Research Article

Testing the Psychometric Properties of a Chinese Version of the Level of Expressed Emotion Scale

Table 3

Results of varimax rotation of four factors identified from the Chinese version.

ItemsFactor loading
Factor 1Factor 2Factor 3Factor 4

(1) Does not butt into my conversations (3)a0.49
(2) Is not overprotective with me (6)0.47
(3) Does not insist on doing things with me (14)0.48
(4) Does not pry into my life (41)0.47
(5) Supports me when I need it (36)0.56
(6) Is not always interfering (10)0.46
(7) Leaves me feeling overwhelmed (20)0.49
(8) Often checks up me to see what I am doing (24)0.46
(9) Isn’t always nosing into my business (28)0.51
(10) Always has to know everything about me (32)0.49
(11) Butts into my private matters (37)0.45
(12) Gets upset when I do not check in with him/her (49)0.52

(1) Is sympathetic toward me when I’m ill or upset (8)0.51
(2) Encourages me to seek outside help when I’m not feeling well (12)0.48
(3) Makes me feel valuable as a person (19)0.50
(4) Tries to make me feel better when I’m upset or ill (26)0.50
(5) Is willing to gain more information to understand my condition when I’m not feeling well (39)0.42
(6) Doesn’t blame me when I’m feeling unwell (43)0.47
(7) Tries to reassure me when I’m not feeling well (51)0.41
(8) Says I just want attention when I say I’m not well (4)0.45
(9) Doesn’t help me when I’m upset or feeling unwell (15)0.47
(10) Says I cause my troubles to occur in order to get back at him/her (22)
0.50
(11) Says it is OK to seek professional help (30)0.45
(12) Accuses me of exaggerating when I say I’m unwell (34)0.50
(13) Often accuses me of making things up when I’m not feeling well (47)0.48

(1) Is tolerant with me even when I’m not meeting his/her expectations (2)0.45
(2) Can see my point of view (9)0.41
(3) Doesn’t feel that I’m causing him/her a lot of trouble (13)0.43
(4) Understands my limitations (23)0.46
(5) Blames me for things not going well (18)0.51
(6) Is realistic about what I can and cannot do (27)0.49
(7) Is understanding if I make mistakes (40)0.42
(8) Makes me feel guilty for not meeting his/her expectations (5)0.41
(9) Puts me down if I don’t live up to his/her expectations (16)0.40
(10) Gets angry with me when things don’t go right (31)0.42
(11) Is impatient with me when I’m not well (42)0.42
(12) Hears me out (29)0.43

(1) Calms me down when I’m upset (1)0.41
(2) Doesn’t panic when things start going wrong (11)0.40
(3) Is able to be in control in stressful situations (25)0.43
(4) “Flies off the handle” when I don’t do something well (48)0.42
(5) Makes me feel relaxed when he/she is around (33)0.41
(6) Can cope well with stress (38)0.400.45
(7) Loses his/her temper when I’m ill or upset (7)0.41
(8) Doesn’t insist on being with me all the time (17)0.41
(9) Doesn’t know how to handle my feelings when I’m not feeling well (21)0.45
(10) Gets angry with me for no reason (35)0.42
(11) Expects too much from me (44)0.43
(12) Makes matters worse when things are not going well (46)0.41
(13) Gets irritated when things do not go right (50)0.43

Percentage of variance explained21.4819.3216.0114.98

The item number of the original version of the LEE scale.
Factor loadings ≥ 0.40 are reported.
LEE: level of expressed emotion scale.
Factor 1: Intrusiveness/hostility; Factor 2: attitude towards patient; Factor 3: tolerance; Factor 4: emotional involvement.