Análise fatorial exploratória e hierárquica da Escala Triangular do Amor

Abstract

The factorial analyses of Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale (ETAS), which theoretically has three factors, have extracted a first factor that explains most of the variance, revealed cross loadings in various items and high correlations between factors. Several researchers have postulated the unidimensionality of the measure. Others, in trying to overcome these psychometric problems, have defined reduced versions (ETAS-R). The current research reviewed the ETAS and ETAS-R (short version) with two samples of convenience - with 937 and 817 participants, from the South and Southeast regions of Brazil, respectively - seeking to contribute to the clarification of this factorial complexity. The scores were submitted to Exploratory and Hierarchical Factor Analyses. For ETAS, strong evidence appeared of the existence of a general factor to the detriment of specific dimensions. For ETAS-R, a second-order and three first-order factors, with items presenting general and specific dimensions in balance.