A normative study of the Ekman 60-faces test in Spanish adolescents

The Ekman 60 Faces Test is widely used to assess emotion recognition ability from facial expressions. Its extended use in Spain contrasts with the absence of normative criteria for Spanish population. This study evaluates the psychometric characteristics of the test and generates adjusted normative scores for Spanish adolescents. Participants were 1039 men and women aged between 11 and 18 years of age from different autonomous communities in Spain. Results showed significant differences in test scores (total score and individual emotion scores) according to sex and age. Distinction among two ranges of age was made: 11-14 years of age and 15-18 years of age. The article includes descriptive analyses of the scores, percentiles and performance cut-off score to determine impairment, for the total score as well as for each emotion score, divided by sex and age. Reliability indexes were satisfactory for the total score and for each emotion score. These results allow the utilization of this test in Spanish adolescent population.