The Effect of Estimation Methods on SEM Fit Indices

When income meets faith: the development and application of the Chinese generation Z unconventional religious orientation scale

This study seeks to analyze the psychological construction of Unconventional Religious Orientations and their association with individual income level satisfaction within Generation Z. Generation Z, individuals born between 1995 and 2010, grew up in a socio-cultural context marked by digitization and globalization. This study identifies three key dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientations: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendencies, and religious uniqueness identity. By combining rootedness theory, semi-structured interviews, and literature review, we constructed and refined a set of relevant scales. Using exploratory and validation factor analyses (EFA and CFA), we verified the structural validity of the scale. The results of the analyses revealed significant negative correlations between satisfaction with income level and all dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientation for Generation Z, suggesting that Unconventional Religious Orientation tends to diminish as income satisfaction increases. In addition, the significant positive correlations between these dimensions of religious inclination imply that they may share certain underlying factors in their psychological structure. This study not only successfully developed a set of psychometric instruments for Unconventional Religious Orientations, but also provided a new psychological perspective for understanding the dynamic interaction between economic satisfaction and religious psychological attitudes in Generation Z.

Development of the Mentoring in Undergraduate Research Survey

Here we present the development of the Mentoring in Undergraduate Research Survey (MURS) as a measure of a range of mentoring experienced by undergraduate science researchers. We drafted items based on qualitative research and refined the items through cognitive interviews and expert sorting. We used one national dataset to evaluate the internal structure of the measure and a second national dataset to examine how responses on the MURS related to theoretically relevant constructs and student characteristics. Our factor analytic results indicate seven lower order forms of mentoring experiences: abusive supervision, accessibility, technical support, psychosocial support, interpersonal mismatch, sexual harassment, and unfair treatment. These forms of mentoring mapped onto two higher-order factors: supportive and destructive mentoring experiences. Although most undergraduates reported experiencing supportive mentoring, some reported experiencing absence of supportive as well as destructive experiences. Undergraduates who experienced less supportive and more destructive mentoring also experienced lower scientific integration and a dampening of their beliefs about the value of research. The MURS should be useful for investigating the effects of mentoring experienced by undergraduate researchers and for testing interventions aimed at fostering supportive experiences and reducing or preventing destructive experiences and their impacts.

The Italian Behavioral, Emotional, and Social Skills Inventory (BESSI-I)

The importance of social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) skills is recognized worldwide, but their measurement has always been a challenge. The BESSI measures 32 SEB skills, divided into five domains (social engagement, cooperation, self-management, emotional resilience, and innovation), but its validity must be expanded to new languages and contexts. Across two studies (N1 = 990, N2= 824) we developed the Italian version of the BESSI, provided further support for its convergent and discriminant validity with the Big Five, and expanded its nomological network to procrastination, self-efficacy, and emotion regulation. The BESSI-I showed excellent internal reliability and satisfactory fit indices at the facet, domain, and overarching framework level. We also confirmed the correlations between the SEB skills and the Big Five personality traits and found meaningful correlations with the selected external outcomes. Overall, we confirm that the BESSI-I is a valid and useful instrument to assess SEB skills for research and clinical purposes.

Internal and external self-affirmation resources: validation and assessment of psychometric properties of the spontaneous self-affirmation measure using structural equation modeling

Introduction

People use coping strategies such as self-affirmation to manage threats to their self-esteem. In empirical research, self-affirmation often involves recalling personal values, strengths, or relationships to restore moral integrity. Research shows it improves attitude adjustment, resolves cognitive dissonance, and enhances well-being. Some studies stress the importance of distinguishing between different aspects of self-affirmation, like strengths or social relations. These aspects align with concepts in psychotherapy that differentiate between internal and external resource activation, benefiting health, self-esteem, and resilience. The aim of the current study was twofold: first, to independently test the three-factor structure of the Spontaneous Self-affirmation Measure (SSAM), and second, to integrate self-affirmation strategies into a broader resource activation framework as resilience factors. It also examined associations with self-esteem and effects of age, gender, and education on spontaneous self-affirmation.

Methods

1,100 participants (72% female, age 18-65) were recruited online. The original three-factor structure of the SSAM (with the factors Strengths, Values and Social relations) was examined using structural equation modeling. Further, a theory driven two-factor structure applying an internal and external resources framework was examined, integrating the factors of the SSAM into the taxonomy of resource activation (Internal resources: Strengths and Values; External resources: Social relations).

Results

The results of confirmatory factor analyses showed that both the original three-factor structure and the complementary two-factor structure with an Internal resources and External resources factor fit the data appropriately. All three factors of the original factor model showed a high reliability (Strengths: ω t = 0.91, Values: ω t = 0.91, Social relations: ω t = 0.92). We also found measurement invariance across age, gender, and education. Furthermore, group differences regarding gender, education and ethnicity in the utilization of spontaneous self-affirmation strategies were apparent. Finally, it was demonstrated that the Internal resources factor of the complementary two-factor model is significantly more strongly correlated with self-esteem than the External Resources factor [z = 12.80, p < 0.001, 95%CIdiff (0.24, 0.33)].

Discussion

The study confirms the validity of both the three-factor and two-factor structures of the SSAM. Integrating self-affirmation into the resource activation framework may facilitate applying findings from self-affirmation studies to clinical contexts.

Why we need to abandon fixed cutoffs for goodness-of-fit indices: An extensive simulation and possible solutions

To evaluate model fit in confirmatory factor analysis, researchers compare goodness-of-fit indices (GOFs) against fixed cutoff values (e.g., CFI > .950) derived from simulation studies. Methodologists have cautioned that cutoffs for GOFs are only valid for settings similar to the simulation scenarios from which cutoffs originated. Despite these warnings, fixed cutoffs for popular GOFs (i.e., χ2, χ2/df, CFI, RMSEA, SRMR) continue to be widely used in applied research. We (1) argue that the practice of using fixed cutoffs needs to be abandoned and (2) review time-honored and emerging alternatives to fixed cutoffs. We first present the most in-depth simulation study to date on the sensitivity of GOFs to model misspecification (i.e., misspecified factor dimensionality and unmodeled cross-loadings) and their susceptibility to further data and analysis characteristics (i.e., estimator, number of indicators, number and distribution of response options, loading magnitude, sample size, and factor correlation). We included all characteristics identified as influential in previous studies. Our simulation enabled us to replicate well-known influences on GOFs and establish hitherto unknown or underappreciated ones. In particular, the magnitude of the factor correlation turned out to moderate the effects of several characteristics on GOFs. Second, to address these problems, we discuss several strategies for assessing model fit that take the dependency of GOFs on the modeling context into account. We highlight tailored (or "dynamic") cutoffs as a way forward. We provide convenient tables with scenario-specific cutoffs as well as regression formulae to predict cutoffs tailored to the empirical setting of interest.

Assessing nature exposure: a study on the reliability and validity of a Portuguese version of the nature exposure scale

Introduction

Engaging with nature has been widely acknowledged for its positive impact on well-being. Traditionally, assessments of nature exposure focus on estimating green space exposure and outdoor time. However, the Nature Exposure Scale (NES) offers a unique approach by evaluating the quality of nature experiences, encompassing both deliberate and spontaneous encounters.

Methods

This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the NES in the context of Portugal. Exploratory Factor Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were employed to examine the underlying structure of the scale. Additionally, reliability assessments, along with tests of convergent and divergent validity, were conducted. Data were collected from a sample of 558 adults and 241 adolescents between 2016 and 2018.

Results

The findings revealed strong internal consistency of the NES, supported by acceptable correlation values and robust factor loadings within a unidimensional model. The scale effectively predicted variations in nature exposure across diverse professional activities.

Discussion

In summary, the 4-item NES emerged as a reliable tool for assessing nature exposure in various settings, effectively bridging a gap in the Portuguese context. The scale demonstrated potential for cross-cultural research and was particularly adept at predicting nature exposure in different professional contexts. The results suggest that the NES can enhance our understanding of the impact of nature on well-being in diverse cultural settings.

Conclusion

The study underscores the reliability of the NES in assessing nature exposure in Portugal, paving the way for further exploration in Portuguese-speaking regions. The scale holds promise for advancing research on the relationship between nature and well-being, contributing valuable insights across different cultural contexts.

Evidence of automated vehicle safety's influence on people's acceptance of the automated driving technology

Existing studies identified targeted audiences showing increases in Automated Vehicles (AV) acceptance after experiencing automated driving. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the reasons. Although some studies cited safety as the primary reason, there is no objective evidence from safety performance in verifying its impact on AV acceptance. This study contributes to the literature by quantitatively revealing why AV acceptance is changed after experiencing automated driving via a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method and objectively validating that safety is the primary factor in determining AV acceptance. Sixty drivers completed driving tasks on a driving simulator under Levels 0, 4, 3, and 2 and survey questions in between. As a result, the safety-related perceptions of AV were identified as reasons for affecting AV acceptance. Particularly, the evaluation of traffic conflicts and conflict severity validates the results from SEM, proving that safety is the primary and significant reason for influencing AV acceptance.

Evaluating Close Fit in Ordinal Factor Analysis Models With Multiply Imputed Data

Multiple imputation (MI) is one of the recommended techniques for handling missing data in ordinal factor analysis models. However, methods for computing MI-based fit indices under ordinal factor analysis models have yet to be developed. In this short note, we introduced the methods of using the standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) to assess the fit of ordinal factor analysis models with multiply imputed data. Specifically, we described the procedure for computing the MI-based sample estimates and constructing the confidence intervals. Simulation results showed that the proposed methods could yield sufficiently accurate point and interval estimates for both SRMR and RMSEA, especially in conditions with larger sample sizes, less missing data, more response categories, and higher degrees of misfit. Based on the findings, implications and recommendations were discussed.

Community ambulation in older adults and people with OA - a model verification using Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) data

BACKGROUND

There are health and well-being benefits of community ambulation; however, many older adults do not regularly walk outside of their home. Objectives were to estimate the associations between latent constructs related to community ambulation in older adults aged 65-85 (65+), and in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) aged 45-85.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis of the comprehensive baseline and maintaining contact questionnaire data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging (CLSA) was completed. Based on a previous model of community ambulation post-stroke, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to develop measurement and structural models for two groups: older adults 65+ and people with OA. Multi-group SEM was conducted to test measurement invariance across sex and age groups. Measurement models were developed for the following latent factors: ambulation (frequency of walking outside/week, hours walked/day, ability to walk without help, frequency and aids used in different settings); health perceptions (general health, pain frequency/intensity); timed functional mobility (gait speed, timed up-and-go, sit-to-stand, balance). Variables of depression, falls, age, sex, and fear of walking alone at night were covariates in the structural models.

RESULTS

Data were used from 11,619 individuals in the 65+ group (mean age 73 years ±6, 49% female) and 5546 individuals in the OA group (mean age 67 ± 10, 60% female). The final 65+ model had a close fit with RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.018 (0.017, 0.019), CFI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.09. For the OA group, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.021 (0.020, 0.023), CFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.07. Health perceptions and timed functional mobility had a positive association with ambulation. Depression was associated with ambulation through negative associations with health perceptions and timed functional mobility. Multi-group SEM results reveal the measurement model was retained for males and females in the 65+ group, for males and females and for age groups (65+, < 65) in the OA group.

CONCLUSIONS

The community ambulation model post-stroke was verified with adults aged 65+ and for those with OA. The models of community ambulation can be used to frame and conceptualize community ambulation research and clinical interventions.

APPS-S: A Tool for Measuring the Attitudes Toward Prostitution and Women in Prostitution in the Spanish Population

This study was designed with the purpose of testing the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Attitudes toward Prostitution and Prostitutes Scale through three studies with different samples. The first one explores the test's dimensional structure or constructs validity through confirmatory factor analysis, as well as internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The second one focuses on discriminant and criteria validity. Finally, the third one examines the scale's convergent validity and its sensitivity to detecting changes. The results support two subscales with an optimal index of internal consistency, structural stability over time, and discriminative power between groups of participants. It is, therefore, an adequate tool for adults as well as young people and teenagers, and for detecting changes in the context of intervention or awareness workshops.

Strategy development to increase consumer intention of purchasing prescription drugs through e-pharmacy in Indonesia

BACKGROUND

The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to obtain health products and services from home. Similar to other e-commerce, medicines are bought online and delivered using a courier service.

OBJECTIVE

By being fully concerned to patient safety, this study aims to determine development strategies to increase intention in purchasing prescription drugs through e-pharmacy.

METHODS

Two stages of measurement are employed in this study, namely confirmatory factor analyis using PLS-SEM and pairwise comparison using AHP method. To discover consumer perception in using e-pharmacy, the basic model of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is employed with several extensions.

RESULTS

The results of PLS-SEM express that Trust has a major role as an intervening variable to enhance the indirect effect of Subjective Norms and Perceived Values on Purchase Intention. In general, PLS-SEM structural model is declared "fit" (GFI = 0.93 ≥ 0.90; RMSEA = 0.045 ≤ 0.08; SRMR = 0.033 ≤ 0.05). Measurement model test proves that all selected indicators are valid to represent their related constructs (Loading Factor ≥ 0.50), and all selected constructs are reliable to build the whole path model (CR ≥ 0.7; AVE ≥ 05). Meanwhile, the results of AHP indicate that strengthening government policies and regulations is prioritized to increase consumer intention of purchasing prescription drugs through e-pharmacy, followed by protection of user confidential data in the second place. Those two eigenvectors are 0.236 and 0.185 respectively.

CONCLUSION

Future research is suggested to add perceived risk as latent variable in the study of consumer behavior for any high-risk products.

Psychometric validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in community-dwelling older adults

OBJECTIVES

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is commonly used to measure anxiety and depression, but the number of studies validating psychometric properties in older adults are limited. To our knowledge, no previous studies have utilized confirmative factor analyses in community-dwelling older adults, regardless of health conditions. Thus, this study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of HADS in older adults 70 + living at home in a large Norwegian city.

METHODS

In total, 1190 inhabitants ≥ 70 (range 70 - 96) years completed the HADS inventory in the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), termed "HUNT4 70 + " in Trondheim, Norway. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to test the dimensionality, reliability, and construct validity.

RESULTS

The original two-factor-solution (Model-1) revealed only partly a good fit to the present data; however, including a cross-loading for item 6D ("I feel cheerful") along with a correlated error term between item 2D ("I still enjoy the things I used to enjoy") and 12D ("I look forward with enjoyment to things") improved the fit substantially. Good to acceptable measurement reliability was demonstrated, and the construct validity was acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

The HADS involves some items that are not reliable and valid indicators for the depression construct in this population, especially item 6 is problematic. To improve the reliability and validity of the Norwegian version of HADS, we recommend that essential aspects of depression in older adults should be included.

What Do EURO-D Scores Capture? Disentangling Trait and State Variances in Depression Symptoms Across the Adult Life Span in Nine European Nations

The primary purposes of the present study were to determine (a) whether the EURO-D measures trait (i.e., time-invariant) versus state (i.e., time-variant) aspects of depression and (b) whether these aspects are stable across countries and ages. In five waves of the SHARE survey (a nationally representative Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe), we estimated trait-state-occasion models (TSO), including multiple-nation TSO, based on data from nine European nations over a 10-year period. Also, we used local structural equation modeling to test for the moderating effects of age on the TSO parameters. Our main findings were: (a) there were differences in the trait/state variances of depressive symptoms across nations. The amount of trait variance was above 60% for Belgium, Denmark, and France. It was between 50% and 60% for Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, while it was below 50% for Italy and Spain. (b) The effects of trait and state were almost equally the source of variance for depression symptoms across ages, with a slight advantage for the effects of trait (56% of the variance). This trend showed substantial stability across the adult life course (from age 40 up to age 95).

The 4-item family resilience scale: psychometric evaluation and measurement invariance of the malay version in adolescents and young adults

BACKGROUND

The original Family Resilience Scale (FRS) is a reliable tool to assess family resilience. However, the FRS is based on the United States and parental context. Thus, the usefulness of the FRS for the adolescent and young adult population in Asian countries, particularly Malaysia remains unknown. This study translated the FRS into the Malay language and validated it on Malaysian adolescents and young adults to identify its potential as a self-report tool to assess the resilience level of their family.

METHODS

A total of 351 participants (Mage = 19.75, SDage = 3.29) were recruited in the study using purposive sampling. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial structure of the Family Resilience Scale-Malay (FRS-Malay) and measurement invariance between adolescents and young adults. Then, the scale's reliability was investigated using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega coefficients, and composite reliability index. Finally, we examined the discriminant validity of the FRS-Malay by correlating its score with individual resilience score and examined the incremental validity of the scale using hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test if family resilience can explain individual well-being levels beyond and above individual resilience.

RESULTS

The findings of the confirmatory factor analysis suggest that a single-factor model is supported for both age groups. Furthermore, the scale exhibited scalar invariance between adolescents and young adults. The scale also exhibited good reliability, as the value of Cronbach's alpha, McDonald omega coefficients, and composite reliability index were above 0.80. Additionally, the Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the FRS-Malay and individual resilience scores, which supports the discriminant validity of the scale. Similarly, the incremental validity of the scale is also supported. Specifically, family resilience had a positive correlation with well-being, even after controlling for individual resilience in the regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The FRS-Malay has demonstrated good reliability and validity. The scale measures the same construct of family resilience across adolescents and young adults, making it suitable for comparisons. Therefore, this unidimensional tool is appropriate for self-reporting their perceived level of family resilience. It is also useful for studying the development and fluctuation of family resilience in the Malaysian context.

The role of teachers' socio-emotional competence in reducing burnout through increased work engagement

Introduction

Research has highlighted the relevance of socio-emotional competence in buffering the harmful impacts of perceived stress on the psychological facets of the teaching profession. The purpose of this paper is to innovatively investigate the relationships between perceived stress, work engagement, and burnout in a single comprehensive model, when considering the potential role that socio-emotional competence plays in mitigating the adverse impact of perceived stress on burnout.

Methods

A total of 276 Italian in-service teachers (mean age = 46.6 ± 9.9 years) completed quantitative self-report measures of perceived stress, socio-emotional competence, work engagement, and burnout. Data were analyzed by using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.

Results

All fit indexes supported the model's full acceptance and suggested that teachers' socio-emotional competence reduced the effect of perceived stress on the risk of burnout by increasing their level of work engagement.

Discussion

The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of promoting interventions that target not only stress reduction but also foster teachers' socio-emotional competence in order to maintain a good level of work engagement and reduce the effect of stress on burnout.

Minority stress, social support and mental health among lesbian, gay, and bisexual college students in China: a moderated mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

The existing body of research exploring minority stressors and their impact on the mental health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) students in China remains limited in scope and often restricted to specific geographic regions..

METHODS

A combination of snowball and targeted sampling strategies was used to recruit lesbian, gay and bisexual students (N = 1,393) for a cross-sectional, online survey in China. Participants (Mage = 20.00 years; 60.23% assigned male at birth) were tasked with completing a comprehensive questionnaire designed to capture various dimensions, including gender expression, minority stressors (e.g., school bullying, internalized homophobia), social psychological resources (e.g., perceived social support), and mental health-related outcomes (e.g., depression, anxious and stress). Our analytical approach involved hierarchical multiple regression analyses, mediation and moderated mediation modeling to elucidate the intricate interplay among these factors.

RESULTS

Our findings shed light on the pronounced mental health disparities afflicting LGB college students in China, with notable prevalence rates of depression (48.1%), anxiety (57.1%), and stress (37.5%). A significant positive correlation was observed between experiences of school-based victimization and internalized homophobia, which, in turn, exhibited a direct association with affective symptoms.School bullying was positive with internalized homophobia, which was positively associated with affective symptoms.In addition to unveiling the indirect effects of school bullying on affective symptoms, our study identified direct links in this complex relationship. Notably, the availability of social support emerged as a pivotal factor, serving as a moderator within the mediation model by mitigating the path from school-based victimization bullying to internalized homophobia (β = -0.077, P = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the pervasive and concerning mental health disparities experienced by LGB college students in China. In response, institutions of higher learning should intensify anti-bullying initiatives tailored to LGB students and implement comprehensive gender education programs. Moreover, concerted efforts should be directed at enhancing the accessibility of social support resources for LGB college students, with the aim of cultivating and sustaining favorable psychological well-being.

Evaluating differences in density estimation for central Iowa butterflies using two methodologies

The Pollard-Yates transect is a widely used method for sampling butterflies. Data from these traditional transects are analyzed to produce density estimates, which are then used to make inferences about population status or trends. A key assumption of the Pollard-Yates transect is that detection probability is 1.0, or constant but unknown, out to a fixed distance (generally 2.5 m on either side of a transect line). However, species-specific estimates of detection probability would allow for sampling at farther distances, resulting in more detections of individuals. Our objectives were to (1) evaluate butterfly density estimates derived from Pollard-Yates line transects and distance sampling, (2) estimate how detection probabilities for butterflies vary across sampling distances and butterfly wing lengths, and (3) offer advice on future butterfly sampling techniques to estimate population density. We conducted Pollard-Yates transects and distance-sampling transects in central Iowa in 2014. For comparison to densities derived from Pollard-Yates transects, we used Program DISTANCE to model detection probability (p) and estimate density (D) for eight butterfly species representing a range of morphological characteristics. We found that detection probability among species varied beyond 2.5 m, with variation apparent even within 5 m of the line. Such variation correlated with wing size, where species with larger wing size generally had higher detection probabilities. Distance sampling estimated higher densities at the 5-m truncation for five of the eight species tested. At this truncation, detection probability was <0.8 for all species, and ranged from 0.53 to 0.79. With the exception of the little yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), species with median wing length <5.0 mm had the lowest detection probabilities. We recommend that researchers integrate distance sampling into butterfly sampling and monitoring, particularly for studies utilizing survey transects >5 m wide and when smaller species are targeted.

Validation of Italian students' self-ratings on the SSIS SEL brief scales

Introduction

Despite increasing interest in measuring social and emotional learning (SEL), there is a lack of European-validated tools for assessing the efficacy of SEL programs. The aim of this study was to validate an Italian version of the social skills improvement system (SSIS) SEL brief scales-student form.

Methods

Participants were 1,175 students (mean age: 11.02 years; SD: 2.42; range: 8-16 years; males: 46.8%) recruited at schools in Northern Italy.

Statistical analyses and results

Initial confirmatory factor analysis encountered a series of challenges, implying non-convergence of the original five-factor measurement model (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) based on the Collaborative on Academic Social Emotional Learning (CASEL) competency framework established with students in the United States. Further exploratory and confirmatory analyses supported a four-factor model that remained partially invariant across gender groups. The Italian version of the SSIS SEL brief scales was thus shown to be an efficient measurement tool for estimating social and emotional learning in students.

Discussion

We discuss the implications of findings in relation to selecting valid and reliable instruments for assessing children's and adolescents' SEL competencies, while considering the culturally-situated nature of the constructs under study.

Body appreciation around the world: Measurement invariance of the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age

The Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) is a widely used measure of a core facet of the positive body image construct. However, extant research concerning measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across a large number of nations remains limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset - with data collected between 2020 and 2022 - to assess measurement invariance of the BAS-2 across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that full scalar invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional BAS-2 model has widespread applicability. There were large differences across nations and languages in latent body appreciation, while differences across gender identities and age groups were negligible-to-small. Additionally, greater body appreciation was significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, being single (versus being married or in a committed relationship), and greater rurality (versus urbanicity). Across a subset of nations where nation-level data were available, greater body appreciation was also significantly associated with greater cultural distance from the United States and greater relative income inequality. These findings suggest that the BAS-2 likely captures a near-universal conceptualisation of the body appreciation construct, which should facilitate further cross-cultural research.

Psychometric Validity of the Areas of Work Life Scale (AWS) in Teachers and Healthcare Workers in México

The areas of work life scale (AWS) has shown to be a suitable marker of perceived fit between employees' abilities and the psychosocial demands of the job, but validation studies are practically nonexistent in the Latino population. The purpose of this study was twofold: firstly, to examine the factor structure, reliability, and invariance between sex and occupation of the AWS scale, and secondly, to test the AWS-burnout relationship within the framework of the structural mediational model proposed by Leiter and Maslach (2005). N = 305 health workers and N = 324 teachers from different work settings answered the AWS and MBI-GS scales. In this study, 64.4% of the participants were females (N = 405), and the mean age was 34.7 (sd = 11.7, rank = 56). Robust methods for statistical analyses were used. The results showed that the original version had marginal fit indices due to a method effect (negative phrasing items), and when seven negative items were removed, a final best model was found (CFI = 0.997; RMSEA = 0.060; SRMRu = 0.047). Non-invariance between occupation and sex was found, and the internal consistency was from marginal to satisfactory (ω = 0.658 to 0.840). The mediational structural model tested confirmed the expected associations between AWS and burnout. In conclusion, the Mexican translation of the AWS in its 22-reduced version showed reliability and validity in Mexican work contexts, specifically in healthcare workers and teachers.

Alienation from medical care policy, medical care avoidance, and the role of sex and risk perception

BACKGROUND

Medical care avoidance affects individuals' health status. Previous studies on medical care avoidance have mainly focused on medical costs and people's satisfaction with medical services. This study investigates whether an individual's sense of policy alienation toward medical care policy (SPA-M) affects behavioral intention of medical care avoidance, and to what extent an intermediary variable-medical financial risk perception-mediates the relationship between SPA-M and medical care avoidance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 434 people aged 35-59 years from Wuhu, a city in China's Anhui province. A moderated mediation model was constructed to investigate the research question and sex (biological: male and female) was used as a moderating variable between SPA-M and medical financial risk perception.

RESULTS

We found that SPA-M significantly impacted medical care avoidance, and that medical financial risk perception played a complete mediating role in this relationship, while sex moderated the relationship between SPA-M and medical financial risk perception.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to the literature by enhancing our understanding of the factors that influence behavioral intention regarding medical care avoidance, deepening our understanding of the role of SPA-M in medical care policy, and expanding the role of sex differences in the analysis of the relationship between SPA-M, medical financial risk perception, and medical care avoidance, offering implications for public and community health.

Impact of value similarity on social trust in medical students: a cross-sectional web survey

BACKGROUND

Social trust in medical students is trust in the cluster of medical students and not individual medical students. Social trust in medical students seems critical in clinical practice since citizens often face unknown medical students for the first time. However, most previous research has focused on interpersonal trust in particular medical professions, and social trust in medical students has not been addressed sufficiently. In social science, the Salient Value Similarity model has demonstrated that the value similarity between professionals and citizens is associated with social trust. This research aimed to explore the relationship between social trust in medical students and the perception of value similarity. This study also aimed to determine whether the information of medical students strengthens social trust in them.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate how the perception of value similarity affects social trust. The participants answered the social trust questionnaires before and after reading a brief summary of the medical education curriculum and certification via the internet in Japan. The model structure of social trust in medical students, including the perception of value similarity, was investigated using SEM. A paired t-test was used to examine the effect of informing citizens about the knowledge, skills, and professionalism requirements of students attending medical school on social trust by reading the brief summary.

RESULTS

The study included 658 participants, who all answered a web questionnaire. Social trust in medical students was associated with the perception of ability and value similarity. Social trust in medical students, the perception of ability, and value similarity were improved by information about medical students.

CONCLUSIONS

The perception of ability and value similarity seem to affect social trust in medical students. Information on medical education regarding the knowledge, skills, and professionalism of medical students may improve social trust in these students. Further research is required to sophisticate the model of social trust in medical students by exploring social trust in the medical students' supervisors in clinical settings.

Validation of the Spanish version of the eating disorders quality of life instrument (EDQOL)

BACKGROUND

The Eating Disorders Quality of Life instrument (EDQOL) is a disease-specific health related quality of life self-report questionnaire designed for disordered eating patients. Although the EDQOL is one of the most suitable and widely used questionnaires in many countries, no prior research has addressed the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the EDQOL. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the EDQOL among ED patients.

METHODS

141 female eating disorder patients, with a mean age of 18.06 years (SD = 6.31), completed the EDQL in addition to the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA 3.0) and the Health Survey (SF-12). We calculated item/scale characteristics, internal consistencies and bivariate correlations with other measures of quality of life and adjustments. We assessed the goodness-of-fit of the 4-factor model using confirmatory factors analysis and explored the sensitivity of change following skill-based interventions.

RESULTS

The fit of the 4-factor model was acceptable (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation: 0.07, Standard Root Mean Square Residual: 0.07). Cronbach's alpha was excellent for the total (.91) and acceptable for all subscales (0.78-0.91). The construct validity was found with measures of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, quality of life and clinical impairment. The psychological and physical/cognitive scales and the EDQOL global scale were responsive to change.

CONCLUSION

The Spanish EDQOL version is a useful instrument to assess quality of life in eating disorder patients and to evaluate outcomes of skills-based interventions.

Fostering pupils' critical health literacy: examining the potential of physical education in lower secondary school

Background

In Norway, the introduction of an interdisciplinary subject named Public Health and Life skills has brought about renewed attention to how health is conceptualized and taught within and across school subjects. Physical education (PE) is one subject that has traditionally been linked to health outcomes. However, a narrow focus on increased physical activity as the main outcome of PE could be counterproductive in the pursuit of health. Critical health literacy (CHL) is put forward as a resource for health that can be nurtured in the PE context; this study hypothesizes that academic achievement in PE is positively associated with some aspects of CHL.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 521 pupils aged 13-15 years old from five lower secondary schools in Norway. Structural equation models were used as the primary statistical analysis to test the hypothesis. The study controlled for parents' education, leisure physical activity, and participation in sports club activities.

Results

The results confirm the hypothesis, showing a positive and significant association between PE and CHL. The association remains when controlling for parents' education, leisure physical activity, and participation in sports club activities (β^_PE→_CHL-C1= 0.264, p = 0.001; β^_PE→_CHL-C2= 0.351, p < 0.000).

Conclusion

In our sample, academic achievement in PE was associated with higher levels of CHL. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on the health benefits of PE. We argue that a resource-based health perspective can produce the appropriate aims for health in PE contexts and that the CHL concept contributes to illuminating key areas, promoting suitable teaching strategies, and bringing balance between an individual and collective focus for future health education, both within PE and across different subjects in school contexts.

Advantages of Using Unweighted Approximation Error Measures for Model Fit Assessment

Fit indices are highly frequently used for assessing the goodness of fit of latent variable models. Most prominent fit indices, such as the root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) or the comparative fit index (CFI), are based on a noncentrality parameter estimate derived from the model fit statistic. While a noncentrality parameter estimate is well suited for quantifying the amount of systematic error, the complex weighting function involved in its calculation makes indices derived from it challenging to interpret. Moreover, noncentrality-parameter-based fit indices yield systematically different values, depending on the indicators' level of measurement. For instance, RMSEA and CFI yield more favorable fit indices for models with categorical as compared to metric variables under otherwise identical conditions. In the present article, approaches for obtaining an approximation discrepancy estimate that is independent from any specific weighting function are considered. From these unweighted approximation error estimates, fit indices analogous to RMSEA and CFI are calculated and their finite sample properties are investigated using simulation studies. The results illustrate that the new fit indices consistently estimate their true value which, in contrast to other fit indices, is the same value for metric and categorical variables. Advantages with respect to interpretability are discussed and cutoff criteria for the new indices are considered.

Psychometric testing of the Swedish version of the measure of moral distress for healthcare professionals (MMD-HP)

BACKGROUND

Moral distress has been described as moral constraints and uncertainty connected with guilty feelings of being unable to give care in accordance with one's values for good care. Various instruments to measure moral distress have been developed. The instrument measure of moral distress for healthcare professionals (MMD-HP) was developed to capture the experience and frequency of moral distress among various healthcare professionals. The MMD-HP has been translated and culturally adapted into the Swedish language and context; however, the translation has not been validated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the measure of moral distress for healthcare professionals (MMD-HP).

METHODS

Eighty-nine staff from various professions at a hospital in northern Sweden participated in the study. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to check for consistency with the original version of the MMD-HP. To evaluate internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was calculated for each domain and for the scale as a whole.

RESULTS

The scale as a whole showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.96, with a range between 0.84 and 0.90 between the different subscales. A confirmatory factor analysis based on the original four-factor structure showed good fit indices with a χ²/df of 0.67, CFI at 1.00, TLI at 1.02 and NFI at 0.97. RMSEA was at 0.00, and SRMR was at 0.08. A comparison of the total score between three equally large groups of years of experience at the present workplace showed no significant differences (F = 0.09, df = 2, p = 0.912).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the Swedish version of the MMD-HP has shown validity and reliability for use in a Swedish context for measuring moral distress among health personnel.

The Swedish Version of the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire: Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation Study

BACKGROUND

With the increasing digitalization in health care, an effective instrument is necessary to assess health care consumers' digital competencies-their "eHealth literacy." The 7-scale eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ), based on the theoretically robust eHealth Literacy Framework, has shown strong psychometric properties in Denmark and Australia.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the eHLQ.

METHODS

We followed the Translation Integrity Procedure guidelines to translate and culturally adapt the questionnaire to Swedish using forward and backward translations, review by an expert panel, and cognitive interviewing. The psychometric properties of the Swedish eHLQ were investigated by evaluating its internal consistency (Cronbach α) and a priori-defined factor structure (confirmatory factor analysis).

RESULTS

A total of 236 primary health care patients and parents of hospitalized children were included in the validation analysis. The mean age was 48.5 years, and 129 (55%) were women. All 7 eHLQ scales showed good internal consistency, with the Cronbach α ranging from .82 to .92. Single-factor and 7-factor confirmatory factor analysis showed satisfactory model-fit values. With one exception, all items demonstrated satisfactory loadings on their respective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The Swedish eHLQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties. It has the potential as a useful tool for a variety of purposes, including population surveys, intervention evaluations, and eHealth service implementations.

Measurement Invariant but Non-Normal Treatment Responses in Guided Internet Psychotherapies for Depressive and Generalized Anxiety Disorders

Assessment of treatment response in psychotherapies can be undermined by lack of longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI) in symptom self-report inventories, by measurement error, and/or by wrong model assumptions. To understand and compare these threats to validity of outcome assessment in psychotherapy research, we studied LMI, sum scores, and Davidian Curve Item Response Theory models in a naturalistic guided internet psychotherapy treatment register of 2,218 generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients and 3,922 depressive disorder (DD) patients (aged ≥16 years). Symptoms were repeatedly assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 (GAD-7) or Beck Depression Inventory. The symptom self-reports adhered to LMI under equivalence testing, suggesting sum scores are reasonable proxies for disorder status. However, the standard LMI assumption of normally distributed latent factors did not hold and inflated treatment response estimates by 0.2 to 0.3 standard deviation units compared with sum scores. Further methodological research on non-normally distributed latent constructs holds promise in advancing LMI and mental health assessment.

The impact of preoperative nutritional screening, ERAS protocol, and mini-invasive surgery in surgical oncology: A multi-institutional SEM analysis of patients with digestive cancer

Background

Mini-invasive surgery (MIS), ERAS, and preoperative nutritional screening are currently used to reduce complications and the length of hospital stay (LOS); however, inter-variable correlations have seldom been explored. This research aimed to define inter-variable correlations in a large series of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and their impact on outcomes.

Methods

Patients with consecutive cancer who underwent radical gastrointestinal surgery between 2019 and 2020 were analyzed. Age, BMI, comorbidities, ERAS, nutritional screening, and MIS were evaluated to determine their impact on 30-day complications and LOS. Inter-variable correlations were measured, and a latent variable was computed to define the patients' performance status using nutritional screening and comorbidity. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

Of the 1,968 eligible patients, 1,648 were analyzed. Univariable analyses documented the benefit of nutritional screening for LOS and MIS and ERAS (≥7 items) for LOS and complications; conversely, being male and comorbidities correlated with complications, while increased age and BMI correlated with worse outcomes. SEM analysis revealed that (a) the latent variable is explained by the use of nutritional screening (p0·004); (b) the variables were correlated (age–comorbidity, ERAS–MIS, and ERAS–nutritional screening, p &lt; 0·001); and (c) their impact on the outcomes was based on direct effects (complications: sex, p0·001), indirect effects (LOS: MIS-ERAS-nutritional screening, p &lt; 0·001; complications: MIS-ERAS, p0·001), and regression-based effects (LOS: ERAS, MIS, p &lt; 0·001, nutritional screening, p0·021; complications: ERAS, MIS, p &lt; 0·001, sex, p0·001). Finally, LOS and complications were correlated (p &lt; 0·001).

Conclusion

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), MIS, and nutritional screening are beneficial in surgical oncology; however, the inter-variable correlation is reliable, underlying the importance of the multidisciplinary approach.

Development, Validation, and Measurement Invariance of the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA) in Italian and Spanish Children and Early Adolescent Samples

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is an important public health issue as it negatively influences the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of children/early adolescents. Available measures of BD for this population are scarce, have a significant bias, or only evaluate weight-related dissatisfaction. This study, through the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), aims to develop and validate the Italian (Study 1) and Spanish (Study 2) versions of a new tool, the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA), which is not subject to sex-age-race biases and is able to identify BD related to weight and height among children/early adolescents. Study 3 regards the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), testing the measurement of invariance across sex and country. The BIBA has a two-factor structure (i.e., weight and height dissatisfaction) according to studies 1 and 2. McDonald's ω ranged from 0.73 (weight) and 0.72 (height) with good reliability. CFA confirmed the two-factor model as a good fit for the Italian and Spanish samples. Finally, partial metric and scalar invariance of the BIBA dimensions across sexes and nations emerged. The BIBA has proven to be an easy-to-use tool that identifies two BD dimensions among children/early adolescents who could benefit from prompt educational interventions.

Review of the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Spanish version in a sample of Puerto Rican workers

Background

This study aimed to examine the internal structure and assess the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in a Puerto Rican sample of workers. This instrument is a nine-item questionnaire, which was conceptualized as a unidimensional structure; however, there are mixed results regarding this internal structure. This measure is used in the occupational health psychology context in organizations in Puerto Rico; nevertheless, there is little evidence of its psychometric properties with samples of workers.

Materials and methods

A total of 955 samples from two different study samples were used in this cross-sectional study design in which the PHQ-9 was used. We conducted confirmatory factor analysis, bifactor analysis, and random intercept item factor analysis to examine the internal structure of the PHQ-9. Moreover, a two-factor model was examined by randomly assigning items to the two factors. Measurement invariance across sex and the relationship with other constructs were examined.

Results

The best-fitted model was the bifactor model followed by the random intercept item factor. The five sets of two-factor models with items randomly assigned obtained acceptable and similar fit indices regardless of the items.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the PHQ-9 appears to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure depression. The more parsimonious interpretation of its scores, for now, is a unidimensional structure. Comparison across sex appears to be useful in occupational health psychology research settings since the results suggest that the PHQ-9 is invariant regarding this variable.

Adapting the Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool for French-Canadian Intensive Care Nurses

BACKGROUND

Self-administered instruments are used to measure components of work environments that cannot be measured directly. The Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a promising instrument. However, it is available only in English and Japanese, precluding its use in other populations and cross-national comparisons.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the Canadian French translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the HWEAT (F-HWEAT) and to explore its factor structure and psychometric properties.

METHODS

Cross-cultural adaptation of the HWEAT and collection of evidence of validity via an electronic cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

A total of 564 intensive care unit nurses participated in the validation study. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the presence of a single overarching factor measured by the F-HWEAT. The Cronbach α for the instrument was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.88-0.91). The mean and median interitem correlations were both 0.32, and item-partial total correlations ranged from 0.33 to 0.64. The overall F-HWEAT score indicated that nurses believed their work environment needed improvements. Moderate positive correlations were found between the overall F-HWEAT score and nurses' perceptions of care quality (r = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.38-0.51]) and safety (r = 0.48 [95% CI, 0.40-0.55]).

CONCLUSION

The results support the use of the F-HWEAT in French-speaking populations. Using the F-HWEAT will help elucidate areas needing improvement and expand global dialogues about healthy critical care work environments. With this information, nurse leaders and researchers can develop and implement modern strategies to improve the work conditions of intensive care unit nurses.

Supply chain resilience in the Colombian defense sector before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative study

Unforeseen events can significantly affect organizations' supply chains and disrupt their continuous flow. Therefore, organizations need to develop a response capability that allows them to minimize the negative effect of such events and quickly recover from them, also known as resilience. This research performs a comparative analysis of the influence that risk, vulnerability, and adaptability have on the resilience capability of supply chains in Colombian defense sector organizations before and during the coronavirus outbreak. Based on a literature review, a survey was designed and applied online to collect data from respondents related to the activities of the Colombian Air Force supply chain. For the first wave, data was collected between December 2019 and January 2020. Data for the second wave was collected in August 2020. Results suggest that identifying and managing risks positively impact reducing vulnerability and increasing adaptability. Moreover, by decreasing exposure and improving adaptability, the organization positively influences supply chain resilience capability. The results also indicate that the pandemic positively affected risk and vulnerability awareness. The identification of vulnerabilities had a positive impact on the resilience capacity during the Corona Virus outbreak. This research provides relevant information for the Colombian government on developing public policies and mechanisms of service and support for defense sector organizations to strengthen their resilience capability. Likewise, the study offers valuable information to those organizations interested in improving their resilience capability and that of the sector in which they are involved.

Subjective quality of life factorial structure across mental disorders: should we switch to assessing dimensions?

A two-factor structure of subjective quality of life (SQoL) was established for patients with schizophrenia with the dimensions being 'Life and Health' and 'Living Environment'. This study investigated whether the same structure applies in patients with mood and anxiety disorders and, if so, whether the dimension scores differ between the three diagnostic groups. SQoL data of 1366 patients with mood and 419 patients with anxiety disorders obtained on the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) were retrieved from 3 multisite studies. We performed Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) based on the MANSA SQoL items of each diagnostic sample. Next, through a series of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests, we compared the scores of the two factors across patients with mood disorders, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. The two CFAs showed adequate fit of the two-factor structure across mood and anxiety disorders. The dimension scores on 'Life and Health' differed significantly between all three diagnostic groups. They were lowest in patients with anxiety disorders, higher in patients with mood disorders and highest in patients with schizophrenia. However, on the 'Living Environment' dimension, patients with mood disorders had significantly higher scores than patients with schizophrenia, whilst patients with anxiety disorders did not differ significantly from either other group. The findings suggest that a two-factor structure of SQoL applies across mental disorders. The two dimensions vary across diagnostic groups in different ways. Assessing two dimensions of SQoL may provide more specific and relevant information than global scores.

Validation of the brief instrument "Health Literacy for School-Aged Children" (HLSAC) among Norwegian adolescents

Health literacy (HL) has been identified as an important and modifiable determinant of health. To succeed in promoting HL, it is crucial to evaluate interventions addressing HL using validated instruments. However, HL measurement is an under-researched area among adolescents. The Health Literacy for School-Aged Children (HLSAC) scale is developed in Finland to measure the subjective HL levels of school-aged children. The HLSAC has been used and validated across Europe. No validated instrument for measuring HL among Norwegian adolescents has been identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the HLSAC among Norwegian adolescents in upper secondary schools. Cross-sectional data were collected in 2017 from 1 054 adolescents with a response rate of 93.5%. The participants were students aged 16-21 (mean = 17.3) years from four upper secondary schools in an urban area in Mid-Norway. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was utilized to investigate the underlying dimensionality of the data together with composite reliability based on Raykov's reliability coefficient and certain aspects of construct validity. The original ten-item one-dimensional version of the HLSAC revealed a poor fit. A one-dimensional version including six of the original ten items presented the best fit to our data, demonstrating good reliability and construct validity. This validation study suggests a one-dimensional solution of the HLSAC scale including six of the original ten items, i.e., the HLSAC-6 as a statistical valid and reliable measure for HL among adolescents in upper secondary schools. However, the modifications of the instrument indicate the need for further investigation of the HLSAC in this age group, i.e. by conducting cognitive interviews and focus-group discussions on the concept of HL among adolescents. Testing the wording of the HLSAC prior to additional psychometric evaluations of both the original HLSAC and the suggested HLSAC-6 is recommended. Finally, developing more age-appropriate items for the measurement of HL in this age-group is suggested.

Effects of HIV-related worries on fertility motivation moderated by living children among couples living with HIV: A dyadic analysis

INTRODUCTION

HIV-related worries are a major barrier to achieving fertility goals for couples living with HIV (CLWH). We examined the moderating role of living children in the association between HIV-related worries and fertility motivation in CLWH including happiness, well-being, identity, and continuity.

METHODS

The data of 322 reproductive-aged CLWH were collected for this cross-sectional study from a referral antiretroviral therapy clinic in Kunming, China between October and December 2020. Intra- and interpersonal mechanisms of association between HIV-related worries and fertility motivation moderated by the number of living children in husband-wife dyads were analyzed by the actor-partner interdependence moderation model.

RESULTS

The high-level HIV-related worries of the wives and husbands were associated with the spouses' fertility motivation. Having at least one child helped to ameliorate the negative association between one's own HIV-related worries and fertility motivation. However, there was no evidence of such moderation in the spouse.

CONCLUSION

Whether the CLWH has at least one living child should be taken into account in counseling. Childless families should be counseled on HIV-related worries as those worries have a greater negative effect on fertility motivation than couples who have a child.

Modeling of the Chinese Dating App Use Motivation Scale According to Item Response Theory and Classical Test Theory

Dating apps are popular worldwide among young adults, and the Tinder use motivation scale is widely used to measure the primary motives for dating app use. In light of the increasing prevalence of dating apps among young Chinese adults, this study applied both item response theory and traditional classical test theory to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the dating app use motivation scale that is applicable across different dating apps. In total, 1046 current or former dating app users (age range: 18-30, M = 26.20, SD = 4.26, 52.30% girls) completed the online survey. From the original item pool, this study selected 25 items according to item response theory analysis, retracted six factors based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and conducted confirmatory factor analysis for further validation. The motivations were seeking a relationship, self-worth validation, the thrill of excitement, ease of communication, emotion-focused coping, and fun. The first four motivations were consistent with the original scale, and two new motivations were found in the present sample. All six motivations were validated among the Chinese sample. Not consistent with the Tinder use motivation scale, casual sex was not identified as a primary motivation among young Chinese adults. One related measure was used to obtain convergent validity. The discussion focused on the cultural and methodological factors that may explain the differences between the original scale and the Chinese version of the scale.

Team identification relates to lower burnout-Emotional and instrumental support as two different social cure mechanisms

Team identification is associated with less exhaustion and disengagement through more social support and higher collective self-efficacy. However, previous studies did not distinguish between emotional and instrumental support, even though both forms of support may relate differently to collective self-efficacy. By distinguishing between both support forms, we expected an indirect effect-the 'supportive structure' mechanism-of team identification on burnout mediated via emotional support. For a second mechanism-the 'supportive action' mechanism-we expected an indirect effect serially mediated by instrumental support and collective self-efficacy. We tested our hypotheses among N _T1  = 567 employees in a four-wave study with 3-month time lags between measurement points. Partially in line with our expectations, emotional support (T2) mediated the relation between team identification (T1) and disengagement (T4), but not emotional exhaustion (T4). Moreover, as expected, the results showed an indirect association between team identification (T1) and emotional exhaustion and disengagement (T4) via instrumental support (T2) and collective self-efficacy (T3). Accordingly, employees benefit from both support forms but through different mechanisms. We discuss our findings and implications for future research.

The mediating role of appraisal on health-related quality of life in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (first diagnosed with cancer at age 15-39) are distinct within the cancer community due to their unique challenges and diverse psycho-behavioral characteristics. This study aimed to analyze psycho-behavioral pathways and further explore the mediating role of cognitive appraisals on AYA cancer survivors' quality of life (QoL).

METHODS

Three hundred and eighty-nine AYA cancer survivors were eligible for analyses and recruited to self-administer questionnaires on QoL (the Chinese version of EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 v3.0), resilience, coping, and appraisal on site. This study performed structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine pathways on QoL based on the Rapkin & Schwartz QoL Appraisal Model.

RESULTS

The average age of participants (47.6% female) was 32.7 ± 4.1 years. The SEM results closely fit the measured data (RMSEA = 0.053, GFI = 0.955, CFI = 0.964, SRMR = 0.052). The final model showed direct negative effects of later clinical-stage, more comorbidities, and more Acceptance-Resignation coping on QoL; indirect positive effects of better resilience on QoL through less Acceptance-Resignation coping (β = 0.286, P = 0.002). Appraisal mediated the effects of treatment and resilience on QoL (β = -0.024, P = 0.038). Further, Calm, Peaceful, and Active appraisal patterns were associated with improved Cognitive Functioning (β = 0.119, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Appraisal, coping, and resilience could significantly mediate the effects of cancer and its treatment on the QoL of AYA cancer survivors. Future interventions targeting cognitive appraisals and psycho-behaviors will be helpful. Figuring out what matters to such a unique population and how they appraise a cancer diagnosis through treatment trajectories could help nurses adjust support.

Drivers of the Intention to Receive a COVID-19 Booster Vaccine: Insights from the UK and Australia

As the global pandemic perpetuates, keeping the population vaccinated will be imperative to maintain societal protection from the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. However, while empirical evidence regarding predictors of the intention to receive a first COVID-19 vaccine has amassed, our understanding regarding the psychological and behavioral drivers of continued COVID-19 vaccination remains limited. In this pre-registered study (UK: AsPredicted#78370|Australia: AsPredicted#81667), factors predicting the intention to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine were investigated in two adult samples from the UK (N = 1222) and Australia (N = 1197) that were nationally representative on factors of age, gender, and geographic location. High levels of booster intent were found (73% and 67%, respectively). Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) revealed three key predictors of the intention to receive a booster vaccine that emerged across both UK and Australian samples: concern regarding the COVID-19 virus, positive perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines, and the perceived severity of side effects experienced to the last COVID-19 vaccine dose. Several additional factors (age, months since the last COVID-19 vaccine, familiarity with side effects, and regularly receiving the influenza vaccine) were present in the Australian dataset. These findings provide important evidence that targeting psychological perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine and virus may serve to maintain participation in the COVID-19 vaccination programme, paving the way for future behavioural research in this area.

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.

Psychometric Assessment and Gender Invariance of the Polish Version of the Gaming Disorder Test

In 2019, Gaming Disorder (GD) was officially recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an official mental health disorder. Currently, the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) is one of the most widely utilised psychometric tools to assess GD symptoms according to the WHO framework. In this context, the present study aimed to develop the Polish version of the GDT so that this tool can be used within the Polish cultural context. Additionally, the research aimed to ascertain the psychometric properties and appropriateness of the Polish GDT. To achieve this goal, the Polish GDT was investigated in terms of its validity, reliability, and gender measurement invariance through two studies. Accordingly, study 1 recruited a total of 675 gamers (340 female; Meanage = 31.74 years; SD = 7.75 years; range: 15-45 years) and study 2 comprised 575 gamers (275 female; M age = 29.45 years; SD = 4.25 years; range: 18-35 years). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to assess psychometric properties of the Polish GDT. The reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and Average Variance Extracted. Gender measurement invariance was investigated using multiple-group CFA, and the unidimensionality was tested using mean of item residual absolute loadings (MIREAL), explained common variance (ECV), and unidimensional congruence (UC). The results of the psychometric analysis showed that the Polish GDT had a one-factor structure. Additionally, the present study demonstrated that the Polish GDT exhibited adequate levels of convergent validity, reliability, and strict gender measurement invariance. These findings suggest that the Polish version of GDT is a suitable psychometric test to assess GD and facilitate research on GD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11469-022-00929-4.

Key Predictors of Primary Care Providers' Self-Efficacy in Caring for Children with Overweight or Obesity

OBJECTIVE

Self-efficacy is a crucial factor in enabling pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) to deliver recommended care to children with overweight and obesity. This study, conducted with a large, national sample of PCPs, aimed to identify key factors, which may contribute to PCP self-efficacy for obesity-related care, from a list of previously reported barriers and facilitators.

METHODS

A national random sample of American Academy of Pediatrics members was surveyed in 2017 (analytic n = 704). Factor analysis was used to identify self-efficacy variables from relevant indicators and assess fit. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to identify key predictors of PCP self-efficacy from reported facilitators or barriers to care, including characteristics of the PCP, practice, community, and payment systems.

RESULTS

Two PCP self-efficacy variables were identified: health risk assessment and patient-centered counseling. Both were positively predicted by relevant training, the belief that pediatricians play an important role in obesity, and awareness of barriers to payment for dietitians or weight management programs. Both were negatively predicted by a perceived lack of available PCP time for counseling and inadequacy of available referral resources to assist with treatment. Additional predictors of counseling self-efficacy included PCP beliefs that they are paid for treatment (+) and that patients/families lack time for healthy behaviors (-). Electronic health record clinical decision supports or registries and patient social disadvantage were not predictive.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest multiple potential roles and strategies for local and national organizations seeking to facilitate improvements to PCP self-efficacy in caring for children with overweight and obesity.

The Self-Compassion Scale: Validation and Psychometric Properties within the Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Framework

The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is one of the several tools for measuring compassionate self-attitude. Despite its popularity, there is an ongoing controversy regarding its factor structure. Previous studies employing exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) found support for the single-bifactor (one general and six group factors) model over the competing two-bifactor (two general factors representing compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding and six group factors) model. Here, we replicated and extended previous ESEM studies through examining the validity and dimensionality of different bifactor models in a sample of UK adults. Model fit was examined across two estimators: maximum likelihood and weighted least square mean and variance adjusted. Finally, we investigated whether one or two observed scores of the SCS can better identify cases of depression, anxiety, and mental wellbeing. Both bifactor models showed good fit to the data irrespective of the estimators used, but only the single-bifactor model demonstrated satisfactory convergent and criterion validity and unidimensionality. The total observed SCS score detected depression, anxiety and high mental wellbeing with higher accuracy than any of the two scores. Overall, we propose to use the total score of the SCS in further research and practice.

Parental report of quality of life in autistic children and youths: the role of parents' (informal) social support, and children's active leisure time

Research examining the quality of life (QoL) in children with autism in relation to leisure behavior is extremely rare. An online survey of parents (N = 282) was conducted to help to fill this gap. Using structural equation model (SEM), the association between the parents' (informal) social support and children's QoL (reported by parents) was examined. In this, parental behavior, children's active leisure time, children's TV consumption, as well as children's self-worth (reported by the parents) were integrated. Findings suggested that the parents' (informal) social support, children's active leisure, and self-worth have a positive effect on children's QoL. Implications of the results are discussed.

Measurement Invariance of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale Across Genders

Social media addiction has been a hot issue in scientific research in recent years, its antecedents and consequences have been extensively studied. Among these studies, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) is one of the most commonly used instruments. However, little is known about whether this scale has the equivalent psychometric properties for men and women. The purpose of the current study is to examine the measurement invariance (including configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, and error variance invariance) of the BSMAS across genders. In total, 1,120 participants were recruited from 5 universities. R program was applied to conduct the single-group and multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on the social media addiction symptom ratings. The results demonstrated that BSMAS was a valid and psychometrically robust instrument for assessing the risk of social media addiction among university students, and that the four types of measurement invariance of the BSMAS across genders were confirmed. Consequently, gender differences in the BSMAS scores are likely to reflect the genuine differences between men and women, and comparisons on the level of social media addiction of university students between gender groups can be interpreted meaningfully.

The Inventory of Complicated Grief-A Systematic Psychometric Review and Conceptual Replication Study of the Structural Validity

The Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) is a commonly used self-report measure in psycho-oncology, best supportive care, and palliative medicine. However, existing validation studies yielded conflicting results regarding the structural validity. This study provides a psychometric review and conceptual replication of the ICG latent structure to test the hypothesis that existing studies overfit unreliable sources of variance, which overshadow the unidimensionality of the ICG. All proposed latent models identified in the psychometric review were tested in a series of confirmatory and exploratory structural equation models. Specifically, at least five to six latent intercorrelated factors were necessary to reach acceptable model fit. However, a general CG factor accounted for most variance and ICG sum scores showed predictable associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms, which suggests that the ICG is essentially unidimensional. There are indications that other measures of pathological grief show similar inconsistencies. Overall, potentially emerging subfacets of the ICG should not be interpreted as distinct "symptom clusters." If time constraints are an issue as is often the case in clinical research, complicated grief may just be measured by a reduced item set without a significant loss of information or complexity.

How Accurate Is Your Correlation? Different Methods Derive Different Results and Different Interpretations

Assessing the association between conceptual constructs are at the heart of quantitative research in educational and psychological research. Researchers apply different methods to the data to obtain results about the correlation between a set of variables. However, the question remains, how accurate are the results of the correlation obtained from these methods? Although various considerations should be taken to ensure accurate results, we focus on the types of analysis researchers apply to the data and discuss three methods most researchers use to obtain results about correlation. Particularly, we show how correlation results in bivariate correlation, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) differ substantially in size. We observe that methods that assume independence of the items often generate inflated factor correlations whereas methods that relax this assumption present uninflated, thus more accurate correlations. Because factor correlations are inflated in bivariate correlation and CFA, the discriminant validity of the constructs is often unattainable. In these methods, the size of the correlation can be very large and biased. We discuss the reasons for this variation and suggest the type of correlation that researchers should select and report.