Search

The presence of a significant number of people who do not intend to be vaccinated could negatively impact efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study sought to determine the prevalence of intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and associated sociodemographic and psychosocial factors in thirteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). A total of 5510 people from 13 LAC countries participated. Frequencies, percentages, bivariate analyses using chi-square tests, and Poisson regression analysis with robust variance were used. The countries with the highest prevalence of intention to be vaccinated were Brazil (96.94%), Cuba (89.59%), Chile (84.59%), and Mexico (78.33%). On the other hand, the countries with the lowest prevalence were El Salvador (54.01%), Paraguay (55.87%), and Uruguay (56.40%). Prevalence is also reported according to some sociodemographic and health variables. It was found that country, male sex, hours exposed to information about COVID-19, university education, living in an urban area, belief in the animal origin of the virus, perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19, perceived severity of COVID-19, and concern about infecting others significantly predicted intention to be vaccinated in the 13 LAC countries. While most countries had a high prevalence of intention to be vaccinated, there are still subgroups that have levels of intention that may be insufficient to predict the presence of community immunity. In this sense, knowing the estimates of vaccination intention rates, as well as the associated sociodemographic and psychological factors, can be used to plan actions and interventions that will inform about the safety and benefits of vaccines, as well as strengthen trust in health authorities.

The aim was to test the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL-SF in a sample of people from seven Latin American countries. Additionally, the characteristics of the PIL-SF items were evaluated and to assess the relationship between purpose in life, as measured by the PIL-SF, and fear of COVID-19. A total of 4306 people from seven Latin American countries participated in the study. The results indicated that the PIL-SF is invariant in the seven participating countries and, therefore, there is evidence that the items reflect the purpose of life in the same way in all countries. This allows comparisons of purpose in life between countries that are free of bias, reflecting the true differences in how countries respond to items. From IRT, the discrimination parameters are adequate and indicate that the items cover a wide range of the purpose in life construct. The difficulty parameters are adequate and increase monotonically. This indicates that people would need a higher level of purpose in life to respond to the higher response categories. Thus, the PIL-SF items would be useful in determining people with a relatively high degree of purpose in life. Identifying people with different levels of purpose in life would allow them to be part of intervention programs, either to support those with low levels or to maintain and reinforce their purpose in life. The evidence of cross-country measurement invariance of the PIL-SF provides a measure to be used in cross-cultural studies about the meaning of life.

The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) was recently developed to assess dysfunctional anxiety related to COVID-19. Although different studies reported that the CAS is psychometrically sound, it is unclear whether it is invariant across countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS in twelve Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5196 people participated, with a mean age of 34.06 (SD = 26.54). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the measurement invariance of the CAS across countries and gender. Additionally, the graded response model (GRM) was used to provide a global representation of the representativeness of the scale with respect to the COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety construct. The unidimensional structure of the five-item CAS was not confirmed in all countries. Therefore, it was suggested that a four-item model of the CAS (CAS-4) provides a better fit across the twelve countries and reliable scores. Multigroup CFA showed that the CAS-4 exhibits scalar invariance across all twelve countries and all genders. In addition, the CAS-4 items are more informative at average and high levels of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety than at lower levels. According to the results, the CAS-4 is an instrument with strong cross-cultural validity and is suitable for cross-cultural comparisons of COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety symptoms in the general population of the twelve Latin American countries evaluated.

Introduction and objectives: COVID-19 has generated negative consequences for people's mental health. This is the case of Peru, one of the Latin American countries most affected by the pandemic. In this sense, the objective of the study was to translate and validate the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) into Spanish. Material and method: The participants were 704 university students of health sciences (Mage = 23.39 years, SD = 3.45) who were administered the CAS in Spanish, the Mental Health Inventory-5 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item. The CAS was translated into Spanish using the forward and backward method. Reliability and evidence of validity based on internal structure and relationship with other variables were examined. Results: The factor analysis confirmed the one-dimensional factor structure of the CAS (χ2 = 7.62, df = 5, p = .18, χ2 / gl = 1.52, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .03 [90% CI. 00,. 06]; SRMR = .02, WRMR = .52); In addition, the factor loadings were large and significant (from. 68 to. 87). The five CAS items showed acceptable corrected total test item correlations (from. 64 to. 74). Reliability due to internal consistency was good (ω = .89; αordinal = .89). The validity evidence based on the relationship with other CAS variables was supported by the positive correlation with depression (r = .52, p < .01) and negative with subjective well-being (r = -.50, p < .01). Furthermore, depression mediates the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and subjective well-being (bootstrap value = -. 24, 95% CI = -. 28, -. 20). Conclusion: The Spanish version of the CAS has evidence of validity and reliability to measure anxiety by COVID-19 in a sample of Peruvian university students.

The Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale (SCBCS) is a brief measure of compassion, created in English and translated into Brazilian Portuguese. Nonetheless, to date, no study has assessed the psychometric evidence of its Spanish translation. This study examines the evidence of validity, reliability, and factorial invariance according to the gender of a Spanish version of the SCBCS. Participants included 273 Peruvian university students (50.9% women) with an average age of 21.23 years (SD = 3.24); divided into two groups of men and women to conduct the invariance factor analysis. Other measures of mindfulness, well-being, empathy, and anxiety were applied along with the SCBCS. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that a unifactorial model adjusted significantly to the data (χ2 = 12,127, df = 5, p =.033, χ2 /df = 2.42, CFI =.998, RMSEA =.072 [CI90%.019,.125]; SRMR =.030, WRMR =.551) and presented good reliability (α =.90 [95%.88–.92]; ω =.91). Moreover, correlations between the SCBCS and other measures of mindfulness (r =.53, p <.05, cognitive empathy (r = 55; p <.05), affective empathy (r =.56, p <.05), well-being (r =.55, p <.05), and anxiety (r = −.46; p <.05) supported the convergent and discriminant validity. Likewise, the multiple-group CFA supported the factorial invariance according to the gender of the SCBCS. Results indicate that the SCBCS possesses evidence of validity, reliability, and invariance between men and women for measuring compassion toward others in Peruvian undergraduate students. SCBCS is expected to be used by researchers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and others as a useful measure of compassion in college students.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado., The study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) in 214 police and members of the armed forces (M age = 29.33 years, SD = 11.28). The one-dimensionality and satisfactory reliability of OCS were confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis, Item Response Theory analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega. The scale is useful for identifying individuals with low levels of persistent and disturbing thoughts about COVID-19. COVID-19 obsession was associated with COVID-19 fear, anxiety, and depression. The OCS is suitable for investigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on members of the police and armed forces.

The aim of the study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), using Item Response Theory (IRT) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The participants were 790 Peruvians, selected through a convenience sampling, where the majority were women. The CFA models indicated that the one-dimensional structure better represents the data, is reliable and invariant between men and women. Likewise, IRT findings indicate that CAS is more informative for high levels of COVID-19 anxiety. The CAS in Spanish has adequate psychometric properties to be used as a short measure of COVID-19 anxiety.

Objetivo. Analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ) Método. Estudio instrumental en el que participaron 150 migrantes peruanos, varones y mujeres, residentes en Italia, cuyas edades oscilaban entre 18 a 56 años de edad, con una edad media de 34.6 (DE = 10.29). Resultados. Se obtuvieron evidencias de validez y de confiabilidad que apoyan su uso en esta muestra en específico. El análisis de correlación ítem-test encontró asociaciones altamente significativas (p < 0.001) para cada uno de los reactivos. La FSSQ presentó elevada consistencia interna (a de Cronbach = 0.82). El análisis factorial confirmatorio realizado reveló que la FSSQ presenta una estructura bifactorial. Conclusión. La FSSQ cuenta con propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para continuar estudios de validación, así como para implementarla en diversas líneas de trabajo, tanto teóricas como aplicadas., Escopo. Analisar as propriedades psicométricas da Functional Social Support Questionnarie (FSSQ). Metodologia. Estudo instrumental no que participaram 150 migrantes peruanos, varões e mulheres, residentes na Itália cuias idades oscilavam entre 18 a 56 anos de idade, com uma idade média de 34.6 (D.E. 10.29) Resultados. Foram obtidas evidencias de validez e confiabilidade que apoiam seu uso nesta mostra em específico. A análise de correlação ítem-test encontrou associações altamente significativas (p< 0.001) para cada um dos reativos. A FSSQ apresentou elevada consistência interna (a de Cronbach = 0.82). A análise fatorial confirmatório realizado revelou que a FSSQ apresenta uma estrutura bifatorial. Conclusão. A FSSQ conta com  propiedades psicométricas adequadas para continuar estudos de validação, assim como para ser implementada em diversas linhas de trabalho, tanto teóricas como aplicadas., Objective. To analyze the psychometric properties of the Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ). Method. Instrumental study which involved 150 Peruvian migrants, men and women, living in Italy whose ages ranged from 18 to 56 years with a mean age of 34.6 (D.E. 10.29) Results. validity and reliability evidence supporting its use in this specific sample was obtained. The correlation analysis item-test found highly significant associations (p < 0.001) for each of the reagents. The FSSQ has high internal consistency (Cronbach a = 0.815). The confirmatory factor analysis conducted reveals that FSSQ presents a two-factor structure. Conclusion. FSSQ has adequate validation studies to continue psychometric properties and to implement it in various lines of work, both theoretical and applied.

Objective. To analyze the psychometric properties of the Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ). Method. Instrumental study which involved 150 Peruvian migrants, men and women, living in Italy whose ages ranged from 18 to 56 years with a mean age of 34.6 (D.E. 10.29) Results. validity and reliability evidence supporting its use in this specific sample was obtained. The correlation analysis item-test found highly significant associations (p < 0.001) for each of the reagents. The FSSQ has high internal consistency (Cronbach a = 0.815). The confirmatory factor analysis conducted reveals that FSSQ presents a two-factor structure. Conclusion. FSSQ has adequate validation studies to continue psychometric properties and to implement it in various lines of work, both theoretical and applied., Escopo. Analisar as propriedades psicométricas da Functional Social Support Questionnarie (FSSQ). Metodologia. Estudo instrumental no que participaram 150 migrantes peruanos, varões e mulheres, residentes na Itália cuias idades oscilavam entre 18 a 56 anos de idade, com uma idade média de 34.6 (D.E. 10.29) Resultados. Foram obtidas evidencias de validez e confiabilidade que apoiam seu uso nesta mostra em específico. A análise de correlação ítem-test encontrou associações altamente significativas (p< 0.001) para cada um dos reativos. A FSSQ apresentou elevada consistência interna (a de Cronbach = 0.82). A análise fatorial confirmatório realizado revelou que a FSSQ apresenta uma estrutura bifatorial. Conclusão. A FSSQ conta com propiedades psicométricas adequadas para continuar estudos de validação, assim como para ser implementada em diversas linhas de trabalho, tanto teóricas como aplicadas., Objetivo. Analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ) Método. Estudio instrumental en el que participaron 150 migrantes peruanos, varones y mujeres, residentes en Italia, cuyas edades oscilaban entre 18 a 56 años de edad, con una edad media de 34.6 (DE = 10.29). Resultados. Se obtuvieron evidencias de validez y de confiabilidad que apoyan su uso en esta muestra en específico. El análisis de correlación ítem-test encontró asociaciones altamente significativas (p < 0.001) para cada uno de los reactivos. La FSSQ presentó elevada consistencia interna (a de Cronbach = 0.82). El análisis factorial confirmatorio realizado reveló que la FSSQ presenta una estructura bifactorial. Conclusión. La FSSQ cuenta con propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para continuar estudios de validación, así como para implementarla en diversas líneas de trabajo, tanto teóricas como aplicadas.