Psychometric Properties of the Beck Depression Inventory – II (BDI-II) in a University Sample

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the psychometric properties of the BDI-II to make the construct validity of the inventory, beyond observing associated factors to the depressive symptomatology, its correlation and significance degrees. The sample was composed by 857 university students of a particular university from the State of Rio Grande do Sul. A socio-demographic data questionnaire and the BDI-II were used. The statistical analysis were made by keeping a level of significance of 5%. The results had been: Cronbach’s alpha of 0,89; there were verified a good secular stability (ri = 0,73; p < 0,001); by methods of factor analysis, the items are reduced to three factors that explain 44,57% of total variation. It was observed that 8.8% of the sample presented depressive symptoms. Moreover, correlations of depressive symptoms with some associated factors are presented.