The reliability of multidimensional neuropsychological measures: from alpha to omega

Misophonia reactions in the general population are correlated with strong emotional reactions to other everyday sensory-emotional experiences

Misophonic experiences are common in the general population, and they may shed light on everyday emotional reactions to multi-modal stimuli. We performed an online study of a non-clinical sample to understand the extent to which adults who have misophonic reactions are generally reactive to a range of audio-visual emotion-inducing stimuli. We also hypothesized that musicality might be predictive of one's emotional reactions to these stimuli because music is an activity that involves strong connections between sensory processing and meaningful emotional experiences. Participants completed self-report scales of misophonia and musicality. They also watched videos meant to induce misophonia, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) and musical chills, and were asked to click a button whenever they had any emotional reaction to the video. They also rated the emotional valence and arousal of each video. Reactions to misophonia videos were predicted by reactions to ASMR and chills videos, which could indicate that the frequency with which individuals experience emotional responses varies similarly across both negative and positive emotional contexts. Musicality scores were not correlated with measures of misophonia. These findings could reflect a general phenotype of stronger emotional reactivity to meaningful sensory inputs. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sensing and feeling: an integrative approach to sensory processing and emotional experience'.

The assessment of transdiagnostic dimensions of emotional disorders: Validation of the Multidimensional Emotional Disorders Inventory (MEDI) in adolescents with subthreshold anxiety and depression

BACKGROUND

The transdiagnostic approach to psychopathology has emerged as an alternative to traditional taxonomic approaches. The Multidimensional Emotional Disorders Inventory (MEDI) is a specifically designed self-report to measure the transdiagnostic dimensions proposed by Brown and Barlow (2009). This study aims to analyse the psychometric properties of the MEDI scores in adolescents with subthreshold anxiety and depression.

METHOD

The sample consisted of a total of 476 students. The mean age was 13.77 years (SD = 1.43) (range 10 to 18 years), 73.9 % were females. Several questionnaires assessing positive affect, negative affect, mental health difficulties, and quality of life were used.

RESULTS

The original 9-factor structure of the MEDI was confirmed with good fit indices. Satisfactory levels of internal consistency were observed in most of the MEDI scores using McDonald's Omega, ranging from 0.58 to 0.87. The MEDI dimensions were associated with psychopathology, positive affect, negative affect, and quality of life.

LIMITATIONS

Reliance on self-reported data, a cross-sectional design limiting temporal assessment, and a 73.9 % female gender imbalance.

CONCLUSION

The MEDI scores showed adequate psychometric properties among adolescents with subclinical emotional symptoms. The results found might have potential clinical implications for conceptualization, assessment, intervention, and prevention of emotional disorders at both clinical and research levels.

Face Validity, Content Validity, and Psychometric Testing of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture Among Undergraduate Nursing Students

Background and Purpose: Nursing students have an essential role in patient safety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the face validity, content validity, and psychometric properties of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture for Nursing Students (HSOPS-NS). Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out between January and October 2021. The participants were undergraduate nursing students (N = 482) from 16 Czech nursing faculties. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed an 8-factor structure, which was verified by confirmatory factor analysis using the optimization process that results in adequate goodness-of-fit indices (root mean squared error approximation = .037; standardized root mean squared residuals = .056; comparative fit index = .935; Tucker-Lewis index = .926; incremental fit index = .936). The internal consistency of a new model was excellent (α = .914). Conclusion: The results indicate that the HSOPS-NS shows evidence of reliability and validity and is a valuable measure of safety culture as perceived by nursing students.

Truth on ProQOL and Burnout Assessment-Development and Intercultural Validation of the Brief ProQOL-12 from the Professional Quality of Life, Version 5

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of burnout is becoming a public health issue across the world. This study developed and validated Brief ProQOL-12, formed from the existing, but yet unvalidated 30-item ProQOL-5.

METHODS

Study 1-Eight intercultural samples of helping professionals from four continents (n = 4,129). Validation included step-wise appraisal and multi-group invariance testing. Study 2-Ethnically and occupationally-balanced sample (n = 453). Rasch modeling, factor analysis, analysis of measure correlates, and scale refinements.

RESULTS

ProQOL-5 (30-item) did not fit among any continential or national samples, including North America. Study 1-Provisional ProQOL-12 showed good internal structure and measurement invariance. Study 2-Brief ProQOL-12 had an excellent fit in the ethnically and occupationally diverse sample. Included ProQOL 5 items were: 9, 10, 12-14, 18, 19, 21, 24-26, and 30. The reliability and validity of the Brief ProQOL-12 were significantly improved over the 30-item measure. Rasch modeling and factor analysis indicated that the measure was reliable, valid interculturally and occupationally.

CONCLUSIONS

The ProQOL-5 (30-item) reliability and validity concerns were resolved in this 12-item measure which was refined to include a more realistic time context of seven days and time definite Likert ranges. These enhancements increased validity, as evidenced by the improvement in all model fit indicators in the excellent range in Study 2. Transcending culture and ethnicity with proven psychometric robustness, the Brief ProQOL-12 serves as a valuable resource for evaluating burnout risk and well-being across heterogeneous ethnic, cultural, and occupational landscapes.

Recent Advances in Neuropsychological Test Interpretation for Clinical Practice

Much attention in the field of clinical neuropsychology has focused on adapting to the modern healthcare environment by advancing telehealth and promoting technological innovation in assessment. Perhaps as important (but less discussed) are advances in the development and interpretation of normative neuropsychological test data. These techniques can yield improvement in diagnostic decision-making and treatment planning with little additional cost. Brooks and colleagues (Can Psychol 50: 196-209, 2009) eloquently summarized best practices in normative data creation and interpretation, providing a practical overview of norm development, measurement error, the base rates of low scores, and methods for assessing change. Since the publication of this seminal work, there have been several important advances in research on development and interpretation of normative neuropsychological test data, which may be less familiar to the practicing clinician. Specifically, we provide a review of the literature on regression-based normed scores, item response theory, multivariate base rates, summary/factor scores, cognitive intraindividual variability, and measuring change over time. For each topic, we include (1) an overview of the method, (2) a rapid review of the recent literature, (3) a relevant case example, and (4) a discussion of limitations and controversies. Our goal was to provide a primer for use of normative neuropsychological test data in neuropsychological practice.

The athlete psychological well-being inventory: Factor equivalence with the sport injury-related growth inventory

Until now, research on growth following sport injury has relied exclusively on retrospective reports and nomothetic measures drawn from other fields of research. Therefore, to more objectively explore growth following sport injury pre- and post-injury, rather than retrospectively, this study adapts and examines the psychometric properties of the Athlete Psychological Well-Being Inventory (APWBI), which can be used throughout the sport injury process (i.e., prior to and following sport injury). A sample of 164 athletes free from injury (71.3 % men; M age = 19.7 years, SD = 2.1) were compared to a sample of 168 athletes with history of previous injury (73.2 % men; M age = 19.7 years, SD = 2.1). Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated the measurement and factor equivalence between the APWBI and a retrospective measure, the Sport Injury-Related Growth Inventory (SIRGI). The APWBI also showed satisfactory to excellent internal consistency reliability for all its sub-dimensions ("sense of mastery", "positive relations with others", "responsibility for one's health", "self-awareness", "emotional ability", "purpose in life", "purpose in sport", and "body awareness") and for the total score. Analysis of the relationships with other self-report measures (i.e., the Positive Functioning Inventory, the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, and the Lie Scale) provided convergent and discriminant evidence to support the construct validity of the instrument. To conclude, the APWBI is a valid and reliable instrument for use within English-speaking athletes of various competitive levels (from local/county to international level).

How are new nurses satisfied with their jobs? From the work value perspective of Generations Y and Z nurses

BACKGROUND

Job satisfaction has garnered significant interest across multiple disciplines as it plays a vital role in shaping human resource strategies. In the field of nursing, enhancing job satisfaction can help prevent workforce shortages. Work values and job-related characteristics are significant predictors of job satisfaction. However, the influence of factors may change as younger generations join the nursing workforce. Although research on generational commonalities and differences in work values is increasing, there is insufficient information on generational differences in the interplay between work values and job satisfaction. This study investigated the factors associated with job satisfaction of new nurses in each generational group based on a work value perspective.

METHODS

A total of 280 new nurses (151 from Generation Y and 129 from Generation Z) were selected from the Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with job satisfaction in both groups.

RESULTS

Most participants graduated with a diploma (61.1%), were paid less than the average salary of each group (60.4%), and conducted shift (72.9%) and overtime work (64.3%). Work values and job satisfaction levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that career growth and task work values were associated with job satisfaction for Generation Z, while task, reputation, and environment work values were associated with job satisfaction for Generation Y. Among the job-related characteristics, nurses' job tenure was associated with job satisfaction in both groups; salary and overtime had varying relationships with job satisfaction between the two generations.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding generational differences is crucial for improving the effective management of new generational nurses. Our study findings support that different work value dimensions and job-related characteristics were associated with job satisfaction in each generation. Accordingly, it is essential to develop distinct initiatives, such as a well-structured program, to support the continued career growth of the new Generation Z nurses, thereby enhancing their job satisfaction. Furthermore, providing a conducive working environment that helps new-generation nurses overcome challenges and ensures personal lives should be considered.

Beyond alpha and omega: The accuracy of single-test reliability estimators in unidimensional continuous data

Coefficient alpha is commonly used as a reliability estimator. However, several estimators are believed to be more accurate than alpha, with factor analysis (FA) estimators being the most commonly recommended. Furthermore, unstandardized estimators are considered more accurate than standardized estimators. In other words, the existing literature suggests that unstandardized FA estimators are the most accurate regardless of data characteristics. To test whether this conventional knowledge is appropriate, this study examines the accuracy of 12 estimators using a Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that several estimators are more accurate than alpha, including both FA and non-FA estimators. The most accurate on average is a standardized FA estimator. Unstandardized estimators (e.g., alpha) are less accurate on average than the corresponding standardized estimators (e.g., standardized alpha). However, the accuracy of estimators is affected to varying degrees by data characteristics (e.g., sample size, number of items, outliers). For example, standardized estimators are more accurate than unstandardized estimators with a small sample size and many outliers, and vice versa. The greatest lower bound is the most accurate when the number of items is 3 but severely overestimates reliability when the number of items is more than 3. In conclusion, estimators have their advantageous data characteristics, and no estimator is the most accurate for all data characteristics.

The Impact of Measurement Model Misspecification on Coefficient Omega Estimates of Composite Reliability

Coefficient omega indices are model-based composite reliability estimates that have become increasingly popular. A coefficient omega index estimates how reliably an observed composite score measures a target construct as represented by a factor in a factor-analysis model; as such, the accuracy of omega estimates is likely to depend on correct model specification. The current paper presents a simulation study to investigate the performance of omega-unidimensional (based on the parameters of a one-factor model) and omega-hierarchical (based on a bifactor model) under correct and incorrect model misspecification for high and low reliability composites and different scale lengths. Our results show that coefficient omega estimates are unbiased when calculated from the parameter estimates of a properly specified model. However, omega-unidimensional produced positively biased estimates when the population model was characterized by unmodeled error correlations or multidimensionality, whereas omega-hierarchical was only slightly biased when the population model was either a one-factor model with correlated errors or a higher-order model. These biases were higher when population reliability was lower and increased with scale length. Researchers should carefully evaluate the feasibility of a one-factor model before estimating and reporting omega-unidimensional.

The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, version 2 (MAIA-2): psychometric properties in a Dutch non-clinical sample

BACKGROUND

Interoceptive awareness is a multidimensional construct that refers to the sensation, interpretation, and integration of signals within the body. There is increasing evidence that problems with interoceptive awareness form an important component of mental health problems. The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness 2 (MAIA-2) is presently the most used self-report questionnaire to measure interoceptive awareness. The aim of the present study is to psychometrically evaluate the Dutch version of the MAIA-2.

METHOD

The psychometric properties of the MAIA-2-NL were examined in a non-clinical sample of 1054 participants aged between 18 and 83. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were investigated. Factor structure was examined by exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

RESULTS

Internal consistency was good, with McDonald's omega (ω) ranging from 0.67 to 0.89. Test-retest reliability was moderate to good, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.67 to 0.79. Factor analyses suggested a six-factor structure, combining the original subscales Noticing with Emotional awareness and Self-regulation with Body listening. However, a CFA based on the original eight factors showed a somewhat better fit than the CFA based on six factors.

CONCLUSION

The MAIA-2-NL is a reliable and valid instrument to measure interoceptive awareness in healthy Dutch adults. We recommend to maintain the original 37 items.

Is irritability multidimensional: Psychometrics of The Irritability and Dysregulation of Emotion Scale (TIDES-13)

Irritability is a common, impairing, and potentially multifaceted manifestation of psychopathology. We designed The Irritability and Dysregulation of Emotion Scale (TIDES-13) to determine whether various expressions of irritability in children and youth form multiple subdimensions with distinct correlates. We administered parent-report (n = 3875, mean age = 8.9) and youth self-report (n = 579, mean age = 15.1) versions of TIDES-13 in a population and community-based sample. We conducted exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses and regression analyses to examine the dimensionality of TIDES-13 and the associations of the scale with age, gender, anxiety, depression, ODD, ADHD traits, and the Affective Reactivity Index (ARI). A higher-order model with a global irritability dimension and four subdimensions, including proneness to anger (PA), internalized negative emotional reactivity (iNER), externalized negative emotional reactivity (eNER), and reactive aggression (RA), showed good to excellent fit in both parent-report and self-report. The global irritability dimension showed excellent internal reliability (⍵Total; parent-report = 0.97, ⍵Total; self-report = 0.95), explained a majority of the item variance (⍵Hierarchical; parent-report = 0.94, ⍵Hierarchical; self-report = 0.90), and was moderately correlated with the ARI (rparent = 0.68, rself = 0.77). Subdimensions PA, eNER, and RA were negatively associated with age in males, whereas iNER was positively associated with age in females. Traits of ODD and ADHD were associated primarily with the global irritability dimension, whereas iNER was strongly associated with anxiety and depression traits over and above the global irritability dimension. Our results support a unidimensional interpretation of irritability in a population sample. However, limited evidence of specific behavioral, age, and sex correlates with particular irritability subdimensions may warrant further investigation.

Monte Carlo simulation with confusion matrix paradigm - A sample of internal consistency indices

Monte Carlo simulation is a common method of providing empirical evidence to verify statistics used in psychological studies. A representative set of conditions should be included in simulation studies. However, several recently published Monte Carlo simulation studies have not included the conditions of the null distribution of the statistic in their evaluations or comparisons of statistics and, therefore, have drawn incorrect conclusions. This present study proposes a design based on a common statistic evaluation procedure in psychology and machine learning, using a confusion matrix with four cells: true positive, true negative, false negative modified, and false positive modified. To illustrate this design, we employ an influential Monte Carlo simulation study by Trizano-Hermosilla and Alvarado (2016), which concluded that the Omega-indexed internal consistency should be preferred over other alternatives. Our results show that Omega can report an acceptable level of internal consistency (i.e., > 0.7) in a population with no relationship between every two items in some conditions, providing novel empirical evidence for comparing internal consistency indices.

Validation of the combined Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale among people with HIV in Vietnam

BACKGROUND

Our study aims to examine the factor structure, validity, and reliability of the combined scale Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS) among people with HIV (PWH) in Vietnam.

METHODS

Baseline data from an alcohol-reduction intervention trial among ART clients in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam were used for this analysis (n = 1547). A score ≥10 on the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PHQ-ADS scale was considered having clinically meaningful depression, anxiety and distress symptoms. Factor structure of the combined PHQ-ADS scale was validated using confirmatory factor analysis, and three models were tested: a one-factor, a two-factor, and a bi-factor model. Reliability and construct validity were examined.

RESULTS

The prevalence of clinically meaningful depression and anxiety symptoms was 7% and 2%, respectively, while 19% had distress symptoms. A bi-factor model had the best fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.048; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.98). The Omega index of the bi-factor model was 0.97. The scale showed good construct validity through negative associations between depression, anxiety, distress symptoms and quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports the use of a combined scale to measure general distress for PWH, which has good validity, reliability and is unidimensional enough to justify the use of a composite depression and anxiety score.

Profiles of teachers' classroom management style: Differences in perceived school climate and professional characteristics

Teachers are tasked with not only delivering high-quality, evidence-based academic instruction, but they are also responsible for managing student behavior within the classroom and school. To manage these behaviors, teachers can use a variety of strategies that result in a range of outcomes on student and school-wide functioning. Although an overreliance on punitive strategies has been shown to worsen behavior problems, positive strategies and social-emotional learning (SEL) techniques are associated with more favorable outcomes for students' global functioning. In a sample of K-12 teachers (N = 111), we examined direct associations between teachers' use of behavior management techniques (i.e., punitive, positive, and SEL) and their self-reports of perceived school climate. Furthermore, latent profile analysis was used to identify teachers' behavior management styles and evaluate whether teachers' characteristics and perceived school climate predicted behavior management style. Findings not only replicate previous research examining direct associations between behavior management techniques and school climate, but also extend the theoretical understanding of teachers' behavior management approaches. Three profiles of teacher behavior management style emerged, including a (a) Moderate Proactive profile characterized by frequent use of positive strategies and SEL techniques and infrequent use of punitive strategies; (b) Moderate Reactive/Proactive profile characterized by moderate use of both punitive strategies and positive strategies, as well as slightly lower use of SEL techniques; and (c) High Proactive profile characterized by very frequent use of positive strategies and SEL techniques and very infrequent use of punitive strategies. Use of these profiles may enhance understanding of how school psychologists can support teachers' behavior management practices through consultation or professional development to promote effective school and classroom behavior management practices.

Social determinants of mental health during a year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Belonging is a basic human need, with social isolation signaling a threat to biological fitness. Sensitivity to ostracism varies across individuals and the lifespan, peaking in adolescence. Government-imposed restrictions upon social interactions during COVID-19 may therefore be particularly detrimental to young people and those most sensitive to ostracism. Participants (N = 2367; 89.95% female, 11-100 years) from three countries with differing levels of government restrictions (Australia, UK, and USA) were surveyed thrice at three-month intervals (May 2020 - April 2021). Young people, and those living under the tightest government restrictions, reported the worst mental health, with these inequalities in mental health remaining constant throughout the study period. Further dissection of these results revealed that young people high on social rejection sensitivity reported the most mental health problems at the final assessment. These findings help account for the greater impact of enforced social isolation on young people's mental health, and open novel avenues for intervention.

A validation of the body compassion scale in females

Body compassion bridges together the constructs of body image and self-compassion and refers to the relationship people have with their bodies, encompassing defusion, common humanity and acceptance. The purpose of the current study was to validate the 23-item Body Compassion Scale (BCS), in a female sample, and to determine the distinctiveness of body compassion from the similar construct of self-compassion. A total of 513 females completed an online cross-sectional survey examining body compassion, self-compassion, body image, and psychological health. Results supported the validation of the three-factor structure of the BCS, with the subscales of defusion and acceptance being more strongly associated with measures of body image than self-compassion. The BCS subscale of common humanity revealed lower associations with body image compared to self-compassion. The findings suggest that body compassion is a body-specific construct relating to body image concerns and while related, is distinct, from the construct of self-compassion.

Effect of brief mindfulness and relaxation inductions on anxiety, affect and brain activation in athletes

The mindfulness-based intervention and psychological skills training are often used for maintaining the mental health or reducing undesirable mental states in athletes. However, their differences in acute effects on mental health and underlying neural mechanism are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the differential effects of brief mindfulness induction (MI) and relaxation induction (RI) on state anxiety, affect and brain activation. Thirty-five track and field athletes were recruited for this study. Using a within-subjects crossover design, participants underwent three conditions that incorporated two 30-min experimental conditions (i.e., MI or RI) and a control condition. State anxiety and affect were assessed before and after intervention, and brain activation (i.e., theta, alpha bands) were recorded by electroencephalography (EEG) during each 30-min condition. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that MI and RI similarly reduced state anxiety and negative affect from pre-test to post-test compared to the control condition. In terms of positive affect, there were no significant differences among the three conditions across times. Furthermore, participants exhibited higher frontal theta power during the MI and RI than control condition, whereas no differences in alpha power were observed among conditions. The current study provides initial evidence from an electrophysiological perspective that brief MI and RI both improve the negative psychological states in individual sport athletes through similar neural mechanisms. Nevertheless, the moderating effects of training experiences and long-term interventions on mental state and EEG activity in athletes need further investigation in future studies.

Affective theory of mind impairments underlying callous-unemotional traits and the role of cognitive control

Affective theory of mind (aToM) impairments associated with the youth antisocial phenotype callous-unemotional (CU) traits predict antisocial behaviour above CU traits alone. Importantly, CU traits associate with decrements in complex but not basic aToM. aToM is modulated by cognitive control and CU traits associate with cognitive control impairments; thus, cognitive control is a plausible mechanism underlying aToM impairments in CU traits. Because cognitive control is dependent on the availability of cognitive resources, youth with CU traits may have difficulty with allocating cognitive resources under greater demands that impact complex aToM. To test this, 81 participants (ages 12-14, Female = 51.8%, Male = 48.2%) were recruited to complete a behavioural paradigm that involved an initial aToM task with complex and basic emotions followed by placing additional demands on cognitive control and a final repeat of the same aToM task. Results indicate adolescents higher in CU traits had intact basic aToM but less accuracy in complex aToM that worsened after taxing cognitive control; and this load only required a short duration to account for ToM decrements (200 ms [range 150-1600 ms]). These results demonstrate CU traits association with cognitive control limitations that impact complex aToM. This may partially explain antisocial behaviour associated with CU traits.

Assessing reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Crown-Crisp Experience Index and its application in pneumoconiosis patients

In China, among all patients with occupational diseases, 90% have pneumoconiosis. The disease, which leads to psychological problems, seriously affects patients' lives. The Crown-Crisp Experience Index (CCEI) is a multidimensional questionnaire to assess patients' psychological conditions. Yet there is no Chinese version of CCEI. This study, therefore, aims to develop a Chinese CCEI, in line with standard localization procedures, by translating, back-translating, and culturally adapting the original English version. The final Chinese version comprises 47 items in six dimensions. The reliability and validity of the Chinese CCEI were tested by analyzing the data collected from 1,000 pneumoconiosis patients from an occupational disease prevention and treatment hospital. A rank sum test was carried out to compare the phobic anxiety (PHO) between pneumoconiosis patients and retired miners. The results of exploratory factor analysis show six principal components, which explain a total of 78.246% variances. Confirmatory factor analysis shows that the Chi-square freedom ratio (χ²/df) were less than 3, the root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) were less than 0.05, comparative fit Index(CFI) and incremental fit index (IFI) were greater than 0.9, average variance extracted(AVE) in six dimensions were less than 0.5, residual variances(CR) were greater than 0.8, Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.839, Omega ω coefficient 0.889, and S-CVI 0.88. The PHO of pneumoconiosis patients was significantly higher than that of retired miners exemplified by a statistical difference (P < 0.05). The study shows that the Chinese version of CCEI enjoys a high degree of reliability and validity and thus can be used as a screening tool for measuring patients' anxiety and fear levels.

[Psychosocial Influence Scale of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adolescents: Adaptation and Factorial Validity]

Instruments to evaluate psychosocial determinants of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among adolescents are scarce, and there appears to be only one instrument - unnamed and unvalidated - that investigates determinants derived from theories of social psychology targeting the frequency of F&V consumption among adolescents. The scope of this paper was to present the process of cultural adaptation and factor validation of this instrument al-lowing its use in studies with Brazilian adolescents. The cross-cultural adaptation process was accomplished and the final version - named Psychosocial Influence Scale for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adolescents (PSI-FAVES) - was tested with 429 students (58% female) using McDonald's omega (ω) reliability and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) as analytical methods. The final version required refinement and the instrument showed adequate overall reliability (ω=0.86) and good fit of the data to the previously elaborated model (CFI=0.955; TLI=0.951 and RMSEA (90%CI) =0.043 (0.038-0.049)), being the first systematically validated instrument to investigate psychosocial determinants of F&V consumption among adolescents.

Factorial Invariance of the Anadolu Sak Intelligence Scale Across Gender

The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial invariance of the ASIS (Anadolu Sak Intelligence Scale) across gender. Raw scores from the ASIS standardization study ( N = 4641) were used in the analyses. Factorial invariance was analyzed by gender across three age groups: 4–7 ( N = 2528), 8–9 ( N = 848), and 10–12 ( N = 1265) using the Multisample Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Six models were developed from unconstrained to more constrained to test the factorial invariance. Each model tested one hypothesis. The findings showed that the second-order g model of the ASIS was invariant in all age groups. In addition, the first-order and second-order factor loadings and g variance were invariant across gender. A partial subtest intercept invariance was found for ages 4–7. Findings imply that ASIS factor scores mean the same latent variable for boys and girls in different age groups.

Development and Validation of the Need for Online Social Feedback (NfOSF) Scale

People are known to adjust their behavior based on social information. Starting from 2004, social media rapidly became a new social arena for human interaction, and scholars widely studied the effect of likes on people’s psyche and behavior. However, likes are just one of the possible social feedbacks among many others on social media. Moreover, social feedback influence should be analyzed recognizing individual differences in people’s needs and desires for them. This work was aimed at developing and validating (internally and externally) a scale able to capture people’s perceived need for online social feedback (NfOSF) applicable to most social media platforms. Data coming from 1403 Italian participants were used for this purpose. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses appeared to support a two-factor structure for the NfOSF scale, while Pearson’s correlation confirmed the expected positive relations of NfOSF factors with Narcissism, Need to Belong, FOMO, and Social media reputation perception. Eventually, NfOSF scale reliability appeared optimal.

Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children: A Validation Study

Self-efficacy has a strong influence on children's eating behavior. Feeling capable of regulating one's eating behavior is especially relevant in situations of activation while facing temptations or experiencing negative emotions. Despite the relevance, there is no validated measure to assess children's self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in these domains. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children based on a sample of 724 elementary school children in Portugal. The sample was split randomly into two groups, and a principal component analysis with Group 1 and a confirmatory factor analysis with Group 2 were carried out. The scale comprises two distinct but related factors-self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in activation and temptation situations and self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in negative emotional situations. Moreover, self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors was positively and statistically related to self-regulation processes toward healthy eating, declarative knowledge about healthy eating, and attitudes and perceptions toward healthy eating. The present study provides preliminary evidence that the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children is valid and reliable for evaluating children's self-efficacy in regulating their eating behaviors.

Nursing students' attitudes regarding euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering: Cross-sectional study using the adapted and validated Euthanasia Attitude Scale

AIM

To explore final year nursing students' attitudes towards euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering by using the adapted and validated Euthanasia Attitude Scale.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Explorative, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted using an e-mail survey between October 2020 and March 2021 by a sample of final-year baccalaureate nursing students (n = 273) from eight of the eleven Flemish university colleges. The actual questionnaire contains 21 questions and was developed based on a consensus reached following independent translations. The psychometric properties of the Euthanasia Attitude Scale were assessed, including reliability and validity. Independent-sample Mann-Whitney U-test was used to investigate relation between demographic and education-related data, and domain and total score of the UMS-EAS-NL. This study received ethical approval from the Ethical Committee of the University Hospital Brussels, Belgium.

RESULTS

McDonald's omega was 0.838 for the total Euthanasia Attitude Scale scores, supporting the validity of the questionnaire. A statistically significant difference in 'Naturalistic beliefs' score was found relating to the year of birth. There are clinically important results between those students who have been involved in euthanasia and those who have not.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the final-year nursing students supported the probability of patients' access to euthanasia due to unbearable mental suffering. To monitor adequate care, it is necessary to prepare nursing students adequately for this complex matter.

IMPACT

To date, no large-scale study has examined nursing students' attitudes towards euthanasia because of unbearable mental suffering. It is expected that nursing students may be confronted with such a euthanasia request during an internship, or later in their professional career, in countries where euthanasia is legal. Students showed a high acceptability towards UMS-euthanasia. Clinically significant differences were found for students who had ever been involved in euthanasia.

Homework Expectancy Value Cost Scale for Middle School Students: A Validation Study

We investigated the psychometric properties of the Homework Expectancy Value Cost Scale (HEVCS), using 1,072 Chinese students in Grades 7–8. Results from confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) indicated that the HEVCS included three factors: Homework Expectancy, Homework Value, and Homework Cost. Additionally, no latent mean differences were found across gender and grade level. Furthermore, the HEVCS had adequate to very good reliability estimates. Finally, congruent with theoretical predictions, Homework Expectancy and Homework Value were related positively to homework effort, completion, and mathematics achievement, and negatively to homework procrastination. Homework Cost was related negatively to homework effort, completion, and mathematics achievement, and positively to homework procrastination. Our investigation provides compelling evidence that the HEVCS is a valid scale for assessing homework motivational beliefs.

Psychometric properties of kidney disease quality of life-36 (KDQOL-36) in dialysis patients in Indonesia

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of KDQOL-36 Bahasa Indonesia in hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients in Indonesia.

METHODS

The psychometric analysis was conducted in three hospitals offering both HD and CAPD. The validity was assessed through structural, convergent, and known-group validity, while reliability was evaluated using internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

RESULTS

The study involved 370 participants of which 71% received HD treatment. No floor and ceiling effects (< 10%) were identified. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a good model fit for both generic and kidney-specific domains, while exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors for kidney-specific domains and only three items with a loading factor below 0.4. Convergent validity showed positive correlations between kidney-specific domains, generic domains, and EQ-5D. The comparison of quality of life among subgroups based on dialysis type and whether or not patients had diabetes supported the hypotheses of known-group validity. Cronbach's alpha and omega values had demonstrated good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability indicated burden of kidney disease had good reliability, while other domains had moderate reliability.

CONCLUSION

The study supports the validity and reliability of both generic and kidney-specific domains of KDQOL-36 Bahasa Indonesia to evaluate quality of life in patients with HD and CAPD in Indonesia. As health-related quality of life is a crucial predictor of patient outcomes, this report contributes new evidence about validity and reliability to recommend the use of KDQOL-36 Bahasa Indonesia in dialysis centers.

Quantifying social performance: A review with implications for further work

Human social performance has been a focus of theory and investigation for more than a century. Attempts to quantify social performance have focused on self-report and non-social performance measures grounded in intelligence-based theories. An expertise framework, when applied to individual differences in social interaction performance, offers novel insights and methods of quantification that could address limitations of prior approaches. The purposes of this review are 3-fold. First, to define the central concepts related to individual differences in social performance, with a particular focus on the intelligence-based framework that has dominated the field. Second, to make an argument for a revised conceptualization of individual differences in social-emotional performance as a social expertise. In support of this second aim, the putative components of a social-emotional expertise and the potential means for their assessment will be outlined. To end, the implications of an expertise-based conceptual framework for the application of computational modeling approaches in this area will be discussed. Taken together, expertise theory and computational modeling methods have the potential to advance quantitative assessment of social interaction performance.

Environmental Sensitivity in Adults: Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale 10-Item Version

Environmental Sensitivity, which explains individual differences in the tendency to respond more to both positive and negative environmental influences, can be measured by the self-reported Highly Sensitive Person scale. This paper introduced psychometric properties of a brief Japanese version of a 10-item measure of sensitivity (HSP-J10) developed by four studies involving 2,388 adults. The results showed that (1) the newly created HSP-J10 supported the bifactor structure (i.e., Ease of Excitation, Low Sensory Threshold, Esthetic Sensitivity, plus General Sensitivity factor), (2) the HSP-J10 correlated with but discriminated against other personality traits and affects, (3) it had high temporal stability, and (4) participants who scored higher on the HSP-J10 showed significant increases in positive emotion from before watching a video with positive content to after, while those who scored low showed no significant change in positive emotion. It demonstrated the new scale's good psychometric properties in that it moderated outcomes as theoretically expected when the environment was experimentally manipulated. The four studies suggested that the newly created HSP-J10 might adequately measure individual differences in adults' Environmental Sensitivity.

Psychometric properties of the Eating in the Absence of Hunger Questionnaire in treatment-seeking adults with overweight and obesity

Understanding eating behaviors that contribute to overweight and obesity (OW/OB) is an important public health objective. One eating behavior known to contribute to overeating is eating in the absence of hunger (EAH). The Eating in the Absence of Hunger Questionnaire for Children was developed to assess external events and internal experiences that lead children to overeat. Despite the measure's adaptation for use with adults (i.e., EAH-A), its psychometric properties within this population have not been explored. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the EAH-A in sample of 311 treatment-seeking adults with OW/OB (mean BMI = 34.5 [5.1]; mean age = 46.3 [12.1]; 81.7% female; 20.6% Latinx, 59.2% white). The EAH-A contains 14 items and assesses three domains: negative affect eating (EAH-NAE), external eating, and fatigue/boredom eating, through two parallel sets of items assessing initiating EAH and continuing EAH. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed with promax rotation and maximum likelihood factor extraction. Results supported a unitary factor of EAH, with scale responses driven by EAH-NAE items. Results may be explained in part by scale structure and domain imbalance favoring EAH-NAE items, or the true internal structure of EAH may consist of a singular latent construct. Follow-up analyses indicated redundancy of the scale's parallel sections. If researchers are primarily interested in EAH-NAE, only the three "start eating" or "keep eating" items may be needed. This study highlights the importance of validating the psychometric properties of a measure within intended populations to ensure interpretations are valid.

Development and Validation of the Digital Life Balance (DLB) Scale: A Brand-New Measure for Both Harmonic and Disharmonic Use of ICTs

The use of new technologies and information communication technology services (ICTs) has greatly increased, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an irrevocable change in people's work-life balance (WLB). Despite the thriving literature on the dysfunctional use of new technologies, a functional use of ICTs also seems to be possible. Inspired by the theory of psychology of harmony and referring to behavioral addiction models and substance use models, we defined the construct of digital life balance to indicate a harmonic balance between digital life and real life. In this context, the imbalance between online and offline life may reflect a dysfunctional use of ICTs and can be seen as a process of disharmonization. With this perspective in mind, the aim of this study was to develop a dedicated measuring instrument that could capture both people's balanced and unbalanced use of ICTs. Through two cross-sectional studies (Study 1= 1473 participants; Study 2 = 953 participants), we validated the scale internally and externally. In line with the literature, Digital Life Balance scores appeared to be negatively associated with addiction measures and positively associated with well-being measures. In conclusion, the Digital Life Balance (DLB) Scale appears to be a reliable (ω = 0.89) and valid instrument to investigate people's harmonic and disharmonic use of ICTs.

Homework Approach Scale for Middle School Students

Abstract. This investigation assessed the psychometric properties of the Homework Approach Scale (HAS) using 1,072 students in Grades 7 and 8. Having randomly divided the sample ( n = 1,072) into two subsamples, we conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on subsample 1 and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on subsample 2. Factorial results indicated that the HAS contained two factors: Deep Approach and Surface Approach. Provided with sufficient measurement invariance, the factor means were tested across gender and grade levels. Males scored significantly lower in Deep Approach yet higher in the Surface Approach. There were nonsignificant differences in Deep Approach and Surface Approach across the grade level. Congruent with theoretical predictions, homework completion and mathematics achievement were related positively to Deep Approach and negatively to Surface Approach. This investigation offers robust evidence that the HAS is a valid measure for assessing students’ approaches to homework.

The role of subclinical psychopathic traits on experimentally induced self- and other-compassion

Psychopathic traits come with high levels of anger and aggression. Since previous studies showed that compassion can mitigate both anger and aggression, the current research puts compassion forward as a possible target to alleviate psychopathy's destructive patterns. Specifically, the present study explored the influence of subclinical psychopathic traits-as well as their three subcomponents egocentricity, callousness, and antisociality-on the efficacy of experimentally induced self-compassion (SC) and other-compassion (OC). This manuscript is part of a larger study in which student and community participants (N = 230, M age = 27.41, 65.2% female) completed a psychopathic trait questionnaire to assess their dimensional level of psychopathy, filled out state SC and OC questionnaires, and were randomized to participate in an experimental self- or other-compassion induction. It was expected that psychopathic traits would positively relate to increases in SC but negatively relate to increases in OC. Baseline levels of both SC and OC negatively related to psychopathy. Overall, as expected, the results on change scores show that subclinical psychopathic traits positively related to a stronger increase in SC, irrespective of the type of compassion induction. This positive relation between a stronger increase in SC and psychopathy total and callousness was more pronounced after the SC induction, rather than after the OC induction. Psychopathic traits did not differentially influence changes in OC. One implication of this study is that high psychopathic and callousness traits predispose to profit extra from targeting SC. Furthermore, psychopathic traits do not hinder increasing compassion for others. These findings suggest that compassion is a promising intervention to improve the wellbeing of people with elevated subclinical psychopathic traits and those around them. Although further research is needed to assess the impact of compassion on anger and aggression specifically, and on clinical psychopathy, the current study suggests that both SC and OC may be useful intervention targets in case of elevated psychopathic traits.

Accept it or forget it: mandatory digital learning and technology acceptance in higher education

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid shift to emergency remote teaching and mandatory digital learning in higher education. This study tested an extended causal model built on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) under the restrictions on higher education stemming from the pandemic. Data collected from a survey among 485 students were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to examine the construct validity of the measurement model using polychoric correlations. Path analysis was used to test the causal model. The results indicate a psychologically sound baseline model with nine latent variables that affect students’ behavioral intention to accept and continue using technology for learning. However, the model is only partially in line with the proposed causal model based on UTAUT. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of technology acceptance and use in higher education, both under the restrictions leading to mandatory digital learning and in future.

How does teacher-perceived principal leadership affect teacher self-efficacy between different teaching experiences through collaboration in China? A multilevel structural equation model analysis based on threshold

Teacher self-efficacy is one of the most critical factors influencing Students’ learning outcomes. Studies have shown that teacher-perceived principal leadership, teacher collaboration, and teaching experience are the critical factor that affects teacher self-efficacy. However, little is known about the mechanisms behind this relationship. This study examined whether teacher collaboration would mediate the relationship between teacher-perceived principal leadership and teacher self-efficacy, and the moderating role of teaching experience in the mediating process. With an analysis of a dataset from 14,121 middle school teachers in China, this study first testified to the positive role that teacher-perceived principal leadership played in teacher self-efficacy. Furthermore, it revealed that teacher collaboration mediates this relationship and the mediated path was moderated by teaching experience. Finally, it also indicated that the threshold of teaching experience linking the teacher-perceived leadership with teacher self-efficacy was approximately in the third year, and their relationship was stronger when teaching experience was below the threshold. This study highlighted the mediating and moderating mechanisms linking the teacher-perceived principal leadership and teacher self-efficacy, which has important theoretical and practical implications for intervention and enhancement of teacher self-efficacy.

A preliminary investigation of psychometric properties of the youth-reported Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-Y) in Chinese elementary, middle, and high schools

The current study validated the youth-reported Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth (PSC-Y) using a Chinese youth sample (N = 20,996). The factor structure, measurement invariance, and criterion validity were examined. First, factor analysis documented that the correlated three-factor structure, including externalizing problems, internalizing problems, and attention problems fit the data best, which aligns with the prior factor structure of the PSC-Y in other settings (e.g., teacher ratings). In addition, measurement invariance was established across gender and age groups. The latent mean differences revealed that middle and high school students and females reported more internalizing and attention problems than elementary students and males. Additionally, high school students and females were less likely to report externalizing problems than elementary students and males. Finally, the criterion validity of the PSC-Y was established using external scales assessing subjective wellbeing and prosocial behavior. Teachers, school administrators, and school psychologists can utilize the results of this study to more precisely identify youth at risk for psychosocial problems.

Academic expectations among international students from North-Western China: A case of technology use during and post COVID-19

This study examines the influence of the COVID-19 crisis on academic expectations among international students from north-western China. According to past studies, academic expectations are multifaceted, making it critical to test the methods employed to assess this fundamental trait. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in various significant changes in education, which have shifted from traditional to online or mixed formats. As a result, examining international students' academic expectations along with their interactions with adopted technologies is a topic that addresses the current situation and issues. A mixed approach, comprising two different instruments (questionnaire and interview), was followed to achieve this primary objective. While a survey with a questionnaire was undertaken with 551 international students, divided into two groups, ten students were interviewed during and after the lockdowns. The findings revealed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the academic expectations of students as well as many elements such as training for employment, personal and social development, international student mobility, motivation, social pressure, and social interaction with the help of supporting technologies. In terms of gender, men outperformed women in motivation, social interaction, training for employment, and personal and social development factors. Similarly, as per the grade variable (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral), the same higher trend was seen in postgraduates. Based on these findings, a set of recommendations was put forward. In the future, technology will be helpful in China's educational sector, such as online group collaboration, open education, managing student retention, and supervising teachers' recruitment.

Italian Version of the Internet Self-Efficacy Scale: Internal and External Validation

Online activities are a fundamental part of daily life in this digital era and Internet self-efficacy (ISE) became a central construct for the psychologists of virtual environments. The Internet Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Kim and Glassman (2013) is a recent, valid, and reliable 17-item test to assess the ISE. The aim of this research, composed by two studies, was to translate and validate the Italian version of the ISS. In study 1, we evaluated the factorial validity and internal consistency of the Italian version of the ISS on 3724 individuals. In study 2, we tested the ISS external validity relying on the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) based on the answers of 244 participants. The findings supported the reliability and validity of the translated ISS and its use for assessing ISE on the Italian population. Implications for researchers and interventions are also discussed.

Development and Validation of the Social Media Capital Scale (SMC): A Brand New Measure for Online Social Capital

We conducted a series of studies in order to develop a tool to assess social media capital, that is, more specifically, individual confidence in the use of social media sites and in their application to maintain and increase social capital. In our first study, we created the social media capital (SMC) scale by adapting parts of two already existing instruments and administered it to 6935 people to test its psychometric properties and dimensionality. After having validated the SMC in its final 7-item form, we proceeded to assess its external validity in two subsequent studies, by testing it against measures for Internet self-efficacy (study 2; $n=3100$ ) and motives to use the Internet and social media addiction (study 3; $n=244$ ). Overall, the SMC displayed satisfactory psychometric properties and appears to be a sound measure of social media capital.

Applying ICD-11 criteria of Gaming Disorder to identify problematic video streaming in adolescents: Conceptualization of a new clinical phenomenon

Background and aims

Internet video streaming (VS) has become a popular leisure activity among the majority of adolescents, especially under the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on binge watching patterns in adults suggests an addictive potential of VS. To date, no unified conceptualization on problematic VS and no standardized assessment tools for adolescents exist even though they might be especially vulnerable.

Methods

STREDIS-A is based on the ICD-11 criteria of gaming disorder. It was validated in a representative sample of 959 dyads of 10- to 17-year old adolescents with frequent VS and a respective parent using standardized questionnaires on Internet addiction, depressive and anxiety symptoms, insomnia, loneliness, and academic performance in an online survey. Item structure was investigated by factorial analyses. Cutoffs were estimated and latent profile analysis was performed.

Results

The two-factorial structure of STREDIS-A describes cognitive-behavioral symptoms and negative consequences of VS. Internal consistency and criterion validity were good to excellent. It could excellently discriminate between affected and non-affected adolescents.

Discussion and conclusions

The present study makes a significant contribution to the conceptualization of a new phenomenon. It provides the very first tool to assess streaming disorder in adolescents for clinical and research settings. Clinical validation is highly warranted.

Factor structure of ten psychoactive substance addictions and behavioural addictions

Over the past two decades, many problematic/excessive behaviours have increasingly been conceptualized as addictions due to their similarity with more traditional psychoactive substance addictions. The primary aim of the present study was to simultaneously examine the factor structure of three psychoactive substance addictions (alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and substance use) and seven behavioural addictions (sex, social media use, shopping, exercise, online gambling, internet gaming, and internet use), using exploratory factor analysis (EFA; N = 481) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; N = 487). A total of 968 participants completed an online survey including ten psychometric scales assessing the ten different potentially addictive behaviours. EFA supported a two-factor solution, with different factors for the psychoactive substance and behavioural addictions (excluding exercise addiction). CFA supported the two-factor model in a separate sample. There was good support for the concurrent and discriminant validities of the CFA latent factors and the reliability of the behavioural latent factor in the two-factor CFA model. While there was support for the concurrent and discriminant validities of the psychoactive substance latent factor, there was insufficient support for its reliability. The taxonomic, theoretical, and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Strategies on Perceived Stress and Psychobiosocial States in Athletes and Recreationally Active People

The mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme is gaining increasing attention in sport and physical activity domains. This programme comprises three meditation practices: mindful yoga, body scan, and sitting meditation. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of a dynamic (mindful yoga) strategy and a static (a combination of body scan/sitting meditation) strategy on participants’ psychobiosocial states (PBS), perceived stress (PS) and mindfulness levels in athletes and recreationally active (RA) people. Thirty-four participants (athletes = 18; RA participants = 16) were assigned to a dynamic intervention strategy, and another 34 (athletes = 19; RA participants = 15) were assigned to the static intervention strategy. Before the intervention, after the intervention and three weeks later, the Italian versions of the PBS scale, the PS scale and the Mindful Attention Awareness scale were administered. RM-(M)ANOVAs revealed that intervention strategies improved functional PBS, reduced PS and enhanced mindfulness levels in both athletes and RA participants after the intervention (p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.605). However, improved functional PBS after the intervention (p < 0.001; d = 0.62) and stable PS levels at follow-up (p = 1) were observed mainly in athletes. The findings reinforce the view of the importance of the body as a means to improve emotional and health processes, and support the use of mindfulness strategies in sport to enhance individuals’ well-being.

A Telehealth-Based Cognitive-Adaptive Training (e-OTCAT) to Prevent Cancer and Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment in Women with Breast Cancer: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Many women with breast cancer experience a great number of side effects, such as cognitive impairment, during and after chemotherapy that reduces their quality of life. Currently, research focusing on the use of non-pharmacological, and specifically telehealth interventions to prevent or mitigate them has been insufficient. Methods: This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial aimed at studying the preventive effects of a videoconferenced cognitive-adaptive training (e-OTCAT) program (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04783402). A number of 98 eligible participants will be randomized to one of the following groups: (a) the experimental group receiving the e-OTCAT program during 12 consecutive weeks since the beginning of chemotherapy; and (b) the control group receiving and educational handbook and usual care. The primary outcome will be the cognitive function. Secondary measures will be psychological distress, fatigue, sleep disturbance, quality of life and occupational performance. The time-points for these measures will be placed at baseline, after 12 weeks and six months of post-randomization. Conclusion: This trial may support the inclusion of multidimensional interventions through a telehealth approach in a worldwide growing population suffering from breast cancer, emphasizing the prevention of cognitive impairment as one of the side effects of cancer and its treatments.

The Quality of Life for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Scale: Factor Analysis, MIMIC Modeling, and Cut-Off Score Analysis

Our purpose in this study was to further examine the psychometric properties of the Quality of Life for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (QOLASD-C) scale. We first investigated the factor structure and the internal consistency of the scale. The bifactor model showed good fit and strong reliability. Second, we used multiple-indicators multiple-causes (MIMIC) modeling to examine the associations between demographic variables and the QOLASD-C dimensions. Results showed differences on overall QOL based on age, race/ethnicity, and autism spectrum disorder severity, but no relationships with gender. All demographic variables were associated with one or all three subscales (i.e., interpersonal relationships, self-determination, emotional well-being) of the QOLASD-C. Third, an optimal cut-off score of 37 was identified. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of Short-Form Life Attitude Inventory for hospital staff

BACKGROUND

The life attitude of health care workers can deeply influence the quality of care. Examining the performance of the Short-Form Life Attitude Inventory (SF-LAI), this study analyzes the factorial structure, reliability, and invariance of the revised SF-LAI across genders and professions among the staff of a teaching medical center.

METHODS

The SF-LAI was developed for university students in Taiwan. From January to February 2019, we administered a cross-sectional survey of life attitudes by distributing the SF-LAI to all staff members of a medical center in Taiwan. The construct validity was evaluated using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Model fit was assessed in terms of the comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TFI), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), and root mean square of error of approximation (RMSEA). Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. We also performed the CFA invariance analysis for the SF-LAI-R across genders and professions (physician, nurse and other hospital staff).

RESULTS

Of 884 (24.62%) responses, 835 were valid. The participants had a mean age of 47.8 years, and 20.12% were male. In a comparison of multiple CFAs, a second-order model with six factors outperformed other models. The goodness of fit indices revealed the CFI was 0.955, TFI was 0.952, RMSEA was 0.071, and SRMR was 0.038. The Cronbach's alphas, McDonald's omega coefficients for internal consistency were all greater than 0.8. The first and second-order model had metric and scalar invariance across genders and professions.

CONCLUSIONS

As health care demands evolve, humanities are becoming more important in medical education. Life attitude of hospital care worker is a crucial indicator of whether one embodies the ideals of a humanistic education. The revised SF-LAI has acceptable structural validity, internal consistency, and invariance across genders and professions among staff members of a teaching medical center.

Initial Construction and Validation of the Identity Shifting for Black Women Scale

In this study, we aimed to develop and validate the Identity Shifting for Black Women Scale (ISBWS), which assesses the process of altering one’s speech, perceptions, behaviors, and appearance to navigate experiences of discrimination and to enhance intraracial relationships. In Study 1, data from 356 Black women in the United States were used for exploratory factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis results supported a 15-item, two-factor solution that captured the following domains: (a) Navigating Gendered Racial Oppressive Contexts and (b) Enhancing Intraracial Relationships. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analyses were performed with data from 289 United States Black women. Confirmatory factor analyses tested a unidimensional correlated traits model, a two-factor correlated traits model, and a bifactor model. The bifactor model provided optimal fit, and internal consistency estimates for scores on the ISBWS subscales were good. The ISBWS’ construct validity was supported given its association with related measures of shifting and gendered racial microaggressions. The ISBWS also accounted for additional variance in Black women’s anxiety symptoms over and above an existing shifting measure. Our findings support the added value of the ISBWS in understanding Black women’s multifaceted experiences and can be used to inform interventions aimed to maximize the benefits and reduce the costs of shifting among Black women.