Validating the Negative Context of Reception Scale for Mainland Puerto Ricans

This study examined the extent to which the Negative Context of Reception Scale generates valid and reliable scores with Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria survivors. A sample of 319 adult Hurricane Maria survivors completed measures of the negative context of reception, discrimination, language stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, optimism, and life satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) indicated that the previously validated one-factor solution fit the data adequately, and multigroup invariance tests indicated that this solution fit largely equivalently across gender, age groups, year of arrival in the United States, and self-reported English proficiency. Negative context of reception was correlated positively with discrimination and language stress, positively with symptoms of depression and anxiety, and negatively with optimism and life satisfaction. It may be important to adjust item order to reduce intercorrelations among some item responses. This study offers an instrument that counselors can use with Hurricane Maria survivor clients.

Automated summary

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Negative Context of Reception Scale in Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria survivors. Results showed that the one-factor solution of the scale fit the data well and was largely equivalent across different demographics. Negative context of reception was positively correlated with discrimination, language stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and negatively correlated with optimism and life satisfaction. Adjusting item order may be necessary to reduce intercorrelations.