Scale-Description

The Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) scale measures the intensity and manner of emotional expression experienced by individuals in close interpersonal relationships, such as family or partners. The tool assesses how emotions are expressed, particularly negative emotions such as criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement, which can have a detrimental impact on an individual’s mental health.
The LEE scale consists of four main dimensions:
Criticism: The perception that one is receiving excessive criticism.
Lack of emotional support: The feeling that one is not receiving sufficient emotional support from others.
Control: The experience that others are attempting to exert too much control.
Hostility: The perception of emotional rejection and hostility from others.

Data Analysis and Usage

The data collected through the LEE scale can be used to measure the impact of expressed emotions in interpersonal relationships and how these are linked to mental health. The scale is useful for assessing the emotional atmosphere within family settings, especially for individuals with mental disorders such as schizophrenia or depression.
Data analysis may include:
Reliability analysis to check the internal consistency of the subscales.
Factor analysis to confirm the primary dimensions of the scale.
Correlation analysis with other variables such as the severity of mental disorders, anxiety, or emotional distress.

Purpose

The primary goal of the Level of Expressed Emotion (LEE) is to assess the level of emotional expression experienced or perceived by individuals in their family or interpersonal environment. This scale aims to understand how negative emotional reactions and pressure from close relationships affect an individual’s mental well-being.

Calibration

The calibration of the LEE scale involves:
Reliability assessment using measures such as Cronbach’s alpha to estimate the internal consistency of the scale.
Factor analysis to validate the dimensions of the scale.
Cross-validation across different populations and samples to ensure the generalizability of the scale.

Bibliography

Cole, J. D., & Kazarian, S. S. (1988). The Level of Expressed Emotion Scale: A new measure of expressed emotion. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(3), 392-397.
Hooley, J. M., & Parker, H. A. (2006). Measuring expressed emotion: An evaluation of the shortcuts. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(3), 386-396.
Leff, J., & Vaughn, C. (1985). Expressed Emotion in Families: Its Significance for Mental Illness. Guilford Press.