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A cultural validation of the Chinese version of multidimensional depression assessment scale (MDAS) in clinically depressed patients in Inner Mongolia

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Abstract

Depression symptoms and assessment in China are influenced by unique cultural values of collectivism and by social-political factors specific to China. This study validated the Chinese version of the 52-item Multidimensional Depression Assessment Scale (MDAS) with clinically depressed patients in Inner Mongolia. The study sought to examine the psychometric properties of the MDAS and understand the construct of depression in a specific collectivistic cultural context using a scale with comprehensive dimensions of depressive symptoms in the emotional, cognitive, somatic and interpersonal domains. A total of 171 clinically depressed participants in Inner Mongolia completed the Chinese versions of the MDAS and the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI). The reliability and validity of the MDAS were tested, and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on the MDAS to examine the underlying structure of the measure. The MDAS and BDI were compared in terms of sensitivity and reactivity on the basis of the cut-off value of BDI. The Chinese-MDAS was found to have good psychometric properties, including high Cronbach’s alphas for the total scale and for each subscale (0.90–0.97), indicating good reliability, as well as a high and significant correlation with the BDI (r = 0.72; p < .001), suggesting good validity. The factor analysis indicated the emergence of a salient factor of interpersonal symptoms in Chinese depressed patients, suggesting the importance of interpersonal symptoms in Chinese depressed individuals. A cut-off value of 118.5 with high sensitivity and specificity was found on the MDAS based on the cut-off value of the BDI. The Chinese-MDAS demonstrated good psychometric properties among depressed individuals in Inner Mongolia. This study paves the way for the measure’s further development and cultural adaptation in a Chinese depressed population.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to colleagues at Inner Mongolia Mental Health Center for their collaboration, as well as colleagues at the University of Edinburgh in providing administrative support.

Availability of Data and Material

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

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This study has not received any funding sources. The manuscript is a part of the PhD thesis by Ho Nam Cheung.

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  1. Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Ho Nam Cheung, Joanne M. Williams & Stella W. Y. Chan

  2. School of Arts and Social Sciences, Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, Hong Kong

    Ho Nam Cheung

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Ho Nam Cheung-first author.

Conception of the work; acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data; drafted and revised the manuscript; accountable for all aspects of the work.

Jo Williams and Stella Chan-co-authors.

Conception of the work; supervised the completion of the manuscript; proofread and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ho Nam Cheung.

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Cheung, H.N., Williams, J.M. & Chan, S.W.Y. A cultural validation of the Chinese version of multidimensional depression assessment scale (MDAS) in clinically depressed patients in Inner Mongolia. Curr Psychol 41, 5948–5958 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01107-2

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