Thesis (Ph. D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The present study investigated whether the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) measures the same construct in exactly the same way across the groups of interest and time in South Africa. The degree to which items or subtests of the BDI-II have equal meaning across qualitatively distinct groups of examinees (e.g., culture and gender) was explored. Measurement Invariance (MI) of the BDI-II across race (blacks and whites), gender and time (two weeks lag) was examined in a sample of university students, from two universities located in diverse geographical regions of South Africa (N = 919). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the fit of the hypothesized three-factor model established through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the results from these analyses indicated that the BDI-II was most adequately represented by a three lower-order factor structure (appropriately named Negative attitude, Performance difficulty and Somatic complaints). Results based on multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) (i.e., means and covariance structures [MACS]) indicated that there was factorial invariance for this three lowerorder factor structure across groups and time, suggesting that the BDI-II provides an assessment of severity of depressive symptoms that is equivalent across race, gender and time in university students. Results indicated that MI was established at the level of configural, metric and scalar invariance for race, gender and across time. However, there was some evidence of differential item functioning (DIF) and differential additive response style (ARS) across race, with two noninvariant intercepts (items 5 and 14) and three item intercepts (items 11, 14 and 18) across gender being identified. Additionally, results of latent mean differences were presented to explain group differences. The study concluded with recommendations for future studies.

The use of quality of life instruments to evaluate the effects of cancer and its treatments on patients has increased, but understanding the roles that fatigue and depression play on quality of life is still complicated. Earlier studies have examined the individual effects on the quality of life of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether gender is related to the effects of fatigue and depression on quality of life. This study also examined the interactional effects of fatigue and depression on quality of life. The current study found no significant differences on reports of quality of life between genders. Additionally, this study found that depression and fatigue were moderately correlated. Depression and fatigue were also found to account for a proportion of the variance in the quality of life domains of physical, functional, and emotional wellbeing. However, the interaction effects were minimal, but were significant predictors of total quality of life in females, but not male, cancer patients. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The Bender-Gestalt test is one of the most widely used psychological tests in clinical practice. However, very few empirical studies have investigated its projective use with adults. The purpose of the present study was to replicate a study conducted by Sellbom et al. (2001), which examined distortions of the Bender-Gestalt hypothesized to measure antisocial, impulsive, and depressive characteristics. It was found that the findings in Sellbom et al. (2001) were partially replicated, indicating that certain distortions, especially in conjunction, were significantly related to antisocial characteristics. The author suggests that the Bender-Gestalt could potentially be used as a screening measure for antisocial characteristics, but not to measure impulsive and depressive characteristics. / Department of Psychological Science

Depression received much attention in the professional literature as a stimulus both for experimental as well as applied research. It continued to be the subject of much controversy in respect to its definition, identification, and classification. Attempts were made to objectify the assessment of depression using self-report scales to tap various aspects though to be related to its etiology as well as its symptomology. Two of the most popular and reportedly well-validated self-report scales identified in the literature for determining and quantifying depressive symptoms were the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck) and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung).The present study was designed to determine if there were factors in common between the Beck and the Zung scales and, in addition, to test whether these factors would differentiate subjects by sex class membership, diagnostic category, and by some linear combination of biographical or life-history information. The major purpose was the identification of outstanding charactersitics of depression predicted from biographical data and the determination of the relationship of these data to self-rating psychometric measures of depression. This study makes it clear that the Beck and Zung scales are measuring different aspects of depression and thus are likely based on separate constructs. The need of developing a depression index based on separate factor scores is highlighted. Also, a multimodal approach to assessment in general is indicated. Studies relating biographical information to factors of depression are suggested. This study makes several inroads, generating descriptive factors and significant biographical or life history correlates. These findings could be expanded and further research could lead to the development of assessment tools useful in the identification of patients with distinct depressive syndromes, as well as at-risk subject groups, in order to implement both primary and secondary prevention.

published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Medical Sciences