Adaptação e sucesso acadêmico em estudantes brasileiros do primeiro ano da educação superior

A compreensão das variáveis que influenciam a adaptação e sucesso dos estudantes da educação superior é fundamental para definição de ações institucionais que favoreçam o sucesso e a permanência acadêmica, em especial dos estudantes de primeiro ano. Neste estudo, analisamos como o coeficiente de rendimento escolar de 715 estudantes do primeiro ano da Educação Superior do Instituto Federal da Paraíba, Brasil, está influenciado por variáveis pessoais, sociais, de adaptação acadêmica, de envolvimento em atividades obrigatórias e em não-obrigatórias dos estudantes. A par das classificações escolares dos estudantes no final do primeiro e do segundo semestre, convertidas no rendimento escolar, e das suas características sociodemográficas, foram aplicadas três escalas ao longo do primeiro ano: escala de satisfação com suporte social, questionário de adaptação ao ensino superior, e escala de envolvimento acadêmico. Os resultados da análise de regressão sugerem que as variáveis quantidade de horas semanais de estudo, sexo, envolvimento do estudante em atividades não-obrigatórias e se trabalha não contribuem de forma estatisticamente significativa para explicar a variância no coeficiente de rendimento dos estudantes. Por outro lado, o fator geral de suporte social, o projeto de carreira, a localização do campus, o envolvimento em atividades obrigatórias e o número de faltas ao longo do ano letivo apresentam um efeito estatisticamente significativo, estando associadas aos níveis de rendimento acadêmico dos estudantes no final do primeiro ano, com variância total explicado do rendimento escolar de 42.6 %.

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Its structure and measurement invariance across 48 countries

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Country-level correlates of the Dark Triad traits in 49 countries

OBJECTIVES

The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture individual differences in aversive personality to complement work on other taxonomies, such as the Big Five traits. However, the literature on the Dark Triad traits relies mostly on samples from English-speaking (i.e., Westernized) countries. We broadened the scope of this literature by sampling from a wider array of countries.

METHOD

We drew on data from 49 countries (N = 11,723; 65.8% female; Age_Mean  = 21.53) to examine how an extensive net of country-level variables in economic status (e.g., Human Development Index), social relations (e.g., gender equality), political orientations (e.g., democracy), and cultural values (e.g., embeddedness) relate to country-level rates of the Dark Triad traits, as well as variance in the magnitude of sex differences in them.

RESULTS

Narcissism was especially sensitive to country-level variables. Countries with more embedded and hierarchical cultural systems were more narcissistic. Also, sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed societies: Women were less likely to be narcissistic in developed (vs. less developed) countries.

CONCLUSIONS

We discuss the results based on evolutionary and social role models of personality and sex differences. That higher country-level narcissism was more common in less developed countries, whereas sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed countries, is more consistent with evolutionary than social role models.

Honor Scale in Romania: Psychometric Parameters and Associations to Human Values

Honor is an important psychological construct that refers to one's worth in one's own eyes and in the eyes of others. A person's honor is dependent on implicit personal meaning, which leads the individual to behave in a way worthy of being valued and socially appreciated. In the present research, we aimed to provide psychometric evidence for the short version of the Honor Scale in the Romanian context. For that, one study was performed (N = 444). The four-dimensional structure of the measure was supported through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and showed good reliability estimates. The measure also presented full factorial invariance across participants' gender, showing that these groups answer to the measure in a similar way and can be further compared in research. Finally, results indicated significant associations between the Honor Scale factors with human values and age. In sum, our findings suggest that the short version of the Honor Scale is psychometrically adequate to use in Romania.

Structure of Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Across Eight World Regions

The Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) has garnered intense attention over the past 15 years. We examined the structure of these traits' measure-the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen (DTDD)-in a sample of 11,488 participants from three W.E.I.R.D. (i.e., North America, Oceania, Western Europe) and five non-W.E.I.R.D. (i.e., Asia, Middle East, non-Western Europe, South America, sub-Saharan Africa) world regions. The results confirmed the measurement invariance of the DTDD across participants' sex in all world regions, with men scoring higher than women on all traits (except for psychopathy in Asia, where the difference was not significant). We found evidence for metric (and partial scalar) measurement invariance within and between W.E.I.R.D. and non-W.E.I.R.D. world regions. The results generally support the structure of the DTDD.

Need for Affect and Attitudes Toward Drugs: The Mediating Role of Values

Human values and affective traits were found to predict attitudes toward the use of different types of drugs (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, and other illegal drugs). In this study (N = 196, M_age = 23.09), we aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of those predictors of attitudes toward drug use in a mediated structural equation model, providing a better overview of a possible motivational path that drives to such a risky behavior. Specifically, we predicted and found that the relations between need for affect and attitudes toward drug use were mediated by excitement values. Also, results showed that excitement values and need for affect positively predicted attitudes toward the use of drugs, whereas normative values predicted it negatively. The pattern of results remained the same when we investigated attitudes toward alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs separately. Overall, the findings indicate that emotions operate via excitement and normative values to influence risk behavior.

Basic Values and the Dark Triad Traits

Abstract. In samples from America, Brazil, and Hungary (N = 937), we examined the associations between the Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and individual differences in excitement (i.e., valuing personal enjoyment), promotion (i.e., valuing achievements), existence (i.e., valuing physical survival), suprapersonal (i.e., valuing abstract ideas), interactive (i.e., valuing social relationships), and normative (i.e., valuing cultural norms) values. The traits were associated with the values of excitement and promotion, psychopathy was associated with a diminished emphasis on existence, psychopathy and Machiavellianism were associated with limited interactive or normative values, whereas narcissism was associated with a greater emphasis on suprapersonal, interactive, and normative values. We also found that sex differences in psychopathy were mediated by individual differences in the existence and normative values. Results are discussed from a life history framework.

Cross-Cultural Differences and Similarities in Human Value Instantiation

Previous research found that the within-country variability of human values (e.g., equality and helpfulness) clearly outweighs between-country variability. Across three countries (Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom), the present research tested in student samples whether between-nation differences reside more in the behaviors used to concretely instantiate (i.e., exemplify or understand) values than in their importance as abstract ideals. In Study 1 (N = 630), we found several meaningful between-country differences in the behaviors that were used to concretely instantiate values, alongside high within-country variability. In Study 2 (N = 677), we found that participants were able to match instantiations back to the values from which they were derived, even if the behavior instantiations were spontaneously produced only by participants from another country or were created by us. Together, these results support the hypothesis that people in different nations can differ in the behaviors that are seen as typical as instantiations of values, while holding similar ideas about the abstract meaning of the values and their importance.

Escala de Necessidade de Pertença: Evidências de Qualidade Psicométrica

Resumo A necessidade de pertença representa uma motivação do ser humano para estabelecer relacionamentos intensos e duradouros, sendo isso um importante aspecto para a manutenção do bem-estar e saúde mental destes. Considerando a relevância desse construto, busca-se validar a escala de Necessidade de Pertença (ENP) para o contexto brasileiro em três estudos (N = 642). O primeiro e segundo estudos objetivaram apresentar a estrutura fatorial da presente medida por meio de análise fatorial exploratória e confirmatória, os quais confirmaram a solução unifatorial esperada (CFI = 0,96) com a eliminação de três itens da versão original. Já o terceiro estudo buscou apresentar evidências de validade convergente da ENP, tendo confirmado a significativa associação desse construto com medidas de natureza similar (e.g., solidão emocional). Conclui-se que os objetivos foram alcançados e que a medida apresenta-se psicometricamente adequada para uso no Brasil.

Formação em Avaliação Psicológica: Situação, Desafios e Diretrizes

Resumo: Este artigo teve como objetivo conhecer a formação em Avaliação Psicológica no Brasil, considerando pesquisas com estudantes, professores e profissionais, identificando desafios, avanços e diretrizes. A diversidade da área é o aspecto mais evidente, variando nomes de disciplinas, cargas horárias e conteúdos de um curso a outro, inclusive dentro de um mesmo Estado. Embora se suponha competência do psicólogo, seus conhecimentos e suas atitudes não diferem tanto daqueles dos estudantes, e muitos não conhecem dispositivos legais que regulamentam a prática da Avaliação Psicológica. São identificados entraves para a formação (por exemplo, natureza da área, dificuldade na relação professor-aluno), mas também propostas de diretrizes para formação nesta área. Concluiu-se que é necessário diferenciar níveis de formação ou, decidindo-se por uma generalista, focar em conteúdos mínimos, priorizando documentos que regulamentam a prática profissional.

Questionário de Necessidade de Emoções (NAQ-S): Validade de Construto, Invariância e Fidedignidade

Resumo Dois estudos (N = 457) examinaram as propriedades psicométricas da versão reduzida do Questionário de Necessidade de Emoções (Need for Affect Questionnaire: NAQ-S) no contexto brasileiro. No primeiro estudo, uma análise de componentes principais indicou uma estrutura bifatorial, com cinco itens cada: aproximação (α = 0,70) e evitação (α = 0,75). Confirmou-se essa estrutura no segundo estudo (GFI = 0,92; CFI = 0,90), mostrando-se invariante quanto ao sexo. Para verificar os correlatos do NAQ-S, utilizou-se, nos dois estudos, medidas que visam avaliar os valores humanos, a solidão e a necessidade de pertença, além dos cinco fatores da personalidade no segundo estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que uma maior necessidade de emoção foi associada com maior extroversão, maiores escores em valores de experimentação e interativos, e escores mais baixos de solidão. Os estudos apresentam suporte de validade do NAQ-S no Brasil, mostrando sua utilidade para fins de pesquisa.

The Dark Triad Traits from a Life History Perspective in Six Countries

Work on the Dark Triad traits has benefited from the use of a life history framework but it has been limited to primarily Western samples and indirect assessments of life history strategies. Here, we examine how the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) relate to two measures of individual differences in life history strategies. In Study 1 (N = 937), we replicated prior observed links between life history strategies, as measured by the Mini-K, and the Dark Triad traits using samples recruited from three countries. In Study 2 (N = 1032), we measured life history strategies using the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale and correlated it with the Dark Triad traits in samples recruited from three additional countries. While there was some variability across participants’ sex and country, the results were generally consistent in that psychopathy and (to a lesser extent) Machiavellianism were related to faster life history strategies and narcissism was related to slower life history strategies. These results add cross-cultural data and the use of two measures of life history speed to understand the Dark Triad traits from a life history perspective.

Values and their Relationship to Environmental Concern and Conservation Behavior

Recent research has examined the relationship between values and attitudes about environmental issues. Findings from these studies have found values of self-transcendence (positively) and self-enhancement (negatively) to predict general concern for environmental problems. Other recent findings have differentiated between environmental attitudes based on concern for self (egoistic), concern for other people (social-altruistic), and concern for plants and animals (biospheric).This article reports the results from a study of the relationship between values and environmental attitudes in six countries: Brazil, Czech Republic, Germany, India, New Zealand, and Russia. Results show strong support for the cross-cultural generalizability of the relationship between values and attitudes and on the structure of environmental concern. In addition, analyses of the relationship between values and environmental behavior show evidence for norm activation only for self-transcendence; results for self-enhancement show a consistently negative relationship.

“Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up for Your Rights!” The Jamaicanization of Youth Across 11 Countries Through Reggae Music?

We investigated whether Reggae preferences are associated with similar values across cultures compared with its culture of origin—Jamaica. Remote acculturation predicts that Reggae listeners across countries will share similar cultural values with Reggae listeners in Jamaica regardless of their cultural or geographical distance from the Caribbean island. We analyzed the correlations between preferences for Reggae music and Schwartz’s 10 value types in university student samples from Jamaica and 11 other societies in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia (total N = 2,561). In Jamaica, preferences for Reggae music were most strongly correlated with openness to change values and self-enhancement values. Across the other cultures, openness to change was the value dimension most strongly correlated with Reggae preference. Results also indicate some variations in Reggae’s value associations and its similarity to the culture of origin. Reggae’s value associations were more similar to Jamaica’s in samples that are closer culturally in terms of Individualism/Collectivism scores, and closer geographically in terms of kilometers. In sum, results provide some support for remote value acculturation via Reggae listening across countries (i.e., “Jamaicanization”) moderated by cultural and geographical proximity.

Valores, Atitudes e Uso de Bebidas Alcoólicas: Proposta de um Modelo Hierárquico

O presente artigo objetivou conhecer a base axiológica das atitudes frente o uso de álcool, testando o modelo hierárquico valores→atitudes→comportamento. Contou-se com a participação de 149 estudantes de duas IES da cidade de Parnaíba (PI), com idade média de 22,8 anos e maioria homens (57,4%) que responderam oQuestionário dos Valores Básicos, a Escala de Atitudes Frente o Uso de Álcool e perguntas sobre dados demográficos. Os resultados indicam que valores de experimentação se correlacionam positivamente com atitudes favoráveis ao consumo de álcool, ao passo que valores normativos o fizeram negativamente. Confirmou-se, ainda, o papel mediador das atitudes. Esta pesquisa buscou dar suporte ao modelo hierárquico supracitado, favorecendo o entendimento do uso de bebidas alcóolicas e delineamento de políticas públicas para combater o padrão disfuncional de consumo.

Patterns of Value Change During the Life Span

Little research has examined mean-level change in values across the life span. Using large cross-sectional data ( N = 36,845) from the five geo-social regions in Brazil, this study examines how mean levels of basic values differ as a function of age (from age 12 to 65; M = 28) and whether age effects are moderated by gender. Results show that mean-level value change is substantial throughout the life course. We observed both linear and curvilinear patterns of change as well as differential patterns by gender. The observed value change is consistent with age-related life circumstances and psychosocial development. Age effects are also value dependent, supporting the notion that values have different functions for different developmental stages.

Differential Effects of Right–Wing Authoritarianism and Social Dominance Orientation on Dimensions of Generalized Prejudice in Brazil

Previous research within a dual–process cognitive–motivational theory of ideology and prejudice has indicated that dimensions of generalized prejudice are structured around attitudes towards dangerous, derogated and dissident groups, and that these prejudice dimensions are differentially predicted by the ideological attitudes of Right–Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Social Dominance Orientation (SDO). However, to date, these findings have been restricted to New Zealand samples. We describe two studies examining whether the structure of prejudiced attitudes and the differential prediction by RWA and SDO replicate in the Brazilian context, incorporating context–relevant examples of each group—politicians, those from the northeast region of Brazil, and environmentalists. Results broadly supported the three–factor structure of dangerous, derogated, and dissident groups. Consistent with previous research, regression and structural equation analyses showed that RWA explained prejudice against dangerous groups, SDO explained prejudice against derogated groups, and both RWA and SDO explained prejudice against dissident groups. This research provides some evidence for the generalizability of the three–dimensional structure of generalized prejudice and differential prediction by RWA and SDO. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology

Escala de Procrastinação Ativa: evidências de validade fatorial e consistência interna

Este estudo objetivou adaptar para o contexto brasileiro a Escala de Procrastinação Ativa (EPA), reunindo evidências de validade e precisão. Participaram 216 universitários, com idade média de 25,9 anos (DP=8,40). Estes responderam a EPA e perguntas demográficas. Os resultados de análises fatoriais confirmatórias, comparando diferentes modelos, permitiram comprovar como mais adequada a estrutura com quatro fatores: preferência por pressão (α=0,72), habilidade em cumprir prazos (α=0,72), satisfação com os resultados (α =0,66) e decisão intencional (α=0,61), que apresentou indicadores de ajuste aceitαveis (GFI=0,91 e RMSEA=0,06). Tais fatores apresentaram evidências de validade convergente, porém dois deles não se diferenciaram satisfatoriamente. Concluiu-se que estes achados apoiam a adequação psicométrica deste instrumento, que apresenta evidências de validade e precisão.

Brazilian-Portuguese Empathy Quotient: Evidences of its Construct Validity and Reliability

Empathy is the ability to read other's mind and understand their intentions. This paper examines the psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of a short form of the empathy quotient (EQ, 15 items). The EQ-15 was administered to 237 participants from the general population from João Pessoa, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the tripartite model with cognitive, emotional and social empathy factors. In line with other studies, gender differences were only observed for the first two factors, with female participants scoring higher on both, which suggests that the social factor might not constitute a truly dimension of empathy. Strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity was only observed for the cognitive factor. The poor psychometric parameters of the emotional and social factors are argued to reflect the complexity and contrasting ideas of their items. The possibility of elaborating specific items for the emotional and social factors is also discussed.

Preocupação com a honra no Nordeste brasileiro: correlatos demográficos

Esta pesquisa pretendeu conhecer os correlatos demográficos da preocupação com a honra, considerando três grupos religiosos (católicos, batistas e espíritas) em duas cidades do Nordeste brasileiro (João Pessoa e Recife). Dois estudos foram realizados. No Estudo 1, participaram 312 pessoas, contatadas em igrejas e templos, que apresentaram média de idade de 32 anos (dp = 15,28), sendo a maioria mulheres (63%). No Estudo 2, participaram 178 pessoas da população geral, a maioria mulheres (69%), com média de idade de 32 anos (dp = 10,51). Os participantes responderam à Escala de Preocupação com a Honra e questões demográficas. Os resultados indicaram que a honra social e familiar foram consideradas mais importantes. Os principais correlatos da preocupação com a honra em ambos os estudos foram a idade e a religião dos participantes. A importância da religião na preocupação com a honra é discutida, assim como limitações e propostas para pesquisas futuras.

[General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12): the effect of negative items in its factorial structure]

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) detects non severe psychiatric illnesses. Although commonly treated as a general index, the definition of its factorial structure is cause for debate. This study aimed to test this structure comparing three models: two frequently cited in the literature (one- and bi- factorial) and a third, also one-factor, which controls response bias due to the negative wording of items. A total of 1,180 people participated (300 undergraduates, 311 military policemen, 274 elementary school teachers and 295 members of the general population) answering the GHQ-12 and demographic questions. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-factor structure, controlling by the wording effect, gathered the best fit indexes, except among the military. This structure showed greater than 0.80 reliability in all groups. It was concluded that the one-factor model of the GHQ-12 is more appropriate, however, future studies are required with people with different occupations and levels of mental health.

Sexual Liberalism-Conservatism: the effect of human values, gender, and previous sexual experience

Despite theoretical associations, there is a lack of empirical studies on the axiological basis of sexual liberalism-conservatism. Two studies demonstrated important associations between these constructs for young adults. In Study 1, participants were 353 undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.13 (SD = 1.84), who completed the Sexual Liberalism-Conservatism Scale and the Basic Values Survey. In Study 2, participants were 269 undergraduate students, with a mean age of 20.3 (SD = 1.82), who completed a social desirability scale in addition to Study 1 instruments. Results showed how values can predict sexual liberalism-conservatism after controlling for social desirability. Attitudes towards one's own sexual behavior were more conservative whereas attitudes towards other's sexual behavior were more liberal. Gender was not a significant predictor of sexual attitudes whereas previous sexual experience showed a significant association to this construct. In general, results corroborated previous findings, showing that participants with a tendency to present socially desirable answers also tended to present themselves as sexually conservative.

Index of health development: conceptualization and reflections on its need

This article aimed to review the concept of social indices by focusing on their practical use and need in the health setting. For this purpose, the initial consideration was how these indices are defined, their possible use, and the importance they have as a means of depicting the real world. Thus, a wide concept of health, consistent with the current view, was adopted. Health was further described within international and national settings, emphasizing indicators that can be employed to estimate health problems in the population were highlighted. Finally, as no specific social index describing health in a Brazilian setting has been developed, the need to rely on the Health Development Index was indicated. This index will serve as a tool for managers, inspection agents, and the general population to follow-up the developments reached and the shortcomings that should be addressed to ensure a better health status for the majority of the population.

Escala de Vitalidade Subjetiva - EVS: evidências de sua adequação psicométrica

Esta pesquisa objetivou reunir evidências psicométricas de adequação da Escala de Vitalidade Subjetiva (EVS), realizando-se três estudos. No Estudo 1 200 estudantes universitários responderam a EVS. O instrumento mostrou uma estrutura fatorial unidimensional (α = 0,73). No Estudo 2 participaram outros 200 estudantes universitários que responderam o mesmo questionário. Uma análise fatorial confirmatória (AFC) corroborou esta estrutura, embora o item 2 tenha sido pouco adequado. Assim, realizou-se nova AFC excluindo-o. Os resultados foram melhores do que quando considerados todos os itens (α = 0,75). O Estudo 3 replicou estes resultados com 200 professores do ensino fundamental, testando também a validade convergente da EVS com a satisfação com a vida. Concluiu-se que este instrumento reúne evidências psicométricas que apóiam seu uso.

Female gender but not season of birth is associated with mood seasonality in a near-equatorial Brazilian city

OBJECTIVE: Studies conducted mainly in countries located in the Northern Hemisphere have shown that season of birth influences mood seasonality. Greater mood seasonality has been observed for individuals born during spring/summer months than those born during autumn/winter months. Expanding past research to the Southern Hemisphere, in this study we examine the influence of season of birth on mood seasonality in a sample of 1,247 healthy young Brazilians. METHOD: The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire was used to compute a global seasonality score as a measure of mood seasonality in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance was conducted to examine the effects of month of birth and gender on mood seasonality, with age entered as a covariate. A main effect of gender was observed, F (1, 1197) = 17.86, p < .01; partial Eta-squared = .02, with mood seasonality being higher for females (M = 8) than for males (M = 7). Contradicting previous findings, no significant main effect for month of birth was observed, F (1, 1197) = 0.65, p > .05. CONCLUSION: The unexpected finding is tentatively explained by differences in geographic location and weather fluctuations between the sampling location in Brazil and other countries where season of birth has been found to influence mood seasonality. Additional studies with larger samples from the Southern Hemisphere are necessary to shed additional light on the possible significant influence of season of birth on mood.

Does Social Context Affect Value Structures? Testing the Within-Country Stability of Value Structures With a Functional Theory of Values

Previous research showed that the stability of value structures across cultures is influenced by both sample fluctuations and social context. This study tests the within-country stability of value structures in a large sample of physicians ( N = 13,414) across all states in Brazil. The authors use a new value instrument that differentiates values according to their theoretical functions (type of orientation: personal versus social; type of motivation: materialistic versus humanitarian). Although the proposed structure of the value functions was relatively robust, systematic fluctuations in structure emerged. In line with previous research, the authors found strong effects of sampling fluctuations as well as socioeconomic development indices on the stability overall. Examining the differential effect of various social indicators, social living conditions were found to mediate the effect of socioeconomic indicators on value stability along the first dimension contrasting personal versus social value orientations. The second dimension differentiating materialistic versus humanitarian values is less stable. Implications for value theory and research, in particular for cross- and intra-cultural research, are discussed.

Escala de atitude frente à fofoca: evidências de validade e confiabildade

A fofoca é um elemento comum nas conversas cotidianas tanto de adultos quanto de crianças, está presente em todas as culturas e explica diversos comportamentos sociais. Portanto, considerando a relevância desse construto e a ausência de medida específica no contexto brasileiro, decidiu-se adaptar a Escala de Atitudes frente à Fofoca (EAFF) para, especificamente, conhecer evidências de sua validade fatorial e de sua consistência interna. O instrumento é formado por 12 itens, respondidos em escala de 5 pontos, e mede dois fatores: valor moral e valor social da fofoca. Participaram da pesquisa 261 estudantes universitários de instituições públicas e privadas de João Pessoa (PB), com idade média de 26 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (71,6%). Por meio de análises fatoriais confirmatórias, foram testados dois modelos: (1) unifatorial (alternativo) e (2) bifatorial (modelo original). Os resultados mostraram que o modelo bifatorial apresentou os melhores indicadores de ajuste, com índices de confiabilidade (Alfa de Cronbach) aceitáveis para fins de pesquisa.

Valores, metas de realização e desempenho acadêmico: proposta de modelo explicativo

Este estudo objetivou conhecer em que medida os valores explicam as metas de realização e estas, por sua vez, predizem o bom desempenho acadêmico. Participaram 307 estudantes do Ensino Médio da cidade de João Pessoa (PB), sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (61,2%) e de escolas públicas (68%), com idade média de 17,6 anos. Estes responderam ao Questionário de Metas de Realização, ao Questionário dos Valores Básicos, aos Indicadores de Desempenho Acadêmico e a perguntas demográficas. A partir da realização de regressões lineares, propôs-se um modelo explicativo no qual as prioridades valorativas predisseram as metas de realização e estas, por sua vez, predisseram o desempenho acadêmico. Os resultados obtidos apontam para um ajuste satisfatório deste modelo. Não obstante, sugere-se a realização de pesquisas que possam testá-lo em diferentes amostras, bem como inserir outras variáveis que possam contribuir para o melhor entendimento do desempenho acadêmico e seus determinantes.

Correlatos valorativos de atitudes frente à tatuagem

Este estudo objetivou conhecer em que medida os valores explicam as atitudes frente à tatuagem e estas, por sua vez, predizem a intenção de tatuar-se. Participaram 263 estudantes universitários de João Pessoa, com idade média de 20,7 anos, a maioria homem (54,7%) e solteira (91%). Estes responderam a Escala de Atitudes frente à Tatuagem, o Questionário dos Valores Básicos e perguntas demográficas (idade, sexo, religiosidade). Os resultados indicaram atitudes dos participantes mais negativas frente à tatuagem, sobretudo aqueles de ciências exatas e naturais. Comprovou-se a adequação de um modelo triádico, onde os valores predisseram as atitudes frente à tatuagem e, estas, a intenção de tatuar-se. Especificamente, a subfunção normativa promoveu atitudes negativas frente à tatuagem, enquanto a subfunção experimentação favoreceu aquelas mais positivas. Conclui-se que as atitudes frente à tatuagem têm base valorativa, explicando a intenção de tatuar-se. Sugeriram-se pesquisas futuras que contribuam para explicar as atitudes frente à tatuagem.

Validade fatorial confirmatória e consistência interna da Escala Global de Crenças no Mundo Justo – GJWS

A crença no mundo justo é um construto fundamental para a justiça desde uma perspectiva psicossocial. No entanto, poucos pesquisadores na psicologia brasileira têm se interessado no tema. Com o fim de contribuir com esta área, buscou-se conhecer a validade e precisão da Escala Global de Crenças no Mundo Justo (GJWS), verificando a importância do sexo, idade, curso, período, nível de religiosidade, estado civil e renda percebida para explicar sua variabilidade. Esta medida apresentou originalmente qualidades psicométricas satisfatórias, além de ser de fácil e rápida aplicação. Um total de 254 estudantes de uma universidade particular, da cidade de Aracaju (Sergipe), com média de idade de 21,8 anos (dp = 6,34), sendo a maioria mulher, solteira, de classe média, dos cursos de Direito e Psicologia, respondeu a GJWS – uma medida breve e unifatorial. Esta se compõe de sete itens destinados a aferir crenças no mundo justo, sendo respondidos numa escala do tipo Likert, de 6 pontos, que variam de 1 = Discordo totalmente a 6 = Concordo totalmente. Os principais resultados mostram que a GJWS é uma medida válida e precisa, portanto, pode ser utilizada em estudos sobre o tema. Não se verificou importância de variáveis demográficas para explicar suas pontuações. Por fim, apontam-se as limitações do presente estudo, indicando-se direções de pesquisas futuras.   Palavras-chave: validade; precisão; crença no mundo justo; justiça.

Factorial validity and reliability of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in the Brazilian physician population

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is a widely used screening instrument. One- and two-factor structures have been identified in some countries. In Brazil, the best factor structure is still unclear. This study aimed at knowing its factorial validity and reliability, and testing the one-factor and two-factor models. The participants were 7,512 Brazilian physicians. They answered the GHQ-12 and demographic questions. Unrotated (one-factor) and rotated (two-factor) structures of the GHQ-12 were extracted by principal component analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses (ML) were used to compare the one- and two-factor solutions. The two-factor model fitted the data better than the one-factor one. Those two factors were depression and social dysfunction, and they showed themselves to be directly correlated to one another. They also showed adequate reliability coefficients. The two-factor model is remarkably adequate, showing better fit indices, although it is acceptable to admit a common factor, which could be defined as psychological distress.