Depressive symptom experiences among older women: a comparison of alternative measurement approaches.

Age differences in depressive symptom experiences were investigated in a community sample of women (N = 287, ages 55-95 years). The purpose of the analysis was to compare the age-depression relation using 3 different measurement approaches: (a) a standard screening scale, (b) a clinical diagnostic, and (c) a latent variable measurement approach. The analysis, which uses structural equation modeling procedures, extends earlier confirmatory factor analyses of the Symptom Checklist-90--Revised Depression and Additional Symptoms scales conducted by Newmann, Engel, & Jensen (1990, 1991a, 1991b). Findings show that each measurement approach leads to different conclusions about the age-depression relation, with only the latent variable measurement showing a significant increase in depressive symptoms with advancing age. Implications of these findings for future research on aging depression are discussed.