Este estudo exploratório analisou a estrutura fatorial da Escala de Expectativas Futuras de Adolescentes (FESA) em uma amostra brasileira de jovens adultos (n= 547), 64,1% do sexo feminino, com idades entre 18 e 29 anos (M = 22; DP = 3,9), de diferentes níveis socioeconômicos, a fim de determinar a utilidade da escala para fins de pesquisa e aplicação clínica no Brasil. Resultados da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória revelaram que o modelo original do FESA não se adequou bem à amostra brasileira. Posteriormente, uma Análise Fatorial Exploratória foi realizada com os 24 itens do FESA. Os resultados mostraram que o FESA apresentou uma estrutura fatorial coesa, mas diferente da original. Por exemplo, itens que pertenciam originalmente ao fator 'Casamento e Família' carregaram mais satisfatoriamente no fator 'Futuro das crianças' que foi, então, renomeado como 'Crianças e Família'. O fator original 'Igreja e Comunidade' apresentou breves mudanças e foi renomeado como 'Igreja', a fim de harmonizar com o contexto brasileiro. A estrutura fatorial do FESA mostrou-se consistente e a medida foi considerada útil para futuras pesquisas nesta área.

This exploratory study analyzed the factor structure of the Future Expectation Scale for Adolescents (FESA) in a Brazilian sample of emerging and young adults to determine its utility for research and clinical use in Brazil. The sample included 547 young adults, ranging from 18-29 years old (M = 22; SD = 3.9), from different socioeconomic status and 351 (64.2%) females. Results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that the original model found for the FESA did not fit the Brazilian sample well. Therefore, a subsequent Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed with the 24 self-reported FESA items. Results demonstrated a cohesive factor structure for the FESA, but the factor structure was different from the original. For instance, items belonging to the original factor 'Marriage and Family' loaded better with the original factor 'Children's Future,' which was renamed 'Children and Family.' The original factor 'Church and Community' was slightly different and was renamed 'Church' to be consistent with the Brazilian context. The factor structure of the FESA was consistent and the measure was found to be useful for further studies in this area.

The construct of connectedness was investigated among 390 Chilean adolescents using the Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness (Hemingway; Karcher, 2003). Participants were 7th-12th graders at an urban Santiago Catholic school. Results of a principal-axis exploratory factor analysis revealed an 11 factor structure that accounts for 61.92% of total explained variance of adolescent connectedness measured by the Hemingway, similar to results found in the adolescent samples in the United States. Two additional Hemingway subscales (connectedness to siblings and to boyfriend/girlfriend) are also described. Correlations between domains of connectedness and additional data obtained from these adolescents, their parents, and their teachers support the construct validity of the measure in this Chilean sample. Connectedness is an important protective factor among adolescents across many national contexts and the Hemingway is a promising measure for use with Chilean adolescents.

Se examinó el constructo conectividad en 390 adolescentes chilenos en un colegio urbano y católico de Santiago. Mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio de la escala Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness (Hemingway, Karcher, 2003) se observó una estructura de 11 factores que da cuenta de un 61,92% de la varianza explicada de la conectividad de los adolescentes medida por la escala Hemingway, lo cual es muy similar a los resultados obtenidos en muestras de adolescentes estadounidenses. También se describen dos subescalas adicionales (la conectividad con los/las hermanos/as y con los/las pololos/as). Las relaciones entre los factores de conectividad y los datos reportados por los adolescentes, sus padres y profesores contribuyen también a la validez de constructo de la escala en esta muestra chilena. Para los adolescentes de distintos contextos culturales la conectividad es un factor importante de protección y la escala Hemingway es un instrumento de uso prometedor con adolescentes chilenos.