Further Validity Tests of the Grandchildren's Received Affection Scale

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to further validate the newly developed Grandchildren's Received Affection Scale (GRAS). To that end, young adult grandchildren (N = 317) completed the GRAS, along with two previously established measures of affectionate communication and a social desirability scale. The results of a series of Pearson correlational analyses and an exploratory factor analysis provide support for the concurrent, construct, and divergent validity of the GRAS. Thus, the GRAS is an appropriate instrument to assess grandchildren's received affectionate communication from their grandparents.

Keywords:

• Affection
• Grandchildren
• Grandparents
• Intergenerational
• Validity

Notes

Note. All correlations are significant at p < .001, unless otherwise indicated. GRAS = Grandchildren's Received Affection Scale; ACI = Affectionate Communication Index.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p > .05.

Note. Factor loadings below .35 are suppressed. Items 1–17 = GRAS and items 18–23 = TARS. F1 (items 6–10) = caring (eigenvalue = 3.50, variance = 15.21%). F2 (items 18–23) = trait affection received (eigenvalue = 3.29, variance = 14.21%). F3 (items 1–5) = love and esteem (eigenvalue = 3.6, variance = 13.32%). F4 (items 11–14) = memories and humor (eigenvalue = 2.85, variance = 12.37%). F5 (items 15–17) = celebratory (eigenvalue = 1.89, variance = 8.21%).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel H. Mansson

Daniel H. Mansson (PhD, West Virginia University, 2011) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Arts & Sciences at Penn State Hazleton.