Rasch rating scale modeling of the Korean version of the beck depression inventory

Abstract

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is one of the most frequently used instruments in the study of depression both within and outside of the United States. Though developed primarily with European American clinical populations, the BDI has been applied in nonclinical and non-Western samples. To determine whether such a practice is warranted, the authors used Rasch rating scale modeling on a Korean version of the BDI (BDI-K) with Korean university students (N=279). Results revealed that (a) most BDI-K items represented one common construct, (b) somatic symptoms of depression were more difficult to endorse, and (c) the difficulty level of the BDI-K may not be appropriate for nonclinical Korean university samples.