Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Affective Control Scale in an Undergraduate Sample

  • Published:
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A considerable amount of clinical research interest has recently developed regarding emotion dysregulation and psychopathology. Many have suggested that distinct affective management deficits may characterize anxiety and mood pathology. Despite increased research attention, efforts to validate and sufficiently investigate the psychometric properties of many self-report measures of affect regulation have been lacking. The current study examined the response behavior of 1566 undergraduate participants who completed the Affective Control Scale (ACS). The ACS assesses fear of intense emotion, and it is frequently used in empirical research. The present investigation examined the structural qualities of the measure using exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic techniques. Findings suggest the original four rationally-derived subscales do not adequately fit the observed response patterns. Rather, results indicated that a five-factor solution that included a subscale measuring emotion mismanagement better represented response behavior. Additional normative data and bivariate correlations with other measures of emotion regulation and affect are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akaike, H. (1978). A Bayesian analysis of the minimum AIC procedure. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, 30, 9–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anastasi, A. (1982). Psychological testing. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., & Taylor, G. J. (1994). The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38, 23–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1995). EQS for Windows Users Guide. Encino, CA: Multivariate Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M., & Bonnet, D. C. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berg, C. Z., Shapiro, N., Chambless, D. L., & Ahrens, A. H. (1998). Are emotions frightening? II: An analogue study of fear of emotion, interpersonal conflict, and panic onset. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 3–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A. (1990). Overall fit in covariance structure models: two types of sample size effects. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 256–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bollen, K. A., & Liang, J. (1988). Some properties of Hoelter's CN. Sociological Methods and Research, 16, 492–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breckler, S. J. (1990). Applications of covariance structure modeling in psychology: cause for concern? Psychological Bulletin, 107, 260–273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, L. R. (1997). Gender and emotion: beyond stereotypes. Journal of Social Issues, 53, 369–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing Structural Equation Models. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, L. K., Kertz, S. J., Zurlage, M., & Woodruff-Borden, J. (2008). A confirmatory factor analysis of specific phobia domains in African American and Caucasian American young adults. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 763–771.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, L. K., Williams, S. R., Mast, B. T., & Woodruff-Borden, J. (2009). A confirmatory factor analysis of the Beck Anxiety Inventory in African American and European American young adults. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23, 387–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cleland, C., Magura, S., Foote, J., Rosenblum, A., & Kosanke, N. (2005). Psychometric properties of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) for substance users. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 58, 299–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Comrey, A. L., & Lee, H. B. (1992). A first course in factor analysis. Hillsdale: L. Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, J. R., & Henry, J. D. (2004). The positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS): construct validity, measurement properties and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 245–265.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Gucht, V., Fontaine, J., & Fischler, B. (2004). Temporal stability and differential relationships with neuroticism and extraversion of the three subscales of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in clinical and nonclinical samples. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 57, 25–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, A. H. (2000). Gender and Emotion: Social Psychological Perspectives. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Forbes, D., Parslow, R., Creamer, M., Allen, N., McHugh, T., & Hopwood, M. (2008). Mechanisms of anger and treatment outcome in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21, 142–149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerbing, D. W., & Anderson, J. C. (1993). Monte Carlo evaluations of goodness-of-fit indices for structural equation models. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 40–65). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, A. J., & Chambless, D. L. (1978). A reanalysis of agoraphobia. Behavior Therapy, 9, 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (1995). Facets of emotional expressivity: three self-report factors and their correlates. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 555–568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (1997). Revealing feelings: facets of emotional expressivity in self-reports, peer ratings, and behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 435–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess, U., Senecal, S., Kirouac, G., Herrera, P., Philippot, P., & Kleck, R. E. (2000). Emotional expressivity in men and women: stereotypes and self-perceptions. Cognition & Emotion, 14, 609–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1995). Evaluating model fit. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues and applications (pp. 76–99). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaccard, J., & Wan, C. K. (1996). LISREL approaches to interaction effects in multiple regression. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2004). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, S. L., Melka, S. E., & Rodriguez, B. F. (2009). A factor analytic comparison of five models of PTSD symptoms. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23, 269–274.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liverant, G. I., Brown, T. A., Barlow, D. H., & Roemer, L. (2008). Emotion regulation in unipolar depression: the effects of acceptance and suppression of subjective emotional experience on the intensity and duration of sadness and negative affect. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46, 1201–1209.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lykins, E. L. B., & Baer, R. A. (2009). Psychological functioning in a sample of long-term practitioners of mindfulness meditation. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 23, 226–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W. (1996). Positive and negative global self-esteem: a substantively meaningful distinction or artifactors? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 810–819.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., Hau, K.-T., & Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: comment on hypothesis-testing approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and Bentler's (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11, 320–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A. (1998). Comparison of the PAD and PANAS as models for describing emotions and for differentiating anxiety from depression. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 19, 331–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melka, S. E., Lancaster, S. L., Adams, L. J., Howarth, E. A., & Rodriguez, B. F. (2010). Social anxiety across ethnicity: a confirmatory actor analysis of the FNE and SAD. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 680–685.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mennin, D. S., Heimberg, R. G., Turk, C. L., & Fresco, D. M. (2005). Preliminary evidence for an emotion dysregulation model of generalized anxiety disroder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43, 377–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mennin, D. S., Holaway, R. M., Fresco, D. M., Moore, M. T., & Heimberg, R. G. (2007). Delineating components off emotion and its dysregulation in anxiety and mood psychopathology. Behavior Therapy, 38, 284–302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, S. A., Zoellner, L. A., & Mollenholt, N. (2008). Are expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal associated with stress-related symptoms? Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46, 993–1000.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, B., Gignac, G., Bates, T., & Stough, C. (2003). Examining the structure of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. Australian Journal of Psychology, 55, 154–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price, J. L., Monson, C. M., Callahan, K., & Rodriguez, B. F. (2006). The role of emotional functioning in military-related PTSD and its treatment. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 20, 661–674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, S. (1991). Expectancy model of fear, anxiety, and panic. Clinical Psychology Review Special Issue: Applied learning theory: Research issues for the 1990 s, 11, 141–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salovey, P., Mayer, J. D., Goldman, S., Turvey, C., & Palfai, T. (1995). Emotional attention, clarity, and repair: Exploring emotional intelligence using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. In J. W. Pennebaker (Ed.), Emotion, disclosure, and health (pp. 125–154). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Satorra, A., & Bentler, P. M. (1994). Corrections to test statistics and standard errors in covariance structure analysis. In A. von Eye & C. C. Clogg (Eds.), Latent variables analysis: Applications for developmental research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacker, R. E., & Lomax, R. G. (2004). A beginner's guide to structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum and Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sexton, K. A., & Dugas, M. J. (2009). An investigation of factors associated with cognitive avoidance in worry. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 33, 150–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spector, P. E., Van Katwyk, P. T., Brannick, M. T., & Chen, P. Y. (1997). When two factors don’t reflect two constructs: how item characteristics can produce artifactual factors. Journal of Management, 23, 659–677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spokas, M., Luterek, J. A., & Heimberg, R. G. (2009). Social anxiety and emotional suppression: the mediating role of beliefs. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 40, 283–291.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger, J. H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: an interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25, 173–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, J. (2002). Applied multivariate statistics for the social sciences. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S., & Cox, B. J. (1998a). An expanded anxiety sensitivity index: evidence for a hierarchic structure in a clinical sample. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 12, 463–483.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S., & Cox, B. J. (1998b). Anxiety sensitivity: multiple dimensions and hierarchic structure. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 37–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, L. R., & Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 38, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tull, M. T., Jakupcak, M., McFadden, M. E., & Roemer, L. (2007). The role of negative affect intensity and the fear of emotions in posttraumatic stress symptoms severity among victims of childhood interpersonal violence. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 195, 580–587.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turk, C. L., Heimberg, R. G., Luterek, J. A., Mennin, D. S., & Fresco, D. M. (2005). Emotion dysregulation in generalized anxiety disorder: a comparison with Social Anxiety Disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29, 89–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 1063–1070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, R., & Gore, P. A. (2006). A brief guide to structural equation modeling. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 719–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, R., Gore, P. A., Chan, F., & Catalano, D. (2008). An introduction to using structural—equation models in rehabilitation psychology. Rehabilitation Psychology, 53, 340–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, K. E. (1992). An analogue study of panic onset. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC.

  • Williams, K. E., Chambless, D. L., & Ahrens, A. (1997). Are emotions frightening? An extension of the fear of fear construct. Behaviour research and therapy, 35, 239–248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woods, C. M. (2007). Careless responding to reverse-worded items: implications for confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 28, 186–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yen, S., Zlotnick, C., & Costello, E. (2002). Affect regulation in women with borderline personality disorder traits. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 190, 693–696.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Portions of these data were presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, FL. Stephen E. Melka is now at the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. Steven L. Lancaster is now with the Department of Psychology at Drake University, Des Moines, IA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Mailcode 6502, Carbondale, IL, 62901-6502, USA

    Stephen E. Melka, Steven L. Lancaster, Andrew R. Bryant & Benjamin F. Rodriguez

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249-0652, USA

    Rebecca Weston

Authors
  1. Stephen E. Melka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Steven L. Lancaster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrew R. Bryant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Benjamin F. Rodriguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rebecca Weston
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin F. Rodriguez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Melka, S.E., Lancaster, S.L., Bryant, A.R. et al. An Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Affective Control Scale in an Undergraduate Sample. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 33, 501–513 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9236-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9236-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation