NCJ Number
225179
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 10 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 1270-1279
Date Published
November 2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper addresses the development of a brief self-report measure to assess the quality of adolescent relationships.
Abstract
This paper reports on two studies presenting the development of the Adolescent Friendship Attachment Scale (AFAS), a 30 item self-report measure of adolescent close friendship conceptualized as an attachment relationship. The first, study one, reports the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. A second-order factor model was supported with a single friendship attachment factor underlying three first order factors: Secure; Anxious/Ambivalent; and Avoidant. These factors were noted to be similar to those reported in the broader attachment literature. The AFAS subscales were found to be appropriately reliable and demonstrated appropriate convergent and discriminate validity when compared to measures of attachment styles contained in the Relationship Questionnaire; and parental and peer group attachment contained in the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment. Study two reports a successful replication of this factor structure with an independent sample of adolescents. The work notes that further research evaluating the predictive utility of the AFAS is recommended. The data for study one, the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, was derived from a sample of 490 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Data for study two, a successful replication of the factor structure, were derived from an independent sample of 787 adolescents. Tables, figure, appendix and references