Development and Testing of a Measure of Depressive Cognitions in Older Adults

Assessment of cognitive processes that predispose or contribute to clinical depression in elders is important for planning interventions that facilitate positive cognitive appraisal and effective coping strategies. Instruments evaluating severity of depression exist; however, none measure specific depressive cognitions. This paper describes the development and pilot testing of the Depressive Cognitions Scale (DCS) for older adults. Derived from Erikson's Psychosocial Theory, the 8 items comprising the scale were selected by clinical experts from a pool of 24 items. Each item reflects a depressive cognition that may arise from less than successful resolution of one of Erikson's developmental phases. Psychometric testing of the DCS was conducted with 60 functionally independent, community dwelling older adults (age 65+). An alpha of .78 indicated acceptable internal consistency. Construct validity was demonstrated by significant correlation with measures of psychosocial development. Further psychometric study of the DCS is recommended.