"Assessing personality functioning in adolescence: Italian validation of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire for Adolescents (DEQ-A)".

Abstract

The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire for Adolescents (DEQ-A) was designed to assess self-criticism and dependency in adolescents. Shortened versions of this instrument have been realized, showing good psychometric properties. In this study, these shortened versions and the original measure were compared to propose an Italian validation of the DEQ-A. Participants were 515 adolescents, aged 13–21 (M = 16.65, SD = 1.62). They were asked to complete the DEQ-A, the Beck Depression Inventory II and the Youth Self-Report. Confirmatory Factor Analyses were performed to identify the DEQ-A with the best factorial structure. Internal reliability, concurrent validity with depression and internalizing/externalizing scores, and gender differences were tested for the best-fitting models. The correlated two-factors DEQ-A by Frank and colleagues showed an acceptable fit to the data by considering both traditional and dynamic fit indices [χ2(251) = 827.350, p < . 001, RMSEA = .067, CFI = .807, SRMR = .079] and good psychometric properties, with Interpersonal Concern (ω =0.873) and Self-Criticism (ω = 0.745) demonstrating good reliability.