Masculine Depression Scale – MDS
Measures depressive symptoms in men, focusing on both internalizing and externalizing masculine-specific expressions of distress.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Masculine Depression Scale – MDS was developed by Mariola Magovcevic, Michael E. Addis (2008). It is designed to measure Masculine Depression. The scale is intended for use with Adult men.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 44 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Internalizing, Externalizing.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Internalizing | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33 | 33 |
| Externalizing | 34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44 | 11 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = None or little of the time, 2 = Some of the time, 3 = Most of the time, 4 = All of the time.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 44 to 176. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of masculine depression symptoms: 44 – 87
- Moderate level of masculine depression symptoms: 88 – 131
- High level of masculine depression symptoms: 132 – 176
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Internalizing alpha = 0.96, Externalizing alpha = 0.77.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.