Psychometric Properties of the Brief Life Skills Scale for Adolescents (EHV-A)

Abstract Background: Life skills are important resources for adolescents to strengthen their psychosocial development. The objective of this study was to build and validate an instrument for assessing a number of life skills in adolescents. Method: The Brief Life Skills Scale for Adolescents (EHV-A) was designed using psychometric tests validated for Mexican adolescents, including those items with the best psychometric values. It was administered to 4008 students. Analysis of the internal structure of the test was performed using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to corroborate the theoretical consistency of the model. Reliability was estimated using Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity was measured with a brief version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: The EFA model generated a structure of six components that explained 67% of the variance. This structure was corroborated by the CFA. The model had adequate fit indices and the concurrent validity test of the EHV-A was acceptable and theoretically consistent. Conclusions: The results show satisfactory psychometric properties and the convergent validity of the EHV-A, demonstrating that it is a potentially useful tool for assessing life skills in adolescents.