Face as a multidimensional construct: Cross-cultural validation of the Loss of Face Scale in Taiwan and the United States

Abstract

Face culture is a crucial facet of East Asia. The most common self-report measure for face concern is the unidimensional Loss of Face Scale. In this study, we examined the dimensionality, factor structure, and validity of the Loss of Face Scale in two samples. Sample 1 (N = 602) consisted of 303 Taiwanese mothers and 299 U.S. mothers. Sample 2 (N = 602) was an independent sample from Sample 1, consisting of 294 Taiwanese mothers and 308 U.S. mothers. We proposed a modified 15-item four-dimensional factor structure to better capture the complexity of face. Four sub-domains emerged from the results of exploratory structural equation modelling: Low-Profile, Over-Preparation, Harmony Seeking, and Non-Aggression. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated configural and metric invariance but failed to establish full scalar invariance across countries. Convergent validity was supported by positive correlations with other Asian cultural values. While all four domains of face showed small to moderate correlations with depression in the U.S., only Low-Profile was associated with depression in Taiwan, suggesting that not all aspects of face concern are non-adaptive in East Asian contexts. Future studies should consider the multidimensional nature of face as well as how different dimensions affect mental and social well-being across cultures.