The Beck Depression Inventory Subscale (BDI-Y)
The Beck Youth Inventories (BYI) (2001) is a self-report multi-assessment instrument. The BYI contains 5 inventories that can be used individually or in combination.
The 5 Beck Youth Inventories are:
The inventories assess children and adolescents ages 7 through 18 years old. For the purpose of assessing depression the
BDI-Y should be administered, but administering all inventories is encouraged because of the high comorbidity of youth disorders (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Results from the inventories can be used for treatment planning and assessing post-treatment outcomes. The combination of the inventories takes 30 minutes to administer and complete. The BDI-Y meets the criteria for assessing depression as outlined in the DSM-IV. Overall, the BYI is brief and easy to administer, does not require much training, and has sound psychometrics, which makes it a great instrument for professional school counselors.
BYI Uses in School Setting:
Qualification Level: B; professional school counselors can administer and interpret the BYI.
Format and Administration
The BDI-Y may be administered individually or in a group setting. The BYI is a paper-pencil format and is written at a second grade level. The BDI-Y takes 5-10 minutes to complete; adjustment and added time is available to those who may need it. The BDI-Y contains 20 statements about thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with depressive symptomology within the last 2 weeks. Items are rated from 0 (Never) to 3 (Always).
Sample/Norm
Normative-comparative data consisted of a stratified sample of 1000 children ages 7-18 (400 individuals ages 7-10, 400 ages 11-14, and 200 ages 15-19). The sample closely matched the 1999 U.S. Census data according to gender, age groups, race/ethnicity, SES, and parent education. A variety of rural, urban, and suburban sites were sampled that included schools, churches, and community centers (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Selection criteria included only individuals whose primary language is English, and children and adolescents with no known physical and mental illness. Eighty-nine youth in special education ages 8-12 were also sampled.
Scoring and Interpretation
Raw scores are translated into T-scores assigned by age and gender: females 7-10 years old, 11-14 years old, 15-18 years old, and males 7-10 years old, 11-14 years old, 15-18 years old.
T-scores for BDI-Y are as follows:
The 5 Beck Youth Inventories are:
- The Beck Depression Inventory for Youth (BDI-Y)
- The Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth (BAI-Y)
- The Beck Anger Inventory for Youth (BANI-Y)
- The Beck Disruptive Inventory for Youth (BDBI-Y)
- The Beck Self-Concept Inventory for Youth (BSCI-Y).
The inventories assess children and adolescents ages 7 through 18 years old. For the purpose of assessing depression the
BDI-Y should be administered, but administering all inventories is encouraged because of the high comorbidity of youth disorders (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Results from the inventories can be used for treatment planning and assessing post-treatment outcomes. The combination of the inventories takes 30 minutes to administer and complete. The BDI-Y meets the criteria for assessing depression as outlined in the DSM-IV. Overall, the BYI is brief and easy to administer, does not require much training, and has sound psychometrics, which makes it a great instrument for professional school counselors.
BYI Uses in School Setting:
- Screening, and referral to outside resources and agencies
- Initial eligibility determination for IEP
- Triennial reevaluation process
- Progress monitoring of IEP goals, individual goals, and group goals
Qualification Level: B; professional school counselors can administer and interpret the BYI.
Format and Administration
The BDI-Y may be administered individually or in a group setting. The BYI is a paper-pencil format and is written at a second grade level. The BDI-Y takes 5-10 minutes to complete; adjustment and added time is available to those who may need it. The BDI-Y contains 20 statements about thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with depressive symptomology within the last 2 weeks. Items are rated from 0 (Never) to 3 (Always).
Sample/Norm
Normative-comparative data consisted of a stratified sample of 1000 children ages 7-18 (400 individuals ages 7-10, 400 ages 11-14, and 200 ages 15-19). The sample closely matched the 1999 U.S. Census data according to gender, age groups, race/ethnicity, SES, and parent education. A variety of rural, urban, and suburban sites were sampled that included schools, churches, and community centers (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Selection criteria included only individuals whose primary language is English, and children and adolescents with no known physical and mental illness. Eighty-nine youth in special education ages 8-12 were also sampled.
Scoring and Interpretation
Raw scores are translated into T-scores assigned by age and gender: females 7-10 years old, 11-14 years old, 15-18 years old, and males 7-10 years old, 11-14 years old, 15-18 years old.
T-scores for BDI-Y are as follows:
- 55 or less= average score
- 55-59= mildly elevated
- 60-69= moderately elevated
- 70+= extremely elevated depression
Psychometric Properties
Coefficient alphas for all the inventories are very good, with values ranging from .86-.96. The BDI-Y had the highest value for internal consistency (.90-.95). Test-retest reliability after 7-8 days ranged from .74-.93, indicating acceptable reliability of scores after 7-8 day period; test-retest scores were slightly lower among girls (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Construct validity was strong between the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale-2nd Edition. Convergent validity was found among various other instruments such as the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI).
Developmental Considerations
Children have been found to show inconsistencies when completing questionnaires; this was exhibited during the test-retest (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Test-retest values were lower among the age range of 7-14; therefore, it is important to use multiple screening measures with children. Though group administration of this instrument is possible in a school setting, it is encouraged to provide as much privacy in order for the child or adolescent to respond honestly, as they may feel embarrassed or ashamed in front of their peers. During pre-adolescence to adolescence, peers become increasingly important and influential, and fitting in and being “normal” is desired.
Cultural Considerations
The sample only consisted of children, adolescents, and parents whose primary language was English. Therefore, the established norms of the sample exclude English as a Second Language (ESL) children and adolescents; caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing results/scores of ESL children and adolescents to the sample. The sample also had more Caucasian females and less Hispanic females in the 11-14 age range than the Census information, and had less African American males and more Hispanic males in the 11-14 age range than the Census information; this information should be considered when making interpretations.
*To purchase the BYI manual, kit, and/or booklets, click here.
Coefficient alphas for all the inventories are very good, with values ranging from .86-.96. The BDI-Y had the highest value for internal consistency (.90-.95). Test-retest reliability after 7-8 days ranged from .74-.93, indicating acceptable reliability of scores after 7-8 day period; test-retest scores were slightly lower among girls (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Construct validity was strong between the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale-2nd Edition. Convergent validity was found among various other instruments such as the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI).
Developmental Considerations
Children have been found to show inconsistencies when completing questionnaires; this was exhibited during the test-retest (Mental Measurements Yearbook, 2010). Test-retest values were lower among the age range of 7-14; therefore, it is important to use multiple screening measures with children. Though group administration of this instrument is possible in a school setting, it is encouraged to provide as much privacy in order for the child or adolescent to respond honestly, as they may feel embarrassed or ashamed in front of their peers. During pre-adolescence to adolescence, peers become increasingly important and influential, and fitting in and being “normal” is desired.
Cultural Considerations
The sample only consisted of children, adolescents, and parents whose primary language was English. Therefore, the established norms of the sample exclude English as a Second Language (ESL) children and adolescents; caution should be exercised when interpreting and comparing results/scores of ESL children and adolescents to the sample. The sample also had more Caucasian females and less Hispanic females in the 11-14 age range than the Census information, and had less African American males and more Hispanic males in the 11-14 age range than the Census information; this information should be considered when making interpretations.
*To purchase the BYI manual, kit, and/or booklets, click here.