Integrating Negative Affect Measures in a Measurement Model: Assessing the Function of Negative Affect as Interference to Self-Regulation
The International Journal of Educational and Psychological Assessment, Vol. 4, p. 48, April 2010
20 Pages Posted: 8 May 2010
Date Written: April 1, 2010
Abstract
The present study investigated the composition of negative affect and its function as inhibitory to thought processes such as self-regulation. Negative affect in the present study were composed of anxiety, worry, thought suppression, and fear of negative evaluation. These four factors were selected based on the criteria of negative affect by Hopko, Hunt, and Armento (2005) and Smith and Kirby (2001). Four different scales were used to measure these factors. The factor structure of the negative affect was tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Results showed that all items as indictors were significant and all the four factors of negative affect were significantly related. The inhibitory function of the negative affect on self-regulation was further tested using Structural Equations Modeling. The results showed that as negative affect’s increase, there was a reduction of 4% variance on self-regulation. The model showing the inhibitory function of negative affect also attained an adequate fit.
Keywords: Negative Affect, Anxiety, Worry, Thought Suppression, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Self-Regulation
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