Dimensional Structure of the Spanish Version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in Adolescents and Young Adults

Resumen

The main purpose of this study was to examine the dimensional structure of the Spanish version of the PANAS, using a large sample of adolescents and young adults (N = 1103, age range 14 to 23). Furthermore, measurement invariance across gender and educational level was tested. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a bifactor model and a 3-factor model Positive Affect (PA), Negative Affect (NA) Upset, and NA Afraid (PA and NA uncorrelated) provided the best fit to the data. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses showed that the 3-factor model of the PANAS had strong measurement invariance across gender and educational level. Results showed statistically significant differences in the latent mean scores. University students scored higher than adolescents in PA, NA Upset, and NA Afraid. Men scored higher than women in PA. The PANAS scores also showed acceptable internal consistency scores (range from .80 to .86). The results found support for the PANAS as a brief and useful tool for the screening PA and NA in adolescents and young adult's populations. These findings hold implications for the study and use of the PANAS in nonclinical populations. Future studies should test measurement invariance of the PANAS scores across cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record © 2015 APA, all rights reserved).