Grade Retention Impact on Academic Self-concept: A Longitudinal Perspective

The long-term effects on academic self-concept of grade retention are unclear. The objective is to examine the progression of academic self-concept in relation to school performance for retained students and non-retained students. The academic self-concept of 5712 students (1381 retained students) was evaluated at the fourth and eighth grade of compulsory school. Academic performance was also examined at a third point: sixth grade. Latent Class Analysis and Latent Transition Analysis were used to examine the transitions between the latent groups of academic self-concept. A BCH-LTA estimation for a distal outcomes was used to examine the influence of academic self-concept on school performance. Three latent groups of academic self-concept were identified. The transitions indicated a reduction in academic self-concept over time which was greater in retained students. School performance fell over time and was related to academic self-concept. These findings have significant implications in relation to grade retention and its negative impact on students’ academic self-concept.

Problematic Use of Social Networks during the First Lockdown: User Profiles and the Protective Effect of Resilience and Optimism

During the first lockdown, there was an increase in time spent using Social Networking Sites (SNS), which should be studied, as well as problematic SNS use. The present study has three objectives: to evaluate (i) the differences across gender and age and SNS type in increased SNS use, (ii) problematic SNS use during lockdowns, and (iii) the protective role of resilience and optimism on problematic SNS use. A total of 1003 participants (75.5% women) over 18 years old participated (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32 years). The use of SNS before and during lockdown, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction and problematic SNS use were evaluated. A repeated measures ANOVA and four regression analyses were calculated for the first objective regarding increased SNS use. Another linear regression analysis was calculated for the second objective regarding problematic SNS use. A correlational analysis has been performed to assess the protective roles of resilience and optimism. Differences in the increased use of SNS were found between the two time points and between the different types of SNS. Higher use of Instagram and YouTube was related to younger age. Being female was associated with higher Instagram use. Significant problematic use was found to be associated with younger age but was not dependent on gender. Higher levels of resilience and optimism were related to a lower level of problematic SNS use. SNS use during lockdown needs to be studied in order to understand factors that may protect against undesirable psychological consequences and support prevention programs.

Using Social Networking Sites During Lockdown: Risks and Benefits

BACKGROUND

Previous research about use of Social Networking Sites (SNS) use during the COVID-19 lockdown has examined benefits and risks of SNS use (i.e., support through SNS, problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19) without comparing them. This study has two objectives: (i) to evaluate which SNS uses (problematic SNS use and interaction about COVID-19 on SNS) predict increased emotional distress, and (ii) to analyse if social support and interaction about COVID-19 mediated the relationship between time spent on SNS and increased emotional distress.

METHOD

A total of 1,003 participants (75.5% women) over 18 years old took part (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32 years). Three hierarchical linear regressions were performed for the first objective and a path analysis was performed for the second.

RESULTS

Results showed that negative social comparison on SNS had the highest positive regression weight, followed by interaction about COVID-19 and addictive consequences. Also, an indirect effect of time spent on SNS on anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction through interaction about COVID-19 and support through SNS was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that comparative SNS use is the best predictor of emotional distress. The mediation model proposed was confirmed, highlighting the importance of assessing specific SNS uses.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index

BACKGROUND

Lymphedema is a common late and chronic adverse effect of breast cancer treatment. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the BCLE-SEI Spanish version with Spanish-speaking breast cancer patients.

METHOD

286 patients were recruited (2018 to 2020), from the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Data analysis included descriptive statistics; internal consistency and test-retest reliability; principal component analysis and exploratory factor analysis; average variance extracted; and receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

No semantic modifications to items were needed. The scores of the instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach´s alpha = .95-.97; McDonald´s omega = .96-.98) and test-retest reliability (r = .78-.87, n = 29). A significant difference was observed between the lymphedema group and non-lymphedema group (p < .001) in terms of total scale, symptom occurrence (p < .001), symptom distress in the physical-functional (p < .001), and psychosocial dimension (p < .001). Principal component analysis for symptom occurrence revealed a unidimensional factor and two factors were identified for symptom distress via exploratory factor analysis, the two of which explained 45.71% and 54.77% of the total sample variance, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided initial evidence to support the psychometric properties of the BCLE-SEI Spanish version.

Problematic Social Network Use: Structure and Assessment

Using social networks (SNs) inappropriately can lead to psychological problems. The objective of this study was to develop a new measuring instrument of problematic use of SNs. The sample comprised 1003 participants over 18 years old (M = 42.33; SD = 14.32). Exploratory factor analysis was performed with a randomly selected 30% of the sample, and confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 70%. The reliability of the instrument was estimated, and evidence of validity in relation to the variables-anxiety, depression and satisfaction with life-was obtained. The new scale demonstrated a two-dimensional structure (GFI =0.99; RMSEA= 0.06), with one factor of negative social comparison (α = 0.94) and another of addictive consequences (α = 0.91). Clear evidence of validity related to other variables was found. The new scale demonstrated good psychometric properties. The advantage of this questionnaire is that it assesses not only excessive use but also social comparison through SNs.

Resiliencia académica: la influencia del esfuerzo, las expectativas y el autoconcepto académico

Introducción: La resiliencia académica consiste en obtener altas calificaciones a pesar de hallarse en una desventaja socioeconómica. En el presente estudio se observó si el esfuerzo, las expectativas y el autoconcepto académicos forman parte de la resiliencia académica o estarían explicando un buen rendimiento académico en general. Método: Los participantes, una población de 7479 adolescentes españoles (M = 13.87; DT = 0.82), fueron divididos en cuatro grupos según el rendimiento académico (Bueno-Malo) y el nivel socioeconómico (Clase alta-Clase baja). Se realizaron análisis de diferencias y regresiones logísticas binarias para detectar cuál de las variables empleadas explicaba el rendimiento académico en los grupos de igual nivel socioeconómico. También se estudió si el sexo influía en la pertenencia a los grupos de buen rendimiento. Resultados: Se observaron diferencias en el esfuerzo, las expectativas y el autoconcepto académicos en función de los cuatro grupos creados; los grupos de buen rendimiento académico obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas independientemente del nivel socioeconómico. Se observó que las expectativas y el autoconcepto académicos explicaban gran parte del rendimiento académico. Se detectó una tasa de mujeres significativamente más alta con relación a la de hombres en los grupos de mayor rendimiento. Conclusiones: Muchas variables, que se han considerado propias de los alumnos académicamente resilientes, explican un buen rendimiento académico, en general, independientemente del nivel socioeconómico.

Grit Assessment: Is One Dimension Enough?

Grit is one of the non-cognitive variables that has received the most attention in recent years given its relationship to and influence in various aspects of life. There are very few reliable, valid instruments to evaluate it in Spanish-speaking countries. Because of that, the aim of this study is the development and validation of a new scale to evaluate grit in Spanish-speaking contexts. We used a sample of 531 Spanish participants (60% women) from the general population (M_years = 38.60, SD_years = 14.90). We examined the structure and measurement invariance of the instrument. We calculated the instrument's reliability and obtained evidence of validity in relation to other variables. We examined the differences in grit as a function of gender and age. The factorial analyses confirmed the unidimensionality of the instrument, along with the measurement invariance of the scores with respect to sex and age. The new grit scale demonstrated excellent reliability (α = .94; ω = .94). We found clear evidence of validity in relation to other variables; the Grit short scale (r = .691), self-control (r = .595), self-efficacy (r = .703), and conscientiousness (r = .661). The new scale for evaluating grit (Oviedo Grit Scale) is essentially unidimensional, and scores produced by it exhibit excellent indicators of reliability and validity.

Assessment of the Enterprising Personality: A Short Form of The BEPE Battery

BACKGROUND

Enterprising personality is related to business creation and success. The objective of this study was the development and psychometric analysis of a reduced version of the BEPE Battery for the Evaluation of Enterprising Personality.

METHOD

We used a sample of 1,170 people, 60% women, with a mean age of 42.34 years (SD = 12.96). We carried out psychometric analyses within the frameworks of Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory models.

RESULTS

The short version (BEPE-16) consists of 16 items, demonstrating an essentially unidimensional structure. The reliability was excellent (α= .94; Ω= .94) and evidence of validity was found in relation to various variables: Measure Of Entrepreneurial Talents And Abilities (META test) (r=.71), extraversion (r=.57), conscientiousness (r=.50), neuroticism (r=-.54). The correlation between scores from the BEPE-16 and the original version was very high (r=.95).

CONCLUSIONS

The BEPE-16 reduced version for the evaluation of enterprising personality demonstrated good psychometric properties, both in terms of reliability and validity. As such, it can be used in place of the original when the professional or research circumstances require it.

Humor as a protective factor against anxiety and depression

Background/Objectives

Even though humor its part of everyday life, only in the last 40 years has Psychology begun to discern its impact on mental health. The aim of this paper is to explore the role that humor styles may have as protectors against anxiety and depression and their relationship with optimism.

Method

A sample of 804 participants (M = 39.28; SD = 14.71) was used to analyze the uses of humor, optimism and clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, the influence of sociodemographic variables such as sex, geographic location, age and educational level on different uses of humor was studied. Through an analysis of structural equations, the variables that had a protective or facilitating role in depression and anxiety were analyzed.

Results

Men and women differ in the use of a more aggressive humor style, and the use of affiliative humor styles decreases with age. The structural equation model indicated a good fit to the proposed theoretical model.

Conclusions

Humor is a tool of everyday life and it can act for or against an individual’s mental health.