Positive emotion dispositions and human values in a Brazilian sample: Structural evaluation and exploratory network analysis

Understanding how positive emotions relate to broader motivational systems across cultural contexts is essential for clarifying their underlying structure. In this study, we examined the organization of positive emotions and their motivational correlates in Brazil, contributing to ongoing debates about the structure and foundations of positive emotions across cultures. Analyzing responses to the Dispositional Positive Emotions Scales (DPES; Shiota et al., 2006 ) in a Brazilian sample ( N = 435), we found mixed fit and reliability across individual scales, but neither the full seven-factor solution nor a previously reported six-factor model adequately fit the data. Following stability-based item pruning, EGA yielded four exploratory communities based on 18 items that cut across the original categories: Social Recognition, Awe & Happiness, Compassionate Caregiving, and Self-Contentment & Growth. We examined how these emergent communities mapped onto values as indicators of motivational goals. Value associations differed across communities, particularly between Compassionate Caregiving and Social Recognition. Overall, the findings identify exploratory item communities showing differentiated associations with several human values in this sample.