Brazil-Portugal Transcultural Adaptation of the UWES-9: Internal Consistency, Dimensionality, and Measurement Invariance

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a revision of international versions of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and to describe the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the UWES-9 developed simultaneously for Brazil and Portugal, the validity evidence related with the internal structure, namely, Dimensionality, measurement invariance between Brazil and Portugal, and Reliability of the scores. This is the first UWES version developed simultaneously for both countries, and it is an important instrument for understanding employees' work engagement in the organizations, allowing human resources departments to better use workforces, especially when they are migrants. A total of 524 Brazilian workers and 522 Portuguese workers participated in the study. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, group comparisons, and Reliability estimates were used. The use of workers who were primarily professionals or administrative support, according to ISCO-08, reinforced the need to collect data on other professional occupations. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit for the UWES-9 original three-factor solution, and a second-order factor structure has been proposed that presented an acceptable fit. Full-scale invariance was obtained between the Portuguese and Brazilian samples, both for the original three-factor first-order and second-order models. Data revealed that Portuguese and Brazilian workers didn't show statistically significant differences in the work engagement dimensions. This version allows for direct comparisons of means and, consequently, for performance of comparative and cross-cultural studies between these two countries.

The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for Students (UWES–9S): Factorial Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Invariance in a Chilean Sample of Undergraduate University Students

“…The UWES–9 has been validated in industrial–organizational settings in various countries (e.g., Brazil–Sinval et al, 2018; Finland–Seppälä et al, 2009; Italy–Balducci et al, 2010; Japan–Shimazu et al, 2008; Norway–Nerstad et al, 2010; Russia–Lovakov et al, 2017; Serbia–Petrovic et al, 2017; and South Africa–Storm and Rothmann, 2003; among others–Schaufeli et al, 2006). However, validity studies on the UWES–9S are still scarce with mixed evidence for its three–factor structure (Sánchez–Cardona et al, 2016; Loscalzo and Giannini, 2018).…”

Satisfaction in Retirement: A Comparison Between Brazil and Portugal

“…The samples from both countries were compared based on the configural, metric, scalar, residual and latent averages models of invariance, taking into account the reductions in the CFI and TLI values and the fact that the large size of the samples makes it more likely that the qui-squared values will present significant differences. Finally, the semTools program was used to test the differences in levels of satisfaction in retirement between the countries by comparing the latent averages, holding the parameters constant, using the partial invariance algorithm (Sinval, Pasian, Queirós, & Marôco, 2018).…”

The Quality of Work Life Scale: Validity Evidence from Brazil and Portugal

“…Examples of items for this construct include: "I feel happy when I am working intensely" (absorption), "I am enthusiastic about my job" (dedication), and "At my work, I feel bursting with energy" (vigor). The Portuguese version (Sinval et al 2018) is supported by good validity evidence based on the internal structure, namely full-uniqueness second-order measurement invariance between countries, good reliability estimates values and evidence that suggest a second-order latent construct, work engagement. Work engagement was also found to successfully predicted by the QWL (Jenaro et al 2011).…”

“…No research that has used the QWLS tested the measurement invariance in relation to gender and country. There is evidence that invariance can be obtained between Portugal and Brazil with other instruments (Campos et al 2012;Sinval et al 2018) and in relation to gender in these countries (Sinval et al 2019). Given that both countries share a common culture, it is more likely to find measurement invariance between the two samples (Vargas et al 2017).…”

“…Several studies compared psychometric instruments between Portugal and Brazil (Dias et al 2010;Souza et al 2008). Several other studies have focused on the adaptation of psychometric instruments to Brazil-Portugal unique versions (Marôco et al 2014;Sinval et al 2018). There are significant advantages to have two equivalent versions, one per country (Jorge 1998).…”