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

• Main Authors: Valdiney V. Gouveia, Maria Gabriela Costa Ribeiro, Gleidson Diego Lopes Loureto, Olindina Fernandes da Silva Neta, Rildésia S. V. Gouveia, Roosevelt Vilar, Sandra Elisa de Assis Freire
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Psicologia
• Series: Trends in Psychology
• Subjects: Afetos; escala; positividade; vitalidade; ansiedade; depressão
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2358-18832019000100189&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract This study aimed to gather psychometric evidence of the Scale of Positive and Negative Affects (EAPN-10) 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 affects (α = .82) and negative affects (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. Confirmatory 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 affects (α = .83) were positively correlated with well-being indicators, and negative affects (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 affects and their correlates within the Brazilian context.