Adjective checklist to assess the big five personality factors in the Argentine population

Surfing the OCEAN: The machine learning psycholexical approach 2.0 to detect personality traits in texts

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop a machine learning model to infer OCEAN traits from text.

BACKGROUND

The psycholexical approach allows retrieving information about personality traits from human language. However, it has rarely been applied because of methodological and practical issues that current computational advancements could overcome.

METHOD

Classical taxonomies and a large Yelp corpus were leveraged to learn an embedding for each personality trait. These embeddings were used to train a feedforward neural network for predicting trait values. Their generalization performances have been evaluated through two external validation studies involving experts (N = 11) and laypeople (N = 100) in a discrimination task about the best markers of each trait and polarity.

RESULTS

Intrinsic validation of the model yielded excellent results, with R2 values greater than 0.78. The validation studies showed a high proportion of matches between participants' choices and model predictions, confirming its efficacy in identifying new terms related to the OCEAN traits. The best performance was observed for agreeableness and extraversion, especially for their positive polarities. The model was less efficient in identifying the negative polarity of openness and conscientiousness.

CONCLUSIONS

This innovative methodology can be considered a "psycholexical approach 2.0," contributing to research in personality and its practical applications in many fields.

The HEXACO Adjective Scales and Its Psychometric Properties

The HEXACO model divides the space of personality into six main dimensions: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness (vs. anger), Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience. Despite the lexical foundation, no validated adjective-based instruments are available yet. This contribution describes the newly developed HEXACO Adjective Scales (HAS), a 60 adjectives instrument to measure the six main personality dimensions. Study 1 (N=368) proceeds to the first pruning of a large set of adjectives to identify potential markers. Study 2 (N=811) delineates the final list of 60 adjectives and provides benchmarks for the new scales' internal consistency, convergent/discriminant, and criterion validity. Study 3 (N=411) confirms the HAS factorial structure, internal consistency, and criterion validity. The study also provides evidence of temporal stability (test-retest reliability) and convergence between raters (peer/self-evaluation). The HAS shows excellent psychometric properties and constitutes a valuable tool for assessing the HEXACO personality dimensions using adjectives.

An Imagination - Procrastination Link? The Role of Efficacy Beliefs, Visual Imagery, and Affect in Academic Procrastination

Previous studies have established that there is a relationship between efficacy beliefs and procrastination. Theory and research on motivation suggest that visual imagery (the capacity to create vivid mental images) may be implicated in this relationship and in the general tendency to procrastinate. This study's aim was to build on prior work by examining the role of visual imagery, as well as roles of other specific personal and affective factors, in predicting academic procrastination. Self-efficacy for self regulatory behavior was observed to be the strongest predictor, predicting lower rates of academic procrastination, though this effect was significantly greater for individuals who scored higher on a measure of visual imagery. Visual imagery predicted higher levels of academic procrastination when included in a regression model with other significant factors, though this relationship did not hold for individuals who scored higher on self regulatory self-efficacy, suggesting that this self-belief may shield individuals who would otherwise be disposed to procrastination behavior. Negative affect was observed to predict higher levels of academic procrastination, contrary to a previous finding. This result highlightsthe importance of considering social contextual issues that may influence emotional states, such as those surrounding the Covid-19 epidemic, in studies of procrastination.

Factors Favoring and Hindering Volunteering by Older Adults and Their Relationship with Subjective Well-Being: A Mixed-Method Approach

A mixed methodology was used through the triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data to determine older adults’ perspectives regarding volunteering and identify what factors can contribute to promoting it, with special emphasis on the role that their own well-being plays in this behavior. The results reveal that satisfaction with life as a whole contributes positively to volunteer behavior and satisfaction with the groups one belongs to contributes negatively. The volunteers were less satisfied than non-volunteers with interpersonal relationships and with the groups they belong to. Knowing the opinion of the older adults with regard to volunteering and understanding how this prosocial behavior relates to their own well-being is very useful for developing strategic plans that allow future volunteers to be captured.

Argentinean Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is a self-report measure designed to assess the two most widely studied strategies of Gross' model: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Even though there are two Spanish adaptations of the ERQ, region-specific linguistic factors and dialects must also be considered when adapting a test for another country in order to ensure equivalent evaluations across cultures. The present work developed an Argentinean adaptation of the ERQ. Additionally, the study evaluated its psychometric properties and associations with theoretically related constructs. Study 1 consist of the translation the ERQ into Argentinean Spanish and the analysis of its internal structure and reliability in a sample of 2957 participants. The results supported a two-factor structure with good data fit, adequate factor loadings, and good test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Expected age and gender differences in the use of reappraisal and suppression were also observed. Study 2 analyzed the external validity (concurrent and convergent) of the ERQ adaptation in a sample of 2160 participants. Theory-consistent associations were found with emotion regulation mechanisms, anxiety, depression, and personality traits. In summary, the findings support the validity of a new ERQ adaptation and its use in Argentina.

Identifying Patient Strengths Instruments and Examining Their Relevance for Chronic Disease Management: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Most health care focuses on patients' deficits to encourage behavior change. A strengths-based approach, which relies on identifying patient strengths, has great potential to facilitate behavior change for chronic disease management. Little is known about instruments used to assess patient strengths. We conducted a systematic review to identify validated instruments that assess personal strengths by using a theory elaboration approach.

METHODS

We searched 8 databases including Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), and PsycINFO (through July 2019) to identify peer reviewed, English-language studies that described strength-based instruments. Thereafter, we evaluated the validity and reliability of the instruments according to 18 Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Outcome Trust (SACMOT) criteria, and used an inductive, iterative editing process to identify constructs measured by the instruments.

RESULTS

We identified 26 instruments that met our inclusion criteria. The instruments were validated in various clinical and nonclinical populations. Only 4 instruments met most of the SACMOT criteria for validation. We extracted 91 unique constructs that fell into 3 domains: inner strengths (49), external strengths (13), and personality constructs (29).

CONCLUSION

A limited number of reliable and valid instruments are available to assess strengths for the adult population, particularly for clinical populations. Internal strengths can be leveraged to improve patient health; however, the development and validation of additional instruments to capture personal strengths is necessary to examine the multilevel influence of external strengths on individual behaviors and well-being.

Estructura interna y evidencias de validez de la Escala Baptista de Depresión para Adultos en población adulta de Argentina

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la estructura factorial de la adaptación al español rioplatense de la Escala Baptista de Depresión para Adultos (ebadep-a) en población argentina, y aportar evidencias de validez sobre la misma. Para evaluar la estructura interna de la escala se realizaron cálculos por medio de análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios, así como de la teoría de respuesta al ítem; mientras que, para brindar evidencias de validez convergente y concurrente, se aplicaron correlaciones, regresiones y análisis de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) con medidas relacionadas. Los resultados sugieren que la versión final del instrumento podría reducirse de 45 a 23 ítems con adecuados índices de ajuste, con un modelo unidimensional, y con cargas factoriales satisfactorias tanto en el análisis exploratorio como en el confirmatorio. Los ítems no revelaron discrepancias en las habilidades estimadas de los participantes, y presentaron ajustes estructurales adecuados y opciones de respuestas claras. Respecto a la validez, la escala presentó asociaciones con variables externas -personalidad y bienestar psicológico-; y el análisis SEM demostró una fuerte relación entre el ebadep-a y el Beck Depression Inventory-II, así como una predicción fuerte del primero sobre el segundo (r2 = .65). Se concluye que el factor general del ebadep-a representa adecuadamente los fenómenos psicológicos subyacentes a la depresión, y que la versión final de la escala presenta propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para la población argentina.