Psychometric Evaluation of the Swedish Version of the Types of Positive Affect Scale

Abstract

Abstract: Differentiating between various types of positive affect (PA), such as excitement, relaxation, safeness, and contentment, is important when assessing mental health. However, validated instruments measuring these types of PA are scarce, and in a Swedish context, they are nonexisting. Thus, the present study assesses the psychometric properties of the translated Swedish version of the Types of PA Scale (TPAS) using a sample of 440 Swedish adults. Corroborating previous research, confirmatory factor analyses supported a modified three-factor model (Activated PA, Relaxed PA, Safe/Content PA), showing good reliability, good convergent validity, and satisfactory discriminant validity of the factors. Furthermore, the TPAS demonstrates measurement invariance across demographics (age, gender, and education) and exhibits satisfactory construct validity by distinguishing between PA, NA and State–Trait Anxiety. Hence, the Swedish TPAS is a valid tool for measuring types of PA in the adult population of Sweden, with potential areas for improvement being discussed.

Keywords

• positive affect
• the types of positive affect scale
• psychometric properties
• confirmatory factor analysis
• measurement invariance