title: Method effects: the problem with negatively versus positively keyed items.
abstract: Using confirmatory factor analyses, we examined method effects on Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965) in a sample of older European adults. Nine hundred forty nine community-dwelling adults 60 years of age or older from 5 European countries completed the RSES as well as measures of depression and life satisfaction. The 2 models that had an acceptable fit with the data included method effects. The method effects were associated with both positively and negatively worded items. Method effects models were invariant across gender and age, but not across countries. Both depression and life satisfaction predicted method effects. Individuals with higher depression scores and lower life satisfaction scores were more likely to endorse negatively phrased items.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Magnus.Lindwall@psy.gu.se
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindwall
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barkoukis
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raudsepp
authors.forename: Jarmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liukkonen
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thøgersen-Ntoumani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept