Date of Award:

5-2004

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Psychology

Committee Chair(s)

Susan L. Crowley

Committee

Susan L. Crowley

Abstract

Many studies investigating the validity of the Tripartite model of affect in children have been supportive of the model. However, few studies have examined if older and younger children structure affect similarly. The current study used confirmatory factor analytic techniques (SEM) to test the validity of the tripartite model in two developmentally distinct populations of children (third and sixth grade). Confirmatory factor analytic methods examined one-factor, two-factor correlated, and two-factor uncorrelated models. Furthermore, the pattern of correlations between positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and dependent measures of anxiety and depression was calculated.

The results indicated the two-factor correlated and two-factor uncorrelated models demonstrated adequate fit across samples. However, in the younger sample the correlation between NA and PA was larger and statistically significant compared to the older sample, thus supporting the hypothesis that older and younger children structure affect differently. Limitations of the study and clinical/developmental implications are discussed.

Checksum

dc16e537fb9aa717dd13908e24649a41

Included in

Psychology Commons

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