Reliability and validity of the trait form of set 2 of the Depression Adjective Check Lists with Canadian elderly

In order to determine the suitability of the trait form of the Depression Adjective Check Lists (DACL) for use with the elderly, Forms E, F, and G and a question that required a self-rating of health were administered as part of a larger questionnaire to two groups of nonhospitalized Canadian elderly: (1) 259 subjects (120 males and 139 females) between 60 and 74 years of age; and (2) 136 subjects (50 males and 96 females) 75 to 93 years of age. The reliability of each list (overall mean alpha = .84; overall mean alternate form reliability = .84; and overall mean split-half reliability = .76) seemed to be at an adequate level. Also, the magnitude of these correlations was very similar to those found on the same instrument for a sample of college students.