In rural Senegal, where mental health resources remain scarce, a groundbreaking study has validated a culturally adapted measure of depression for Wolof-speaking communities. Researchers have focused on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 10-item version (CESD-10), translating and testing its applicability within this unique linguistic and cultural context. The successful adaptation of this tool opens new horizons for mental health screening and intervention in areas with limited clinical infrastructure.
The study, conducted between 2013 and 2015, targeted caregivers in rural Senegal who primarily speak Wolof, the country’s most widely spoken language. This population is critical due to their dual role in managing daily family responsibilities and contributing to child health outcomes, where depressive symptoms can have cascading effects. Developing a reliable instrument for assessing depression among these caregivers addresses a crucial gap in epidemiological research and clinical practice in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Significant methodological rigor underpinned the translation of the CESD-10. A professional bilingual translator first converted the French original to Wolof. Then, a back-translation by a separate research assistant ensured linguistic fidelity. A team of native Wolof speakers critically examined the scale to verify that its items reflected culturally relevant expressions of depressive symptoms. This multi-step translation strategy is essential to maintain both the semantic and conceptual integrity of psychological assessment tools across languages.
The research participants numbered 514 Wolof-speaking caregivers, each responding to the CESD-10 on a four-point Likert scale measuring the frequency of depressive symptoms. Unlike some prior studies which rely solely on one step translation processes, this study’s robust approach mitigated potential cultural biases, aiming to capture authentic emotional experiences rather than literal translations of symptom descriptions.
A key finding emerged from the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Initial analyses using half the data revealed weak factor loadings for the two positively worded items: “enjoy things” and “happy.” These items did not statistically conform to the unidimensional depression factor hypothesized for the scale. The investigators thus removed these items and re-examined model fit using the remaining eight negatively phrased symptoms with the other half of the sample.
This refined model demonstrated excellent psychometric properties. Fit indices included a chi-square statistic of 29.38 with 18 degrees of freedom, a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.97, and a Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) of 0.96, indicating a strong one-factor structure. The root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.05, and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) was 0.03, all signaling a robust representation of depressive symptoms in this population. The item factor loadings ranged between 0.37 and 0.72, with a respectable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78), further confirming reliability.
Beyond the statistical fit, the practical validity of the Wolof CESD-10 was supported by significant correlations between depressive symptoms and socioeconomic markers. Caregivers scoring higher on the depression scale were found living in households with lower wealth indices. Moreover, these caregivers’ children exhibited reduced weight and height, suggesting a link between caregiver mental health and child physical development. This evidence strengthens the measure’s convergent validity in a real-world context.
These findings highlight the intersection of mental health, poverty, and child well-being in rural Senegal. Depression, often overlooked in low-resource settings, profoundly impacts caregiving capacity and, consequently, the next generation’s nutritional and developmental status. Having a valid and reliable screening instrument in Wolof empowers primary care providers and community health workers to identify at-risk individuals earlier and more accurately, circumventing language and cultural barriers.
Importantly, the study addresses a critical void in mental health epidemiology for Sub-Saharan Africa, where validated psychological instruments adapted for local languages are scarce. Standardized tools developed in Western or urban contexts often fail to capture culturally specific expressions of distress, leading to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. By adapting the CESD-10 to Wolof, this research aligns with global mental health priorities promoting locally contextualized care.
The implications of this work are multifaceted. Clinicians in Senegal can integrate the Wolof CESD-10 into routine health assessments, enabling scalable depression screening in communities that previously lacked valid tools. Mental health policymakers are provided with robust data to inform resource allocation, while international researchers can replicate or adapt similar methodologies in other linguistic groups. Ultimately, this tool’s availability enhances mental health visibility and reduces stigma through routine measurement.
From a technical standpoint, this research underscores the importance of rigorous psychometric evaluation when adapting psychological scales. The exclusion of positively worded items aligns with a growing recognition that such items may behave differently across languages and cultures, potentially due to varying idiomatic expressions or response styles. Careful statistical validation ensures the resulting scale measures a coherent construct rather than linguistic artifacts.
Moreover, this study exemplifies how interdisciplinary collaboration—combining expertise in psychology, linguistics, pediatrics, and social science—can produce culturally sensitive and empirically robust instruments. The engagement of native speakers in the translation and review process is pivotal, transforming an otherwise mechanical translation into a nuanced cultural adaptation. This model sets a precedent for future efforts in diverse contexts.
In sum, the Wolof CESD-10 emerges as a valid, reliable, and culturally resonant measure for assessing depressive symptoms in rural Senegalese caregiving populations. Its development promises to bridge gaps in mental health diagnosis and care in an underserved region, fostering a deeper understanding of the psychosocial determinants of health. As depression increasingly gains recognition as a public health priority in Africa, tools like this pave the way toward improved screening, targeted interventions, and ultimately, better population health outcomes.
Subject of Research: Depression measurement tool adaptation and validation in Wolof-speaking rural Senegalese caregivers.
Article Title: Measuring depression in Wolof-speaking communities using the CESD-10 in rural Senegal.
Article References:
Diop, Y., Skibbe, L.E., Fernald, A. et al. Measuring depression in Wolof-speaking communities using the CESD-10 in rural Senegal. BMC Psychiatry 25, 1088 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07405-y
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 13 November 2025
Keywords: Depression, CESD-10, Wolof language, Senegal, rural health, psychometric validation, mental health screening, caregiver health, cultural adaptation, confirmatory factor analysis, socioeconomic status, child health.
