A Grade Four Reading Level Key for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised

Abstract

Data from samples of College Students (n = 433), Adolescents (n = 746), and a community mental health center sample (Outpatients) (n = 202) were re-scored using a scoring key that consisted of adjectives from the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised at or below the Grade 4 reading level (MAACL–R4). Factor analyses showed that, unlike the MAACL–R, a three-factor structure (Positive Affect 4, Anxious Depression 4, and Hostility 4) best described the 38 Grade 4 adjectives on the MAACL–R4. Estimates of reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) for each scale were acceptable. Correlations between scores on MAACL–R4 and four Self-rating Mood Scales showed expected convergent and discriminant validities. Also, patterns of means among the three groups could differentiate the nonreferred from referred samples.