Abstract
Recent investigations of the structure of psychological distress have indicated that hierarchical models can accommodate both unitary and multifaceted conceptions of distress. The present study tested the hierarchical framework suggested by Zuckerman, Lubin, and Rinck (1983) for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL), a commonly used measure of psychological distress. One- and two-factor models were estimated using maximum-likelihood methods. Results indicated that the two-factor solution, with correlated positive and negative affect factors, provided a significantly better fit to the data than did the omnibus one-factor solution. These results provide further support for hierarchical models of distress.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression.Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.
Block, J. H., & Block, J. (1980). The role of ego-control and ego-resiliency in the organization of behavior. In W. A. Collins (Ed.),Development of cognition, affect, and social relations. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Dohrenwend, B. P., Shrout, P. E., Egri, G., & Mendelsohn, F. A. (1980). Nonspecific psychological distress and other dimensions of psychopathology.Archives of General Psychiatry, 37, 1229–1236.
Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1984).LISREL VI. Mooresville, IN: Scientific Software.
Russell, J. A. (1980). A circumplex model of affect.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 1161–1178.
Tanaka, J. S., & Huba, G. J. (1984a). Confirmatory hierarchical factor analyses of psychological distress measures.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 621–635.
Tanaka, J. S., & Huba, G. J. (1984b). Structures of psychological distress: Testing confirmatory hierarchical models.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 719–721.
Thayer, J. F., & Miller, M. L. (1987). Personality factors mediate response to examination stress (in preparation).
Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E., Jr. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 730–742.
Watson, D., & Tellegen, A. (1985). Toward a consensual structure of mood.Psychological Bulletin, 98, 219–235.
Zuckerman, M., Lubin, B., & Rinck, C. M. (1983). Construction of new scales for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List.Journal of Behavioral Assessment, 5, 119–129.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thayer, J.F., Sinclair, R.C. Psychological distress: A hierarchical factor model of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL). J Psychopathol Behav Assess 9, 229–233 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960577
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00960577