Assessing positive emotional memories with peers: The Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness with Peers Scale for adolescents. (January 2017) - Cunha, Marina
Abstract: Research on the association between early positive relational experiences and later psychosocial adjustment is growing. The quality of peer relationships may have a particularly important effect on adolescents' wellbeing and mental health. The current study aimed at examining a measure of personal emotional memories of peer relationships characterized by warmth, safeness and affection, which occurred in childhood and adolescence (EMWSSPeers -A). Distinct samples ( N = 584) of adolescents aged between 12 and 18 were used to assess the EMWSSPeers -A′ factorial structure through a Principal Component Analysis and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and to analyse the scale's psychometric properties. Results indicated a one-dimensional structure with 12 items with very good internal consistency, and construct, convergent, divergent and incremental validities. By allowing the examination of the role played by memories of positive peer relationships on adolescents' psychological adjustment, the EMWSSPeers -A may be potentially useful for future model testing and for the assessment of interventions.