Psychometric Properties of the Bangla Version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) With University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aims: In clinical practice and research, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is one of the most frequently employed and consistent depression assessment instruments. Despite numerous international studies thoroughly establishing the psychometric properties of the BDI-II, no notable study has validated the scale in Bangladesh, especially on the student sample as well as in nonclinical settings. Therefore, the current study was conducted with a view to assessing the psychometric properties of the Bangla version of the BDI-II in a sample of undergraduate students in the cultural context of Bangladesh.

Methods: The sample consisted of 1128 undergraduate students (55.9% males) aged from 18 to 28 (M = 22.35, SD = 1.41) from the university of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The factor structure of the BDI-II was investigated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results: The CFA revealed that the hypothesized two-factor model of the BDI-II had an acceptable fit [χ ²/df = 3.030, GFI = 0.957, TLI = 0.949, and CFI = 0.955, RMSEA = 0.042] in the current sample, which confirms the factorial validity of the Bangla version of the BDI-II. Cronbach's α value (for total scale α = 0.90; for the cognitive-affective factor α = 0.88; and for the somatic factor α = 0.73) assured high internal consistency. The concurrent validity of the BDI-II was confirmed by the correlation with the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) in the expected direction.

Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that the Bangla version of the BDI-II is a valid instrument for assessing depression among the student community in Bangladesh. This study will also be very beneficial to research on mental health problems in Bangladesh.