NCJ Number
224571
Journal
Criminal Behavior and Mental Health Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 232-242
Date Published
2008
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study reports the first examination of the psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) with incarcerated male offenders aged 18-21 years.
Abstract
The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) showed a high level of internal consistency which is in line with previous studies, as well as concurrent validity. Two factors were revealed through a factor analysis, relating to cognitive-affective items and somatic items. The research has shown the BDI-II to have good psychometric properties among incarcerated male offenders aged 18-21 years. Given that many offenders exhibit symptoms of depression and associated problems, establishing norms among adult and adolescent offenders is clinically important. The BDI-II, 1996 was developed to assess self-reported depression, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria for major depression. It consists of a checklist of 221 items covering affective symptoms and the physical symptoms associated with depression. The items refer to how the respondent has been feeling for the previous 2 weeks. Studies have shown the BDI-II to have good psychometric properties with adult and adolescent clinical and nonclinical populations. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the DBI-II with male young adult offenders in the United Kingdom. The BDI-II was administered to 117 incarcerated male young adult offenders aged 18-21 years. Tables and references