The Invariance of Factorial Structure of the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory in Gifted and Nongifted Students

In order to test the invariance of factorial structure of the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory (AESI; Ang & Huan, 2006), 680 high school students (355 gifted, 325 non-gifted) completed the AESI. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the cross-group validity or invariance of factorial structure of AESI in gifted and non-gifted students. The results of single-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the two-factor model of AESI (academic stress arising from self-expectations factor and academic stress arising from parents/teachers expectations factor) fit well to the data across two groups. The results of multi-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed the cross-group invariance of factorial structure, factor loadings, and factor variances and covariances of the AESI across gifted and non-gifted adolescents. The findings emphasizing the group invariance of factorial structure of AESI in gifted and non-gifted students suggested that it measured the same construct in these two groups.