Gao Xuliang, Liu Ziyu
School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Huaxi University Town, Guian New District, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou, China.
Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 23;23(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12991-024-00492-3.
People are more likely to fall victim to depression during adolescence since it is a period of rapid biopsychosocial transformation. Despite this, most depression research has concentrated on clinical issues, and evaluating depressive symptoms in teenagers is not as widespread. This study used item response theory (IRT) to examine the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Report scale (PHQ-9) in Chinese adolescents. Meanwhile, item function difference tests were used to check whether there were differences in depression symptoms in this group based on education and gender.
In this research, the PHQ-9 was employed as a measurement tool, and 5958 valid data points were obtained from 12 secondary schools in China (M = 13.484; SD = 1.627; range 11-19 years; 52.17% boys).
IRT shows that all items of the PHQ-9 satisfy monotonicity, unidimensionality and local independence and that they have good psychometric properties. Furthermore, DIF analysis revealed gender and educational disparities in adolescent depressive symptoms.
The study indicates that the PHQ-9 possesses favourable psychometric properties for use in Chinese adolescents. As a result, it serves as a valuable tool for effectively screening depressive symptoms in adolescents. It provides a foundation for prioritizing the development of secondary school students' physical and mental health.
青春期是生物心理社会快速转变的时期，人们在这一时期更容易患抑郁症。尽管如此，大多数抑郁症研究都集中在临床问题上，对青少年抑郁症状的评估并不普遍。本研究采用项目反应理论（IRT）来检验患者健康报告量表（PHQ-9）在中国青少年中的心理测量特性。同时，使用项目功能差异检验来检查该群体中基于教育程度和性别的抑郁症状是否存在差异。
在本研究中，采用PHQ-9作为测量工具，从中国12所中学获得了5958个有效数据点（M = 13.484；SD = 1.627；年龄范围11 - 19岁；男生占52.17%）。
IRT表明，PHQ-9的所有项目均满足单调性、单维度性和局部独立性，且具有良好的心理测量特性。此外，差异项目功能分析揭示了青少年抑郁症状中的性别和教育差异。
该研究表明，PHQ-9在中国青少年中具有良好的心理测量特性。因此，它是有效筛查青少年抑郁症状的宝贵工具。它为优先发展中学生的身心健康提供了基础。
