Factor Structure of the Disgust Scale–Revised in an Adolescent Sample

Abstract

Although recent research with the Disgust Scale–Revised (DS-R) has contributed to current knowledge regarding the structure of disgust, this line of research has exclusively employed adult samples. The current study extended existing research by examining the factor structure of the DS-R in an adolescent sample (N = 637). Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors: Contagion, Mortality, and Contact Disgust. Subsequent to removing three items due to inadequate factor loadings, confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the 3-factor model across gender, grade level, and racial subgroups. Tests of item–intercept invariance also revealed no differences in item means across grade level. However, three and four items were associated with differences across race and gender, respectively. Latent factor means were also found to be invariant across racial groups and grade level, but not across gender. Implications of the DS-R factor structure in this adolescent sample and its domains are discussed.