Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 Among Chinese Adults

Longitudinal relations between non-suicidal self-injury and both depression and anxiety among senior high school adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis

Background

Comorbidity between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depression and anxiety was common. In the framework of network theory, the examination of directionality and gender differences in longitudinal relationships at the symptom level made a significant contribution to the understanding of comorbidity. Therefore, this study employed cross-lagged panel network analysis to investigate the longitudinal interrelations between NSSI and depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on gender differences.

Method

The study was conducted with a sample of 884 senior high school students (F/M: 481/403; mean age: 15.19 ± 0.48 years) from Jinchang City, Gansu Province, China. All respondents completed the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire and the two subscales (depression and anxiety) of the Brief Symptom Inventory at two intervals. The data were estimated in R 4.2.0 to construct the cross-lagged panel network (CLPN).

Results

The CLPN results uncovered the gender differences. For boys, self-hitting and feeling scared emerged as central symptoms. Cutting predicted subsequent feelings of sadness (β =  - 0.57), tension (β =  - 0.52) and indifference (β =  - 0.49), potentially serving as a bridge connecting NSSI to depression and anxiety. For girls, biting themselves and feeling scared were central symptoms. Carving and skin rubbing predicted subsequent feelings of indifference (β =  - 0.31, -0.21), bridging NSSI to depression and anxiety. In addition, feeling scared emerged as the key bridge symptom connecting depression and anxiety.

Conclusion

The findings showed the gender-specific developmental characteristics of the directional relations between NSSI and depression and anxiety at the symptom level. They provided new insights into the comorbidity of NSSI and depression and anxiety, carrying important implications for the screening and intervention of adolescent NSSI.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Core Symptom Index: A Study among Chinese Parents of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

(1) Background: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders often experience psychological distress, which can affect the quality of childcare they provide. It is crucial to screen for psychiatric symptoms among these parents. The core symptom index (CSI) is a widely recognized tool used to assess general symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic issues. It has proven validity and reliability across diverse Thai populations. Given the cultural similarities between Thai and Chinese populations, the CSI has been successfully implemented within the Chinese population. Nevertheless, it is crucial to research its validity and reliability in the general Chinese population. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the CSI among parents of children with autism spectrum disorders using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). (2) Methods: A total of 794 Chinese parents raising children with autism participated in this study. All completed the CSI, along with the social inhibition subscale of the Interpersonal Problems Inventory and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Factorial validity was assessed using CFA to determine how well the bifactor three-factor model fits the data. Various structural models were compared using model fit indices. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined by exploring correlations with the social inhibition subscale and the Couple Satisfaction Index. Invariance testing of the CSI was conducted across multiple groups based on gender, age, and education using CFA. The reliability of the CSI was evaluated using McDonald's omega coefficients. (3) Results: The bifactor model emerged as the best-fitting model for the data, suggesting that the total score of the CSI adequately represents overall psychiatric symptoms. The CSI exhibited significant correlations with the social inhibition subscale (r = 0.41, p < 0.01) and smaller correlation coefficients with the Couple Satisfaction Index (r = -0.16, p < 0.05), indicating both convergent and discriminant validity. The invariant test results support scalar invariance levels based on gender and age but only partial invariance for education. The Chinese version of the CSI demonstrated high consistency, with McDonald's omega coefficients ranging between 0.86 and 0.95. (4) Conclusions: The bifactor model of the Chinese version of the CSI is validated, making it a suitable tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms among parent(s) of children with autism spectrum disorders. Further research on other Chinese populations is encouraged.

The association between the deviation from balanced time perspective on adolescent pandemic mobile phone addiction: the moderating role of self-control and the mediating role of psychological distress

Background

Few studies have examined the impact that the deviation from balanced time perspective (DBTP) had on mobile phone addiction during the COVID-19 normalization prevention and control phase. Therefore, this study sought to determine the associations between DBTP, depression and anxiety, self-control, and adolescent mobile phone addiction.

Methods

The moderated mediating model was tested using the SPSS PROCESS model. The sample was 1,164 adolescents from different regional areas of Sichuan, China. From February to March 2020, participants completed the Zimbardo time perspective inventory (ZTPI), the brief symptom inventory for physical and mental health (BSI-18), the self-control scale (SCS), and the Chinese version of the mobile phone addiction index (MPAI).

Results

The DBTP was significantly and positively correlated with mobile phone addiction, depressive and anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between DBTP and mobile phone addiction, self-control moderated the indirect effect of DBTP on mobile phone addiction, and as the level of self-control increased, the effect of DBTP on anxiety and depression and the effect of depression and anxiety on mobile phone addiction weakened.

Conclusion

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DBTP and lower self-control were risk factors for higher mobile phone addiction in adolescents. Therefore, guiding adolescents to balance their time perspective and enhance their self-control could strengthen their psychological well-being and reduce addictive mobile phone behaviors. This research was supported by "Youth Fund of the Ministry of Education" (18YJCZH233): "Research on the plastic mechanism of decision-making impulsiveness of anxious groups in the context of risk society."

Cognitive impairment experienced by Chinese breast cancer survivors

To identify cognitive function in Chinese breast cancer survivors. Research questions were: is cognitive function was associated with breast cancer and/or chemotherapy treatment and/or psychological functioning:? and did women with breast cancer experience more cognitive and psychological issues than age-matched women without cancer? Breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy (n = 106, mean age = 50.2 ± 9.5), breast cancer survivors without chemotherapy (n = 100, mean age = 50.5 ± 10.0) and matched healthy controls (n = 96, mean age = 47.9 ± 9.1) completed a battery of cognitive and psychosocial functioning. Demographic characteristics were also collected. The Perceived Cognitive Impairment score for cancer groups was significantly higher than for the healthy group (p = 0.04), but not between the cancer groups. Processing speed was significantly slower in the cancer groups than in the healthy group (both p < 0.001), but not between the cancer groups. Age, living status and education were significantly associated with the FACT-Cog (all p < 0.05). The correlations between the FACT-Cog score and BSI score were strong (r = 0.60 p < 0.01), and between the HADS anxiety and depression scales were strong (r = 0.53 and 0.50, p < 0.01) but correlations were weaker between performance based cognitive tests and measures of psychological functioning. Breast cancer groups indicated more cognitive impairment and reduced psychological functioning compared to the healthy group. However, there was no differences between the breast cancer groups. Chinese breast cancer survivors experienced excess cognitive impairment not associated with usual ageing. Assessment and intervention to address cognitive impairment should be made available to breast cancer survivors.