Factor Structure of the Ruminative Response Scale and Measurement Invariance across Gender and Age among Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

Methods: Participants included 1103 adolescents from Hunan Province and Hainan Province in China. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to determine the structure of the RRS on a large scale. Multiple CFAs were utilized to test the measurement invariance of the three subscales included in the RRS, across gender and age. Results: The RRS exhibited strong internal consistency (overall Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.927) and internal reliability (0.362 - 0.864). The CFA showed a valid three-factor model. Measurement invariance of the model across gender and age was fully supported. Conclusions: Total RRS and sub-scales have accepted validity and reliability. Three-factor model of the RRS across gender and age was established. Measurement equivalence of the RRS across gender and age was established among Chinese adolescents. These findings suggest that the use of the RRS in comparing samples across gender and age is valid.