Identifying the Best-Fitting Factor Structure of the Experience of Close Relations: Revised in a Scandinavian Example

Barbara Hoff Esbjørn, Sonja Breinholst, Janni Niclasen, Louise Fabritius Skovgaard , Katrine Lange, Marie Louise Reinholdt-Dunne

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The aim of this study was to enhance the understanding of cultural and sample differences in the assessment of attachment by examining the factor structure of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R). The ECR-R is a self-report measure of adult roman- tic attachment dimensions. The present study used a Danish sample with the purpose of addressing limitations in previous studies, such as the lack of diversity in cultural back- ground, restricted sample characteristics, and poorly fitting structure models. Participants consisted of 253 parents of children between the ages of 7 and 12 years, 53% being moth- ers. The parents completed the paper version of the questionnaire. Confirmatory Factor Analyses were carried out to determine whether theoretically and empirically established models including one and two factors would also provide adequate fits in a Danish sample. A previous study using the original ECR suggested that Scandinavian samples may best be described using a five-factor solution. Our results indicated that the one- and two-factor models of the ECR-R did not fit the data well. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a five- factor model. Our study provides evidence that further investigation is needed to establish which model may provide the best model fit in the Scandinavian countries.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalP L o S One
    Volume10
    Issue number9
    Pages (from-to)1-9
    Number of pages9
    ISSN1932-6203
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2 Sept 2015

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