Development of a Prototype-Based Scale for Assessing Saudade

Abstract

Saudade is a psychological experience resulting from the absence of significant others or familiar places. Four studies were conducted in view of creating a measure of saudade derived from previous prototype analyses. Data from four samples were collected: two samples of Portuguese undergraduate students, one sample of Portuguese adults, and one sample of Portuguese adolescents. Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, a three-factor latent structure of saudade was identified: Missing Close Others, Lack of Intimacy, and Longing for the Past. This three-factor structure was meaningfully associated with theoretically related constructs such as life satisfaction, negative affect, loneliness, love satisfaction, self-esteem, or neuroticism and was not associated with theoretically unrelated constructs such as tolerance or openness.

Psychometric properties of the Porto Saudade Scale

“…Hence, it is not surprising that feelings of saudade are particularly present during adolescence. In fact, it has been shown that the experience of saudade was more frequent among adolescents than among adults (Neto & Mullet, 2020b). Our expectations were that PSS scores would display a single-factor structure and good internal consistency.…”

“…Saudade is deeply rooted in the daily lives of the Portuguese. Neto and Mullet (2020b) found that about 40% of participants in their samples (Portuguese adolescents, students or migrant adults living abroad) experienced saudade often or very often.…”

“…The results are widely consonant with past investigations about the closely related concept of nostalgia (Stephan et al, 2015) In previous research, the concept has been assessed indirectly and directly. Neto and Mullet (2020b) conducted four studies to develop an indirect assessment of saudade grounded on prototype theory (Neto & Mullet, 2014;Rosch, 1978). Two studies were conducted with college students, one with adults and another with adolescents.…”

“…In previous research saudade has been assessed directly using one or two questions. Neto and Mullet (2020b) used one direct question on how often the participant experienced saudade: "To what extent have you experienced saudade during the past four weeks?" In other studies saudade was measured using two direct questions: (1) "how often have you experienced saudade in the past 4 weeks", and (2) "how often have you experienced saudade in comparison with other people" (Neto, 2019;Neto & Mullet, 2020c).…”

“…In Brazil, saudade is officially celebrated each year, on 30 January. Even though saudade has long contributed to inspiring thought and literature (Botelho, 1990;Fanha & Letria, 2002;Lourenço, 1978;Noronha, 2007;Rodrigues, 1967;Teixeira, 2006;Vasconcelos, 1996), empirical investigation on this topic in psychological sciences is scant (Neto, 2019;Neto & Mullet, 2014, 2020a, 2020b, 2020c. The aim of this current research is to preliminarily develop and validate a new scale in an effort to understand people's relationship with saudade.…”