Scale of Positive and Negative Aff ects (EAPN-10): Evidence of its Psychometric Adequacy

Abstract

This study aimed to gather psychometric evidence of the Scale of Positive and Negative Aff ects (EAPN10) within the Brazilian context. Three studies were performed (N = 911). Study 1 considered 296 undergraduate students (MAge = 23.8; 59.1% females), who answered the EAPN-10 and a demographic questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure [positive aff ects (α = .82) and negative aff ects (α = .81)], explaining 59.7% of the total variance. Study 2 took into account the participation of 313 undergraduate students (MAge = 23.3; 57.2% females), who answered the same instruments. Confi rmatory factor analysis corroborated the two-factor structure (e.g., CFI = .92), which was invariant across males and females (e.g., ΔCFI < .01), with alphas greater than .70. Finally, Study 3’s participants were 302 university students (MAge = 23.1; 54.3% females), who answered the aforementioned instruments as well as measures of vitality, positivity, optimism, anxiety, depression and stress. Supporting their criterion validity, positive aff ects (α = .83) were positively correlated Gouveia, V. V. , Ribeiro, M. G. C., Loureto, G. D. L., Silva Neta, O. F., Gouveia, R. S. V., Vilar, R., Freire, S. E. A. 190 Trends Psychol., Ribeirão Preto, vol. 27, no 1, p. 189-203 March/2019 with well-being indicators, and negative aff ects (α = .80) were positively correlated with indicators of psychological discomfort. In conclusion, the EAPN-10 is a psychometrically adequate measure that can be employed to assess people’s aff ects and their correlates within the Brazilian context.