Development and initial validation of the Brazil Mood Scale

Abstract

The present study developed and evaluated the Brazil Mood Scale, a 24-item measure based on the Brunel Mood Scale. Mood descriptors were converted into Portuguese using the translation-back translation method. The revised scale was administered on two occasions to 298 participants in Brazil (173 males and 125 females; age: M = 18.3, SD = 5.1 yr.). Exploratory factor analysis recovered the hypothesized, 6-factor solution (anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, vigour) at Time 1 and Time 2, explaining 68% and 72% of variance, respectively. Subscales for depression, fatigue, and vigour were recovered cleanly in both solutions; whereas the anger, confusion, and tension scales showed some complexity. Cronbach alpha coefficients were acceptable for all subscales at T1 (range = .76 - .85) and T2 (range = .79 - .90). Confirmatory factor analysis showed support for the measurement model, although some values were marginal (χ2 /df: T1 = 2.42, T2 = 2.28; CFI: T1 = .91, T2 = .93; TLI: T1 = .88, T2 = .91; RMSEA: T1 = .06, T2 = .06). Overall, the measure showed encouraging psychometric characteristics.