A grade-six reading level key for the multiple affect adjective check list-revised

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Clinical psychology
• Affective disorders

Background:

• The Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R) is a widely used measure of mood states.
• A potential limitation of the MAACL-R is its reading level, which may pose challenges for certain populations.
• Developing a version of the MAACL-R accessible to lower reading levels is important for broader clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and evaluate a lower reading level version of the MAACL-R (MAACL-R6).
• To assess the reliability and validity of the MAACL-R6 using data from nonreferred and referred samples.
• To compare mood scores between referred and nonreferred individuals using the MAACL-R6.

Main Methods:

• A scoring key was developed for MAACL-R adjectives at or below the 6th-grade reading level (MAACL-R6).
• The MAACL-R6 was used to rescore data from college student samples (N=52, N=78) and a community mental health clinic sample (N=202).
• Reliability (internal consistency, test-retest) and validity (correlations with mood scales) were examined. Means were compared between referred and nonreferred groups.

Main Results:

• Reliability and validity of the MAACL-R6 were comparable to the original MAACL-R.
• Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were high for the MAACL-R6.
• Individuals from the referred sample scored significantly higher on the MAACL-R6 compared to nonreferred samples.

Conclusions:

• The MAACL-R6 provides a reliable and valid measure of affect suitable for individuals with lower reading abilities.
• The MAACL-R6 effectively differentiates between referred and nonreferred individuals, with higher scores in the referred group.
• This adapted measure enhances the accessibility and applicability of the MAACL-R in diverse clinical settings.