Couple-Specific Dependency Scale in Spanish adolescents and invariance by gender and relationship status ( Escala de dependencia específica de la pareja en adolescentes españoles e invarianza por género y estatus de las relaciones )

Abstract

Spanish

Measures about dependency in romantic relations mostly focus on adults, even though the first couple relations begin during adolescence. This study aims to adapt and validate a widely used instrument in different ages, the Spouse Specific Dependence Scale, in a sample of adolescents. A total of 481 participants, 15–17 years old (Study 1 = 234, M _age = 16.04 years, SD = 0.68, and Study 2 = 247, M _age = 15.88, SD = 0.72), completed the scale to determine its psychometric guarantees. In Study 1, a three-dimensional model yielded adequate indices, and invariance showed that girls and boys involved in a current relationship interpret items in a similar way. Moreover, the instrument shows convergent validation with jealousy and sexism. In Study 2, adolescents who were not in a relationship were compared to the Study 1 participants. Measurement invariance by relationship status showed that the two subsamples interpret the items in a different way. Our results show that this instrument is appropriated for measuring partner dependency in adolescent couples, but only when involved in a current relationship.

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