, Personal Inertia, Personal Frustrations, Personal Inadequacies, Others’ Misfortunes.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Social Exits | 1,2 | 2 |
| Interpersonal Disharmony | 3 | 1 |
| Personal Inertia | 4 | 1 |
| Personal Frustrations | 5,6 | 2 |
| Personal Inadequacies | 7,8 | 2 |
| Others' Misfortunes | 9,10 | 2 |
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.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Internal consistency supported (specific Cronbach's alpha values not provided in text).
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.