Validating the Persian Intuitive Eating Scale-2 Among Breast Cancer Survivors Who Are Overweight/Obese

Psychometric network analysis of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 in Chinese general adults

The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is a measure of intuitive eating behaviors that has been extensively validated, with traditional latent variable modeling approaches, in youth and adults from many different populations, including college students in China. However, there is still a lack of research on the psychometric properties of the IES-2 in adults from the Chinese general population. Moreover, psychometric network analysis, as a complement to traditional latent variable modeling approaches, has not been used for examining the psychometric properties of the IES-2. Thus, the present study used a psychometric network approach to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IES-2 in Chinese adults from the general population. A sample of 700 Chinese general adults (50% women; Mage = 31.13 years, SD = 9.19) recruited online were included in the present study. Psychometric network analysis was performed. Exploratory graph analysis (EGA) identified four dimensions, which were well separated in the estimated network. The network structure showed excellent stability and metric measurement invariance (i.e., network loadings) across men and women. Furthermore, several items on the IES-2 were identified as key nodes in the network of the IES-2 that may be important for the development and maintenance of intuitive eating. For example, two items (i.e., "I trust my body to tell me when to eat," and "I trust my body to tell me when to stop eating") related to reliance on body cues were the most impactful nodes in the complete network. The findings of our study provide a greater understanding of the IES-2 from the perspective of network analysis and have implications for applications of intuitive eating interventions for general populations.

The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) - A psychometric evaluation of adolescents in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) is effective in assessing positive aspects of mental health. Despite its advantages, little is known about group differences in the interpretation of SWEMWBS items across age groups, especially during the adolescence period. Hence, this study examined the psychometric properties of the SWEMWBS through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Rasch analysis and network analysis of Swedish adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 5548 participants from the south of Sweden (i.e., Jönköping County) took part in this cross-sectional study through an online platform between September 2020 and October 2020. The CFA, Rasch (including differential item functioning, DIF) analysis and network analysis were used to examine the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the SWEMWBS. The SWEMWBS had a unidimensional structure with robust psychometric properties. The CFA demonstrated measurement invariance across gender, school year and country of birth, which was also confirmed by Rasch DIF. Furthermore, considerable associations between the items of the SWEMWBS, general health and COVID-19 impact items were observed in network analysis. The SWEMWBS showed robust psychometric properties capable of assessing positive aspects of mental health and well-being among adolescents.

Problematic Gaming in Malaysian University Students: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Malay Language Versions of Gaming Disorder Test and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults

As research on gaming disorder (GD) is growing globally, the need for a valid and reliable instrument to assess GD has become crucial. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study translated and evaluated the psychometric properties of Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults (GADIS-YA) into Malay language versions. The sample comprised 624 university students (females = 75.6%; mean age = 22.27 years) recruited via an online survey from May to August 2022, using a convenience sampling method. Participants completed both GDT and GADIS-YA scales and other relevant measures including Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and time spent on social media and gaming. Results showed that both instruments reported satisfactory internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure for GDT and two-factor structure for GADIS-YA. Both scales were strongly correlated with each other and with the IGDS9-SF, BSMAS, and time spent on social media and gaming, supporting concurrent validity. Measurement invariance of both scales was confirmed across gender and gaming time. These findings suggest that the Malay versions of GDT and GADIS-YA are reliable and valid measures of problematic gaming among Malaysian university students.

Problematic Use of Internet Among Indonesia University Students: Psychometric Evaluation of Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form

OBJECTIVE

Social media addiction and internet gaming disorder may cause mental health problems among a minority of university students. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the 9-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) are commonly used worldwide. However, they have not been translated or validated into Indonesian. The present study aimed to translate and validate the BSMAS and IGDS9-SF in an Indonesian context among young adults.

METHODS

A multi-center, web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 458 university students (74% female; mean age 22.5 years) in Indonesia from June to December 2021. The BSMAS and IGDS9-SF were translated into Indonesian. Internal consistency (using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω) and factor structure (using confirmatory factor analysis) of the two instruments were examined. Concurrent validity of BSMAS and IGDS9-SF was examined using their correlations with two external concepts: nomophobia and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Internal consistency of the Indonesian BSMAS and IGDS9-SF were both acceptable (Cronbach's α=0.80 and 0.90; McDonald's ω=0.86 and 0.92). Both instruments were unidimensional with good factor loadings (0.54-0.78 for BSMAS; 0.63-0.79 for IGDS9-SF). Moreover, BSMAS and IGDS9-SF had stronger associations with nomophobia (r=0.58 and 0.12; p<0.001) than with psychological distress (r=0.43 and 0.15; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The Indonesian versions of the BSMAS and IGDS9-SF had good psychometric properties in terms of linguistic validity, unidimensionality, and reliability. The findings indicate the tools are appropriate for assessing the risk of social media addiction and internet gaming disorder among university students in Indonesia.

The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 Adapted for Mexican Pregnant Women: Psychometric Properties and Influence of Sociodemographic Variables

A weight-inclusive approach to health involves the promotion of intuitive eating, i.e., the individual's ability to be aware of their physiological hunger and satiety cues to determine when and how much to eat, while paying attention to how certain foods affect their body. The second version of the Intuitive Eating Scale (IES-2) evaluates four interrelated traits of intuitive eating: Unconditional Permission to Eat (UPE), Eating for Physical rather than emotional Reasons (EPR), Reliance on internal Hunger/Satiety Cues (RHSC), and Body-Food Choice Congruence (BFCC). In this study, our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Mexican Spanish adaptation of the IES-2 for pregnant women and examine the relationship between intuitive eating traits and maternal sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 514 pregnant women answered our IES-2 adaptation and a sociodemographic questionnaire. We determined the quality, validity, and reliability of our adaptation through descriptive measures, frequency distributions, intra-class correlations, and extreme answer group comparison for each item, eliminating those with weak technical properties. We then performed an exploratory principal component analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. Last, we analyzed the association between intuitive eating and maternal sociodemographic and reproductive variables through correlation tests and multivariable linear regressions. Psychometric tests confirmed the validity and reliability of our IES-2 adaptation, which comprised 18 out of the 23 original items. Notably, both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded not four but five factors, due to the EPR subscale splitting in two (the "emotional" and "physical" components of EPR). We attribute this novel finding to the emotional manifestations that naturally accompany pregnancy, which may incline pregnant women to base their eating behaviors more on the emotional than the physical component that would otherwise dominate their EPR trait. Further research is also needed about the UPE subscale during pregnancy, due to item removal and subtle changes in meaning. Finally, the influence of sociodemographic variables on the IES-2 score was extremely low, suggesting that other variables, possibly of a psychological nature, may have greater influence on a pregnant woman's intuitive eating.

Psychometric properties of the Persian Gaming Disorder Test and relationships with psychological distress and insomnia in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Gaming Disorder (GD) was recently included by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a psychiatric condition in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and is a concern worldwide, including in Iran. Thus, based on the ICD-11 criteria, a Persian version of the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) was developed to facilitate assessment of GD.

METHODS

The present study used classical test theory and Rasch analysis to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian GDT. Iranian adolescents (n = 3837; 2171 [56.6%] males; mean [SD] age = 16.02 [1.4] years) completed the GDT and other instruments assessing disordered gaming, psychological distress, and insomnia.

RESULTS

Overall, the psychometric properties of the Persian GDT were satisfactory based on classical test theory (i.e., confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the unidimensional structure of GDT) and Rasch analysis (i.e., fit statistics suggested that all items were embedded in the concept of GD). Moreover, the Persian GDT was found to be sex-invariant, displaying no items with substantial differential item functioning across sexes. Additionally, it was found that GD mediated associations between time spent gaming and measures of psychological distress and insomnia.

CONCLUSION

The Persian GDT is a convenient and short instrument for assessing GD among Iranian adolescents. The mediating roles of GD in the associations between time spent gaming and psychological distress and between time spent gaming and insomnia suggest that targeting features of GD may reduce psychological distress and improve sleep for Iranian adolescents.

Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Evaluation of the Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) Among Mainland Chinese University Students

Introduction

Preventative factors in young people's physical inactivity require further understanding, including related psychosocial factors (eg, body image and weight stigma). The Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) is a recently developed instrument to address this issue and the present study examined its psychometric properties among Chinese university students particularly in relation to patterns across sex, physical activity (PA) level, and weight status.

Methods

Using a convenience sample of 3142 students (mean age = 19.8 years; 56% female) in mainland China, data were collected using an online survey between August and October 2022. Psychometric instruments including the Weight Bias Internalization Scale, 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form were administered along with the TAPAS to assess convergent and discriminant validity. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed the measurement invariance across specific groups.

Results

The unidimensional structure of the scale was confirmed through CFA (CFI=0.995; RMSEA=0.046). All configural, metric and scalar models of invariance indicated that the scale was invariant across sex, PA level, and weight status. Acceptable convergent and discriminant validity for the scale were found.

Conclusion

The TAPAS is a suitable instrument to assess body image and weight stigma concerns for avoiding physical activity and sport among Chinese university students.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Swahili Version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-BR45 among Breast Cancer Patients in Tanzania

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women in Africa and contributes to premature death and poor quality of life. This study aimed to determine the validity, reliability, and psychometric properties of the Swahili version of EORTC QLQ-BR45 among women with breast cancer in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study design with non-probability convenience sampling was employed. Data were collected in two tertiary hospitals and one national cancer institute; 414 participants completed the EORTC-QLQ-C-30 and EORTC-QLQ-BR45. The reliability of QLQ-BR45 was measured using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega coefficients. The factor structure of EORTC QLQ-BR45 was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistencies for the five dimensions were all above 0.7 indicating satisfaction, except for systemic therapy side effects with a marginal value of 0.594 and significant correlations between the dimensions of QLQ-C30 and BR45. The final model fit well to the data, with the comparative fit index = 0.953, Tucker-Lewis index = 0.947, root mean square error of approximation = 0.041 (90% CI: 0.035, 0.046), and standardized root mean square residual = 0.072. In conclusion, the QLQ BR45 Swahili version displayed good reliability, validity, and psychometric properties and can be used in Swahili-speaking Sub-Saharan countries.

Perceived Stress Mediating the Association Between Mindfulness and Resilience Among Registered Nurses

Purpose

Resilience continues to be an important concept in the nursing profession due to its significant role in personal healthcare, patients' healthcare, and leadership. The present study examined the mediating role of perceived stress in the association between mindfulness and resilience among registered nurses in order to understand their importance among those in the Taiwanese nursing profession.

Materials and Methods

Between October and November 2021, a total of 816 registered nurses participated in a cross-sectional survey including psychometric measures assessing perceived stress (Chinese Perceived Stress Scale-10), mindfulness (Chinese Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and resilience (Chinese Questionnaire of Resilience).

Results

Results indicated that perceived stress mediated the association between mindfulness and resilience (standardized coefficient = 0.251, p<0.001), although there was no significant association between mindfulness and resilience (standardized coefficient = 0.042, p=0.16). This suggests that perceived stress may function as both distress and eustress because mindfulness was not directly associated with resilience but indirectly via perceived stress.

Conclusion

Nurses and their administrators should focus on different ways of coping with stress so that they become more resilient in facing other stressors. Future studies may be conducted to examine the mediating role of perceived stress in the association between other coping strategies and resilience among registered nurses.

Psychometric properties and development of the Chinese versions of Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A)

Currently, six instruments have been developed using the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) criteria for Gaming Disorder (GD). Two of these are the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A). The present study validated both the GDT and GADIS-A among a large sample of Chinese emerging adults. Via an online survey, 3381 participants (56.6% females; mean age = 19.56 years) completed the Chinese versions of the GDT, GADIS-A, Internet Gaming Disorder-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the factor structure of the Chinese GDT and GADIS-A. Pearson correlations were computed to examine the convergent validity (with IGDS9-SF) and divergent validity (with BSMAS) of the Chinese GDT and Chinese GADIS-A. The GDT had a unidimensional structure, which was invariant across sex and disordered gaming severity subgroups. The GADIS-A had a two-factor structure, which was also invariant across gender and gaming severity subgroups. Both the GDT and GADIS-A had significant associations with both IGDS9-SF and with BSMAS. Both the Chinese GDT and GADIS-A are valid instruments to assess GD among emerging adults in mainland China, enabling healthcare providers to adopt these tools in their efforts to prevent and examine GD severity among Chinese youth.

Translation and Validation of the Gaming Disorder Test and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents into Chinese for Taiwanese Young Adults

PURPOSE

To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A) for use in Taiwan and to validate their internal consistency, construct validity, measurement invariance, and convergent validity in Taiwanese young adults.

METHODS

The GDT and GADIS-A were translated into traditional (unsimplified) Chinese characters and culturally adapted according to standard guidelines. A sample of 608 Taiwanese university students were recruited online. All participants completed the GDT, GADIS-A, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω. Factor structure was examined using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance in gender was assessed by three nested models in CFA. Convergent validity was determined by calculating Pearson's r among the GDT, GADIS-A, IGDS9-SF, and DASS-21.

RESULTS

The GDT and GADIS-A showed adequate internal consistency (both α and ω = 0.90). The CFA results supported a one-factor structure for the GDT and a two-factor structure for the GADIS-A. Measurement invariance across gender was supported for both the GDT and GADIS-A. The convergent validity of the GDT and GADIS-A were acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese versions of the GDT and GADIS-A are valid and reliable tools that can be used to assess gaming disorder in Taiwanese young adults. Measurement invariance across genders was supported for both tools. The convergent validity of the GDT and GADIS-A were also satisfactory.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in a sample of community adults

BACKGROUND

There is a growing attention on intuitive eating (IE) styles in the Western world that has not yet reached Arab countries, which is likely due to the lack of psychometrically sound measures of the IE construct for Arabic-speaking people. The current study aims to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the most widely used measure of IE-the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), in an Arabic-speaking community population from Lebanon.

METHODS

Two samples of Arabic-speaking community adults from Lebanon (sample 1: n = 359, 59.9% females, age 22.75 ± 7.04 years; sample 2: n = 444, 72.7% females, age 27.25 ± 9.53 years) were recruited through online convenience sampling. The translation and back-translation method was applied to the IES-2 for linguistic validation. Factorial validity was investigated using an Exploratory Factor Analysis & Confirmatory Factor Analysis strategy. Composite reliability and sex invariance were examined. We also tested convergent and criterion-related validity through correlations with other theoretically plausible constructs.

RESULTS

Nine out of the original 23 items were removed because they either loaded below 0.40 and/or cross-loaded too highly on multiple factors. This resulted in four domains (Unconditional Permission to Eat, Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons, Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues, and Body-Food Choice Congruence) and 14 items retained. Internal reliability estimates were excellent, with McDonald's ω values ranging from 0.828 to 0.923 for the four factors. Multigroup analysis established configural, thresholds, metric, scalar, strict invariance across gender. Finally, higher IES-2 total scores were significantly correlated with lower body dissatisfaction scores and more positive eating attitudes, thus attesting to convergent and criterion-related validity of the scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings provide preliminary evidence for the appropriate psychometric qualities of the Arabic 14-item, four-factor structure IES-2; thereby supporting its use at least among Arabic-speaking community adults.

Mediated effects of insomnia in the association between problematic social media use and subjective well-being among university students during COVID-19 pandemic

Recently, the use of social media has penetrated many aspects of our daily lives. Therefore, it has stimulated much debate and polarisation regarding its impact on mental well-being. The present study investigated the association between problematic use of social media, subjective well-being, and insomnia's potential mediator. A proportionate random sample was collected from a Univerity in Algeria between March and April 2020.The participants (n=288; mean [SD] age = 20.83 [2.13]) involved 101 (35.1%) males. Nearly three-fourths of the participants (n=214; 74.3%) used up more-than three hours daily surfing on social media. Their mean (SD) score was 15.64 (4.80) on the Bergan Social Media Addiction Scale, 16.19 (9.15) on the Arabic Scale of Insomnia, and 28.13 (7.90) on the overall subjective well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed an indirect correlation between problematic use of social media and the overall subjective well-being of users. Similarly, the indirect but not direct effects were found for the overall subjective well-being subdomains. Moreover, all SEM models have a satisfactory fit with the data. Based on the results, it can be concluded that insomnia appears to play an important role in mediating the association between subjective well-being and problematic social media use. This suggests the importance of tackling the issues of insomnia and problematic use of social media for university students. It also has important implications in dealing with the misuse of social media, especially during the covid-19 pandemic.

Psychometric properties of a Greek translation of the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) in adults from Cyprus

The construct of intuitive eating is commonly assessed using the 23-item, 4-factor Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2; Tylka & Kroon Van Diest, 2013). In this study, we assessed the psychometric properties of a novel Greek translation of the IES-2 in adults from Cyprus. In Study 1 (N = 626), an exploratory factor analysis indicated that the IES-2 should be conceptualized as consisting of six factors that showed complete invariance across women and men. Study 2 (N = 793), using exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) and beifactor analysis (B-ESEM), indicated that the 6-factor B-ESEM model had adequate fit and evidenced complete invariance across sex once the correlated uniqueness of negatively worded IES-2 items was accounted for. This final model evidenced adequate composite reliability, and a global G-factor evidenced adequate convergent, concurrent, and discriminant validity. In contrast, the IES-2 S-factors showed more equivocal patterns of validity, with some S-factors showing less-than-adequate associations with body image variables, self-esteem, symptoms of disordered eating, and fruit and vegetable intake. In general, these results provide satisfactory evidence of the psychometric properties of the Greek IES-2 in adults from Cyprus, but also suggest that models of IES-2 scores may vary across national or cultural contexts.

Weight Stigma among Young Adults in Thailand: Reliability, Validation, and Measurement Invariance of the Thai-Translated Weight Self Stigma Questionnaire and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale

The previous studies found that the Weight Self Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS) have shown well-established psychometric properties for measuring weight stigma with strong reliability and validity from different languages. However, there is a lack of an appropriate instrument in assessing weight stigma in Thai samples. This study aimed to examine the Thai WSSQ and PWSS among Thai university students. Both instruments were also assessed for their measurement invariance across gender and weight status subgroups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 801 university students in Thailand between January 2022 and July 2022. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire and a Thai version of the WSSQ, PWSS, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) via an online survey. Reliability, validity, measurement invariance, and correlational analyses were performed to investigate whether the Thai versions of the WSSQ and PWSS psychometric properties were acceptable. Both translated questionnaires demonstrated overall acceptable psychometric properties and revealed a two-dimensional structure for the WSSQ, and unidimensional structure for the PWSS. Measurement invariance was obtained across gender and weight status subgroups. Additionally, both translated WSSQ and PWSS were significantly correlated with DASS-21. The Thai-translated WSSQ and PWSS showed strong validity, reliability, and factorial invariance across different subgroups for measuring weight stigma among Thai university students.

Measurement Invariance and Differential Item Functioning of the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA): A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

Health literacy is important for health behavior engagement. Therefore, it is important to have a good instrument assessing health literacy with a theoretical framework. The present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance and differential item functioning (DIF) of a newly developed health literacy instrument; that is, the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch models were used to examine the data collected from a large Iranian sample (N = 9775; 67.3% females; mean age = 36.44 years). All the participants completed the HELIA. CFA was used to examine if the HELIA had a five-factor structure (including reading, access to information, understanding, appraisal, and decision making/behavioral intention factors) and multigroup CFA to examine if the five-factor structure of HELIA was invariant across gender, educational level, accommodation, and age subgroups. Rasch models were used to examine whether each factor of HELIA was unidimensional and DIF contrast in Rasch to examine if the HELIA items were interpreted similarly across the aforementioned subgroups. The CFA results supported the five-factor structure of HELIA, and the Rasch models verified that each HELIA factor is unidimensional. Additionally, multigroup CFA supported the measurement invariance of HELIA across the following subgroups: male vs. female; highly educated vs. poorly educated; city residents vs. suburban residents; and younger age vs. older age. The DIF contrasts in the Rasch models additionally showed that there are no substantial DIF items in the HELIA across aforementioned subgroups. Therefore, the HELIA is a feasible and comprehensive instrument assessing health literacy across different populations in Iran.

Evaluation of two weight stigma scales in Malaysian university students: weight self-stigma questionnaire and perceived weight stigma scale

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWS) among Malaysian university students.

METHODS

University students who were studying in a Malaysia university with a mean age of 24.0 years (n = 380; females 71.6%) were recruited through convenience sampling between 19 August and 30 September 2021. They completed a Google Form consisting of information on sociodemographic background, weight stigma, psychological distress and self-reported body weight and height. Psychometric testing was conducted using the classical test theory (including confirmatory factor analysis) and Rasch models to confirm the two-factor structure of WSSQ and the unidimensional structure of the PWS using the various fit indices. Concurrent validity of the total scores of WSSQ and PWS with psychological distress and body mass index (BMI) was also investigated. Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha was conducted.

RESULTS

The confirmatory factor analyses and Rasch analyses verified the two-factor structure for the WSSQ and the single-factor structure for the PWS. Both the WSSQ and PWS showed good internal consistency and good concurrent validity as demonstrated by their significant correlations with psychological distress and BMI.

CONCLUSION

The WSSQ and PWS have strong validity and reliability, and they can both be used to assess weight stigma among Malaysian university students.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

V: Descriptive study.

Internet-Related Instruments (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, and Nomophobia Questionnaire) and Their Associations with Distress among Malaysian University Students

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of four instruments related to internet use, namely the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), (nine-item) Internet Gaming Disorder Scale Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ) as well as their associations with psychological distress among Malaysian university students. A total of 380 Malaysian university students (71.6% females, mean age 24.0 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey including questions concerning socio-demographic background, social media addiction, smartphone addiction, internet gaming disorder, and nomophobia. Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were applied to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instruments and Cronbach’s alpha value and McDonald’s omega value were used to confirm the internal consistency reliability of the instruments. The unidimensional structure was confirmed for the BSMAS, SABAS, and IGDS9-SF while the four-factor structure was confirmed for NMPQ. All instruments showed good internal consistency reliability. Promising validity and reliability were confirmed for BSMAS, SABAS, IGDS9-SF, and NMPQ. Therefore, they are useful to assess different types of problematic internet use among university students in Malaysia. Furthermore, a significant association was observed between internet use and psychological distress. The present study is the first to investigate the validity and reliability of BSMAS, SABAS, IGDS9-SF, and NMPQ among Malaysian university students using rigorous psychometric testing methods (i.e., Rasch analysis).

Reliability and validity study of the Indonesian Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) among college students

Background/Objective

Smartphone addiction, smartphone dependence, and compulsive smartphone use all describe similar phenomena that can cause problems in everyday daily life in many countries worldwide. Most scholars agree that it is the applications on smartphones that individuals have problems with rather than the smartphone itself. For this reason, smartphone application-based addiction is an issue of concern and one instrument has been specifically developed to assess this risk, namely, the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS). Although the SABAS has been translated into a number of languages, it has not been translated or validated into Indonesian.

Methods

The SABAS was translated into Bahasa Indonesian utilizing a cross-cultural method to ensure its linguistic validity. The linguistic validity of the Indonesian SABAS was ensured using international standard translation guidelines. Moreover, reliability and validity testing of the translated Indonesian SABAS were carried out using Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and correlations with psychometric scales assessing psychological distress and nomophobia.

Results

Using a sample of 458 participants (mean age = 22.46 years), reliability tests showed that the Indonesian SABAS was acceptable (Cronbach α = 0.74; McDonald’s ω = 0.79). Construct validity of the Indonesian SABAS was supported by satisfactory CFA fit indices; concurrent validity supported by good correlations with psychological distress (r = 0.50) and nomophobia (r = 0.61).

Conclusions

The Indonesian version of SABAS is valid and reliable to be used for assessing the risk of smartphone application-based addiction in college students.

'Weighing' Losses and Gains: Evaluation of the Healthy Lifestyle Modification After Breast Cancer Pilot Program

Objectives

This pilot study sought to develop and evaluate a novel online group-based intervention (Healthy Lifestyle Modification after Breast Cancer; HLM-ABC) to help breast cancer survivors (BCSs) make healthy lifestyle changes intended to yield not only beneficial physical outcomes (i.e., weight loss, reduced body mass index) but also greater behavioral (e.g., increased physical activity, healthier eating), and psychosocial well-being (e.g., self-efficacy, motivation, body image).

Methods

An exploratory single-arm, mixed-method triangulation design was employed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the HLM-ABC intervention for overweight BCSs. Fourteen women participated in the 10-week intervention and completed quantitative measures of the above-mentioned outcomes at baseline, post-treatment, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up time points. Qualitative data were obtained post-treatment via semi-structured interviews and a treatment satisfaction questionnaire.

Results

Participants lost an average of 2.83% of their baseline weight (M = 196.65; SD = 38.59) by 1-year follow-up (M = 191.29; SD = 33.91), equal to a small effect size (d = -0.37). Despite achieving only modest weight loss, participants achieved meaningful gains in the form of increased physical activity (d = 0.2), discovery of gratifying movement, more intuitive eating habits (d = 1.12), greater bodily and emotional awareness, and positive shifts in beliefs about being able to make healthy choices regarding food (d = 0.63) and physical activity (d = 0.38). Furthermore, they demonstrated a slight improvement in body image (d = 0.36) and described feeling more self-compassionate, empowered, and acknowledging of variables beyond control (i.e., hormonal therapy, unsatisfactory surgery) that can present barriers to change.

Conclusion

After completing a 10-week online program, participants achieved meaningful and lasting changes on a number of healthful indicators, even when this did not correspond with a significant reduction in weight. Findings highlight the complex, multifaceted nature of "health" and lend support for promotion of healthier lifestyle following cancer treatment that encompasses not only physical weight, but also behavior, psychosocial well-being, and (often unmodifiable) circumstances such as life-preserving hormonal treatments.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Physical Resilience Instrument for Older Adults (PRIFOR)

Background

Physical resilience is known to minimize the adverse outcomes of health stressors for older people. However, validated instruments that assess physical resilience in older adults are rare. Therefore, we aimed to validate the Physical Resilience Instrument for Older Adults (PRIFOR) to fill the literature gap.

Methods

Content analysis with content validity was first carried out to generate relevant items assessing physical resilience for older adults, and 19 items were developed. Psychometric evaluation of the 19 items was then tested on 200 older adults (mean [SD] age = 76.4 [6.6] years; 51.0% women) for item properties, factor structure, item fit, internal consistency, criterion-related validity, and known-group validity.

Results

All 19 items had satisfactory item properties, as they were normally distributed (skewness = -1.03 to 0.38; kurtosis = -1.05 to 0.32). However, two items were removed due to substantial ceiling effects. The retained 17 items were embedded in three factors as suggested by the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) results. All items except one had satisfactory item fit statistics in Rasch model; thus, the unidimensionality was supported for the three factors on 16 items. The retained 16 items showed promising properties in known-group validity, criterion-related validity, and internal consistency (α = 0.94).

Conclusions

The 16-item PRIFOR exhibits good psychometric properties. Using this instrument to measure physical resilience would be beneficial to identify factors that could protect older people from negative health consequence. With the use of the PRIFOR, intervention effects could also be evaluated. It is helpful to strengthen resilience and thereby facilitate successful aging.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-02918-7.

Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales—The Relationship of the Concepts with Healthy and Unhealthy Food Intake (a Cross-Sectional Study)

Intuitive (IE) and mindful (ME) eating share internally focused eating, yet previous studies have shown that these concepts are not strongly correlated, which suggests that they might be differently related to food intake. The study aimed to adapt the original Intuitive (IES-2) and Mindful (MES) Eating Scales to the Polish language, to test their psychometric parameters and, further, to examine associations of IE and ME with an intake of selected food groups, i.e., healthy foods (fresh and processed vegetables, fresh fruit) and unhealthy foods (sweets, salty snacks). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in a group of 1000 Polish adults (500 women and 500 men) aged 18–65 (mean age = 41.3 ± 13.6 years). The factor structure was assessed with exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis as well as structural equation modeling (SEM). Measurement invariance across gender was assessed with multiple-group analysis. Internal consistency and discriminant validity of the two scales was tested. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between IES-2 and MES subscales with food intake. A 4-factor, 16-item structure was confirmed for IES-2, while EFA and CFA revealed a 3-factor, 17-item structure of MES. Both scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency and discriminant validity. Full metric and partial scalar invariance were found for IES-2, while MES proved partial invariances. “Awareness” (MES) and “Body–Food Choice Congruence” (IES-2) positively correlated with intake of healthy foods and negatively with the intake of unhealthy ones. “Eating For Physical Rather Than Emotional Reasons” (IES-2) and “Act with awareness” (MES) favored lower intake of unhealthy foods, whereas “Unconditional Permission to Eat” and “Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues” (IES-2) showed an inverse relationship. A greater score in “Acceptance” (MES) was conducive to lower intake of all foods except sweets. The results confirmed that adapted versions of the IES-2 and MES are valid and reliable measures to assess IE and ME among Polish adults. Different IE and ME domains may similarly explain intake of healthy and unhealthy foods, yet within a single eating style, individual domains might have the opposite effect. Future studies should confirm our findings with the inclusion of mediating factors, such as other eating styles, childhood experiences, dieting, etc.

Item Response Theory Analysis of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S): A Systematic Review

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and is not yet under control. Evidence regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on psychological distress has been widely reported worldwide, and one of the primary concerns regarding psychological distress is fear (ie, fear of COVID-19). Therefore, having a robust instrument for assessing fear of COVID-19 is important. The present systematic review aimed to synthesize the psychometric evidence evaluated using item response theory (IRT) on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S).

Methods

Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, four academic databases (Scopus, PubMed Central, ProQuest, and ISI Web of Knowledge) were used to search target papers. Keywords used for search were “Fear of COVID-19 Scale” and its abbreviation (ie, “FCV-19S”) and IRT-related terms. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist was then applied to evaluate the methodological quality of the reviewed papers. Moreover, psychometric properties using IRT methods were synthesized using a qualitative method.

Results

The initial search resulted in 552 papers (73 duplicates) and 479 were screened based on their titles and abstracts. Finally, 16 papers were included for review regarding their methodological quality (via COSMIN) to synthesize the psychometric evidence for FCV-19S. The 16 papers included 21 countries with 16 language versions of FCV-19S.

Conclusion

All the psychometric evidence indicated that the seven items in the FCV-19S fit with the concept of fear. The FCV-19S is a strong and valid instrument for assessing fear across different languages. The seven items in the FCV-19S appear to be unidimensional in assessing fear, which indicates that all items are necessary in the FCV-19S.

Suicidal Ideation during the COVID-19 Pandemic among A Large-Scale Iranian Sample: The Roles of Generalized Trust, Insomnia, and Fear of COVID-19

The novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still not under control globally. The pandemic has caused mental health issues among many different cohorts and suicidal ideation in relation to COVID-19 has been reported in a number of recent studies. Therefore, the present study proposed a model to explain the associations between generalized trust, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic among a large-scale Iranian sample. Utilizing cluster sampling with multistage stratification, residents from Qazvin province in Iran were invited to participate in the present study. Adults aged over 18 years (n = 10,843; 6751 [62.3%] females) completed ‘paper–and-pencil’ questionnaires with the assistance of a trained research assistant. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to understand the associations between generalized trust, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Slightly over one-fifth of the participants (n = 2252; 20.8%) reported suicidal ideation. Moreover, the SEM results indicated that generalized trust was indirectly associated with suicidal ideation via fear of COVID-19 and insomnia. Furthermore, generalized trust was not directly associated with suicidal ideation. The proposed model was invariant across gender groups, age groups, and participants residing in different areas (i.e., urban vs. rural). Generalized trust might reduce individuals’ suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic period via reduced levels of fear of COVID-19 and insomnia. Healthcare providers and policymakers may want to assist individuals in developing their generalized trust, reducing fear of COVID-19, and improving insomnia problems to avoid possible suicidal behaviors.

Psychometric evaluation of the Relative Mastery Scale: An Occupational Adaptation instrument

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Relative Mastery Scale (RMS). Valid and reliable client-centered instruments support practice in value-based health care and community-based settings. Participants were 368 community-dwelling adults aged 18 to 95 years. Researchers conducted validity and reliability examinations of the RMS using classical test theory and Rasch measurement model. A partial credit model allowed exploration of individual scale properties. Spearman's correlation coefficients between items were statistically significant at the .01 level. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .94 showing strong internal consistency. In exploratory factor analysis, Factor 1 accounted for 71% of variance with an eigenvalue of 4.26. In Rasch analysis, the 5-point rating scale demonstrated adequate functioning, confirmed unidimensionality, and person/item separation. The RMS instrument demonstrates sound psychometric characteristics. A valid and reliable measure of internal occupational adaptation supports application to monitor progress of internal occupational adaptation across a variety of individuals.

Validating Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) in a Bangladeshi Population: Using Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis

The COVID-19 outbreak is associated with sleep problems and mental health issues among individuals. Therefore, there is a need to assess sleep efficiency during this tough period. Unfortunately, the commonly used instrument on insomnia severity-the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)-has never been translated and validated among Bangladeshis. Additionally, the ISI has never been validated during a major protracted disaster (such as the COVID-19 outbreak) when individuals encounter mental health problems. The present study aimed to translate the ISI into Bangla language (ISI-Bangla) and validate its psychometric properties. First, the linguistic validity of the ISI-Bangla was established. Then, 9790 Bangladeshis (mean age = 26.7 years; SD = 8.5; 5489 [56.1%] males) completed the Bangla versions of the following questionnaires: ISI, Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). All the participants also answered an item on suicidal ideation. Classical test theory and Rasch analyses were conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ISI-Bangla. Both classical test theory and Rasch analyses support a one-factor structure for the ISI-Bangla. Moreover, no substantial differential item functioning was observed across different subgroups (gender, depression status (determined using PHQ-9), and suicidal ideation). Additionally, concurrent validity of the ISI-Bangla was supported by significant and moderate correlations with FCV-19S and PHQ-9; known-group validity was established by the significant difference of the ISI-Bangla scores between participants who experienced suicidal ideation and those without. The present psychometric validation conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak suggests that the ISI-Bangla is a promising and operationally adequate instrument to assess insomnia in Bangladeshis.

Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men (MISS-LG) in Taiwan: Psychometric Evidence from Rasch and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Internalized sexual stigma may hamper the development of self-identity, social interaction, and intimate relationship in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals. The Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma for Lesbians and Gay Men (MISS-LG) is an important instrument assessing internalized sexual stigma for LGB individuals. However, its psychometric properties have not been examined in LGB populations outside the Italian community. The present study used advanced psychometric testing to evaluate the traditional Chinese version (the MISS-LG) among LGB individuals in Taiwan. LGB individuals (500 male, 500 female) participated in this study and completed the MISS-LG, HIV and Homosexuality Related Stigma (HHRS), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ). Confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the three-factor structure of the MISS-LG; however, two items for males and one item for females had somewhat low factor loadings on the sexuality factor. Each MISS-LG factor was found to be unidimensional in Rasch results, except for the slight misfit in Item 3 and concurrent validity of the MISS-LG was supported by the positive correlations with HHRS and the AAQ. The Chinese MISS-LG has relatively satisfactory psychometric properties. However, further research is needed to investigate the reasons for problematic fitting of several items.

Psychometric Testing of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale among Iranian Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Background: The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian adaptation of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in Iranian adolescents. (2) Methods: Adolescents with a mean age of 15.10 (n = 3197; 47.1% males) were recruited from Qazvin city of Iran using a stratified cluster random sampling technique. All children completed the five-item Persian MDAS and information related to background characteristics. Psychometric testing was conducted using classical test theory (CTT) and Rasch models. For CTT, an item-total correlation of >0.4 was considered satisfactory while for Rasch analysis, infit and outfit mean squares (Mnsq) ranging from 0.5–1.5 were considered satisfactory. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to confirm the unidimensional structure of MDAS using various fit indices. Differential item functioning (DIF) was evaluated based on gender and time since last dental visit. Moreover, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to classify the participants into different levels of dental fear based on their pattern of responses. Both item level reliability using Cronbachs alpha (α) and test-reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients were evaluated. (3) Results: Item-total correlations ranged from 0.69–0.78, infit MnSq ranged from 0.80 to 1.11 and the range of outfit MnSq was 0.84–1.10. The data confirmed a one-factor structure of MDAS with satisfactory fit indices. DIF analysis indicated that the scale was interpreted similarly across the genders and time since dental visit groups. LCA analysis identified three levels, low, moderate and high levels of dental anxiety. The groups with moderate and high levels of dental anxiety had more females (44.6% and 36.7%) than the group with low level of dental anxiety (18.8%; p < 0.001). α of the total scale was 0.89 and item test-retest reliability ranged from 0.72–0.86. (4) Conclusions: The Persian MDAS was unidimensional with satisfactory psychometric properties evaluated using both CTT and Rasch analysis among Iranian adolescents. The scale was stable across the genders and individuals with different dental visiting patterns. The Persian MDAS also demonstrated excellent reliability.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Kessler Distress Scale (K10): an application of the rating scale model

BACKGROUND

The Kessler Distress Scale (K10) is a self-report scale for the assessment of non-specific psychological distress in the general and clinical population. Because of its ease of application and good psychometric properties, the K10 has been adapted to several cultures. The present study seeks to adapt the K10 to Brazilian Portuguese and estimate its validity evidence and reliability.

METHODS

A total of 1914 individuals from the general population participated in the study (age = 34.88, SD = 13.61, 77.7% female). The adjustment indices were compared among three different measurement models proposed for the K10 through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The items' properties were analyzed by Andrich's Rating Scale Model (RSM). Furthermore, evidence based on relations to other variables (depression, stress, anxiety, positive and negative affects, and satisfaction with life) was estimated.

RESULTS

CFA indicated the adequacy of the bifactor model (CFI= 0.985; TLI= 0.973; SMR= 0.019; RMSEA= 0.050), composed of two specific factors (depression and anxiety) and one general factor (psychological distress), corresponding to the theoretical hypothesis. Additionally, it was observed multiple-group invariance by gender and age range. The RSM provided an understanding of the organization of the continuum represented by the psychological distress construct (items difficulty), which varied from -0.89 to 1.00; good adjustment indexes; infit between 0.67 and 1.32; outfit between 0.68 and 1.34; and desirable reliability, α= 0.87. Lastly, theoretically coherent associations with the external variables were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that the Brazilian version of the K10 is a suitable measure of psychological distress for the Brazilian population.

Intuitive eating and its psychological correlates: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Intuitive eating is an adaptive style of eating that has generated significant research attention. Theoretically, intuitive eating is a core construct that features prominently in the Acceptance Model of Intuitive Eating, a framework that explains how positive environmental influences can foster intuitive eating practices via body appreciation. Empirically, intuitive eating has been connected to a broad range of adaptive mental health indices. At present, a quantitative synthesis of intuitive eating and its correlates has yet to be conducted. This was the objective of the current meta-analysis.

METHOD

Ninety-seven studies (89% cross-sectional) were included. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted on 23 psychological correlates, divided into three clusters: eating behavior and body image disturbances, positive body image and other adaptive factors, and general psychopathology. Meta-analytic path analyses were also computed to test the validity of the Acceptance Model.

RESULTS

Intuitive eating was inversely associated with multiple indices of eating pathology, body image disturbances, and psychopathology (rs = -.23 to -.58). Intuitive eating was positively associated with numerous positive psychological constructs, such as positive body image, self-esteem, and wellbeing (rs = .20 to .58). Men reported higher levels of intuitive eating than women (d = 0.39), with differences being largest in Caucasian samples. Meta-analytic path analyses strongly supported the hypothesized pathways specified in the Acceptance Model of Intuitive Eating.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong evidence base for intuitive eating's connection to numerous adaptive psychological constructs. Attention should now shift toward prospective and experimental designs so that the temporal nature of these relationships can be identified.