Affect Levels in a Platoon of Basic Trainees

The Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) with a weekly time-set was administered 9 times in a repeated measures design to a platoon of recruits ( N = 39) undergoing basic combat training (BCT). The MAACL with a daily time-set was administered 10 times to the same platoon (N = 48) during an early portion of the BCT cycle. Analyses of variance performed on the raw Dysphoria scores revealed highly significant occasion effects, with the peak of distress occurring near the mid-point of the BCT process. Analysis after standard score transformation of the Anxiety, Depression, and Hostility raw scores suggested that specific affects may be more easily observed on some occasions than on others. Construct validity relationships were drawn between MAACL mean scores and external events. MAACL scale reliabilities were examined.