Validating the Turkish adaptation of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale-Children (PANAS-C) for Turkish adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to adapt the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C) developed by Laurent et al. into Turkish and to examine its validity and reliability on high school adolescents. The data of the study were analyzed with four different study groups. The first study group consisted of 414 high school adolescents, 262 girls (63.3%) and 152 boys (36.7%), between the ages of 14 and 19, with a mean age of 15.80 (SD = 1.15). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted with the first study group to determine the construct validity of the scale and a 14-item short form of the scale was obtained. A total of 295 adolescents, 159 girls (53.9%) and 136 boys (46.1%), between the ages of 14 and 19, with a mean age of 16.06 (SD = 1.16), participated in the second study group. CFA was conducted with this group for the construct validity of the short form; a two-dimensional structure was obtained as in the original form of the scale. In addition, multiple-group CFA was conducted with the data obtained from the second study group, and cross-validation of the scale regarding gender was ensured. The internal consistency coefficient, combined reliability values, and average variance extracted values of the scale were examined with both the first and second study groups, and the values obtained were found to be acceptable. The third study group consisted of 69 high school students, 36 girls, and 33 boys, with an average age of 15.67 (SD = 0.82). The criterion-related validity of the scale was examined with the third group. As a result of the criterion-related validity study, it was found that there was a moderately positive relationship between positive emotion and life satisfaction and a negative relationship between positive emotion and depression. On the other hand, there was a moderate negative relationship between negative emotion and life satisfaction and a significant positive relationship between negative emotion and depression. The test-retest reliability of the scale was examined with the fourth study group. For this purpose, 63 students were administered the PANAS-C at 3-week intervals. Significant relationships were found for test–retest reliability, r = .70, p < .01 for the positive emotion dimension, and r = .63, p < .01 for the negative emotion dimension. The results of the study were discussed and interpreted and suggestions for researchers were presented.