A confirmatory factor analysis of a four-factor model of adolescent concerns

Based on considerable previous research, a four-factor model of adolescent concerns was proposed. Data on concerns were collected from 439 adolescents together with demographic data. A hierarchy of concerns was established based on mean ratings, and sex and age differences were reported. The data were factor analyzed into four principal components and were tested for the goodness of fit to the proposed model using linear structural relationships (LISREL) techniques by the method of maximum likelihood. The data fit the model very well (goodness of fit index=.958). The implications of these findings for further research and theories of adolescent development are discussed generally.