Scale Overview
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey – Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Subscale (YRBS-DSI) was developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013). It is designed to measure Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 3 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Depressive Symptoms, Suicidal Ideation.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Depressive Symptoms |
1 |
1 |
| Suicidal Ideation |
2,3 |
2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 3. Interpretation guidelines:
- No depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation reported: 0 – 0
- Mild risk (depressive symptoms or ideation reported): 1 – 1
- Moderate to high risk (multiple symptoms/ideation/planning reported): 2 – 3
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of N/A.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.