Depression Among Southern Rural African American Women

Background: This is the first reported study involving a factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, which was administered to a sample of southern rural African American women. Objective: To determine the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II using data collected from southern rural African American women. Methods: Using a correlational, descriptive design, 206 southern rural African American women were invited to participate in a face-to-face interview that occurred in a variety of community-based settings. Results: The factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory- II resulted in a two factor solution. Symptoms such as pessimism and worthlessness loaded high on the first factor (cognitive). The second factor explained somatic-affective symptoms of depression, with factor loadings high on tiredness and fatigue and loss of energy. Conclusions: The application of the Beck Depression Inventory- II among African American people would generate needed information about how depressive symptoms may be expressed among them. Knowledge gained from this study promises to be useful for developing appropriate research studies and population-specific treatment approaches for this group of women