An exploratory factor analysis of children's depression inventory scores in young children of substance abusers.

A factor analytic study of scores obtained on the Children's Depression Inventory from a sample of 202 young children (M = 7.5 yr., SD = 2.2) of alcoholics and substance abusers was completed. A principal components factor analysis with an oblique rotation yielded five separate factors related to Negative Self-concept, Acting-out. Somatic/Disturbed Symptoms, Mood, and Hopelessness. In previous factor analytic studies of the Children's Depression Inventory with normal and clinical populations the primary factor obtained was formed by mood-related items. In contrast, the primary factor of the present analysis was formed by items concerning perceptions of self-concept, not mood. These results corroborated previously reported data from the Child Behavior Checklist suggesting that the depressive symptoms displayed by children of substance abusers are related to self-concept and externalization.