The level of expressed emotion scale: a useful measure of expressed emotion in adolescents?
Research has suggested that self-report measures of expressed emotion (EE) may be employed as a proxy measure of environmental stress in the home. The appropriateness of the Level of Expressed Emotion scale as a measure of perceived expressed emotion was examined in a sample of adolescents. Participants were 239 male and 422 female adolescents with a mean age of 15.9 years (SD = 1.26). Principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a shortened thirty three item scale with three subscales, interpreted as Lack of Emotional Support, Irritability and Intrusiveness. The Intrusiveness and Irritability subscales were positively correlated with adolescents' self reports of psychological symptoms. Researchers seeking adolescents' reports of the family environment should consider the use of this shortened LEE scale.
School of Psychology, Bangor University, Penrallt Road, Gwynedd LL57 2AS, United Kingdom. s.nelis@bangor.ac.uk
Sharon M
SM
Nelis
Gordon
G
Rae
Christine
C
Liddell
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012944:Social Support