TITLE:
The EASI: Factor Structure and Measurement and Structural Invariance between the Parent’s Gender, the Child’s Age, and Two Measurement Time Points
AUTHORS:
Yukiko Ohashi, Toshinori Kitamura
KEYWORDS:
EASI, Factor Structure, Measurement and Structural Invariance, Parental Gender Difference, Temperament Assessment
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.10 No.16,
December
27,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: The EASI (measuring Emotionality, Activity, Sociability, and Impulsivity) is a widely used instrument to measure children’s temperament. However, its factor structure and its measurement and structural invariances have rarely been studied. The purpose of our study is to report the factor structure of the EASI in a larger population in Japan searching for the model that fits the data sufficiently as well as the final model’s measurement and structural invariance. Methods: A net-survey collected data from 531 mothers and 369 fathers of 3- to 4-year-old Japanese children. A test-retest survey was conducted of 173 mothers and 127 fathers out of the first group of participants. Results: The original 4-factor structure (excluding 6 items) with a general factor (influencing E and I) showed an acceptable fit. This model also satisfied measurement and structural invariance between fathers and mothers, boys and girls, 3- and 4-year-old, and times 1 and 2. Differences emerged between mothers and fathers in terms of the means of some factor scores. Conclusion: We recommend the use of 4 subscale scores as well as a composite score of E and I.