Abstract

Background: From Humberto Maturana’s theory, there are no instruments that operationalize the constructs of matristic and patriarchal/matriarchal culture and their relationship with mental health (negative emotions) and orientation towards social dominance (ideological variable). We propose to develop and provide evidence of validity and reliability of the Matristic and Patriarchal/Matriarchal Attitudes Test (TAMYP), according to the proposals of Maturana and collaborators. Method: To analyze the psychometric properties of the TAMYP from three studies. Study 1, focused on defining the instrument, included 209 women and 108 men, aged between 18 and 47 years (ME=21.86; SD=4.290). Study 2 had a sample of 263 university students, 166 women and 97 men, aged between 18 and 50 years (SD=22.70; SD=3.44); Study 3 had a sample of 509 participants (general population), 281 women and 228 men, aged between 18 and 81 years (SD=36.53; SD=16.14). In both studies, Cronbach’s and Omega coefficients were estimated, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and the nomological validity of the test was examined by means of structural equation modeling. Results: The TAMYP scores presented an adequate internal consistency and factorial structure, the estimated structural equation models presented acceptable goodness of fit and were coherent with the theory of Humberto Maturana and his collaborators. Conclusion: The findings show that the TAMYP scores have sufficient evidence to support their use and interpretation of phenomena in a population equivalent to the study samples, thus validating the proposed theoretical model.