The Factor Structure of a Chinese Version of the Geriatric Depression Scale

Objective: This study aimed to examine the factor structure of a Chinese version of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) with a sample of community dwelling elderly Chinese in Canada.

Method: The data for this study were obtained from a larger study examining the health and culture of 2,272 older Chinese aged 55 years and above in seven major Canadian cities. Both exploratory factor analysis using the Principal Component Analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to examine the factor structure of the GDS.

Results: The findings in this study indicated a four-factor model: 1) negative mood; 2) positive mood; 3) inferiority and disinterested; 4) uncertainty. The constructs identified were associated with the unique characteristics of older Chinese who are mainly immigrants from other countries.

Conclusions: The findings in this study presented evidence for the applicability of the GDS to older Chinese-Canadians. This instrument would be useful for practitioners to identify potential depression concerns among older adults in this ethnic community.