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Background and aimsSocial network use is widespread, and the study of Instagram seems to have captured more attention in recent years. However, scale development and validation in the field has fallen short of providing sound scales of Instagram motives and usage patterns that consider the uniqueness of Instagram-related behavior. This paper describes the development, psychometric and cross-cultural validation of two new measurement instruments: the “Instagram Motives Questionnaire” (IMQ) and the “Instagram Uses and Patterns Questionnaire” (IUPQ).Methods and resultsA preliminary set of items was developed for each questionnaire based on a previous qualitative interview study on Instagram motives, uses, and consequences. In the first study, the questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 312 participants aged 18–35 years (M = 23.81; SD = 4.49), and an exploratory factor analysis was performed. A parsimonious and interpretable 6-factor solution that displayed adequate factor loadings and adequate Omega coefficients for both instruments were found. In a second study, the two instruments and other measures of known social network usage correlates and mental health consequences were administered online to 1,418 English-speaking participants aged 18–34 years (M = 21.35; SD = 3.89). Both scales showed good psychometric properties and the factor structure identified in study 1 was reproduced through confirmatory factor analysis. Omega reliability coefficients were adequate. Finally, when performing multi-group CFA along with a French (n = 1,826) and a Spanish (n = 3,040) sample, language and gender invariance were supported. Correlations with other relevant measures indicate good convergent validity of both scales.ConclusionsThe present research provides psychometrically sound instruments for further investigations on Instagram use behaviors.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to compare the estimates of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) from 14 countries around the world, considering gender. The second objective was to explore the relationships between PIU and personality-related variables (pathological personality traits, defense mechanisms, coping strategies, and self-esteem). Materials and methods: Our total sample consisted of 7726 participants (30.8% male, n = 2378), aged between 18 and 86 years old (M = 25.55; SD = 9.8). Recruited online, they completed several scales about their Internet use, defense mechanisms and coping strategies, self-esteem, and pathological personality traits. Results: The PIU accounted for between 20.5% and 75% of participants using the PIUQ-9, while “self-perception” of PIU with a single item revealed estimates from 2% to 60.1%, with gender differences. Systematically, PIU significantly correlated with two variables: borderline personality traits (from .09 at P < .05 to .42 at P < .01) and immature defense mechanisms (from .13 to .42 at P < .01). Dependent, avoidant, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality traits were positive predictors of PIU and self-esteem, paranoid and schizoid personalities were negative predictors. Conclusions: This research highlights the many cross-cultural differences. Its design also allows for a better understanding of gender differences.

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).

This study examined (a) differences in estimates of Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) in adults across 14 countries worldwide and (b) whether personality and psychopathology variables predict PMPU. A sample of 7531 adults (69.6% women; mean age 25.7, SD = 9.9) completed an online survey about PMPU, defense mechanisms, coping strategies, self-esteem, pathological personality traits, and depressive symptoms. The overall mean PMPU score was 104.3 (range 27–270) and 28.1% of the participants self-reported PMPU. Women had significantly higher PMPU overall. Consistent predictors of increased PMPU in the overall sample were younger age, female gender, more hours spent on mobile phone, coping strategies, immature and autistic defenses, depression, and six personality disorders. Significant differences across countries were found in means, self-reported rates, and predictors of PMPU (hours spent, dependent personality, depression, and immature defense were common). Findings pave the way for evidence-based prevention and policy efforts at the public health level.

It is well known that bullying is a public health issue and that it has negative consequences for students who are involved in this dynamic phenomenon. Recent government reports have shown that a total of 39 315 reported cases of bullying incidents have been reported between 2013 and 2020 in Peru, where most of the cases were physical forms and occurred in public schools. Research has shown that teachers play a critical role in bullying incidents and may influence bullying situations through functional or non-functional strategies. However, research on elementary Peruvian teachers is scarce. Therefore, the present research aimed to explore elementary Peruvian teachers and their strategies for managing physical bullying situations in relation to victims and bystanders. Results showed that teacher strategies vary when approaching victims and bystanders. Implications for possible intervention and educational policies are discussed.

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.

A recent report noted that 93.4% of Peruvian citizens own a smartphone and that this has impacted positively in society for different purposes. Despite its advantages, scholars and practitioners have been investigating human-technology interaction, psychological processes, and their possible negative effects. Previous studies have investigated Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU) as a dysfunctional interaction concerning the excessive use of smartphone activities that results progressively in negative consequences such as lack of control, preoccupation, withdrawal, relapse, and conflict. Despite this emergent area of research, there is little research examining PMPU among young Peruvian adults. In addition to this, there are still inconsistencies in relationship between PMPU, and substance use, and other risky behaviors. This paper analyses the impact of smartphone usage patterns, sensation seeking, and substance use in relation to PMPU. A total of 921 college students from Peru were recruited and completed a survey examining demographics, usage patterns, sensation seeking, and substance use. Overall, results indicate that gender, time spent talking on mobile phones, sensation seeking, and psychoactive substance use were predictors of PMPU. Implications at a theoretical, practical, and methodological level are discussed in relation to further research of PMPU in Peru.

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.

Previous research has found that first-years in college is challenging due to changes in academic demands and the adaptation process. In addition to this, research on career development has found that barriers and supports may influence career interest, motivation to continue and student retention. This study explores the influence of specific supports and barriers among first-year engineering college students. To reach this goal, a case study was conducted with 425 engineering students at three universities in Lima, Peru. Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), we performed a Structural Equation Model (SEM) to assess effects of contextual factors such as barriers and supports on self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, and goals. Results showed that certain supports and barriers influence self-efficacy, cope self-efficacy and goals. Effects of these factors in first-year students and possible strategies for retention in STEM careers are discussed. © 2020 ASTES Publishers. All rights reserved.

─ Nowadays, there is a consensus about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Previous empirical research has found that contextual barriers and supports have the potential to limit or foster the career goals of college students of STEM careers. The aim of the current study was to explore the effects of barriers and supports in self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectations and goals through Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). The participants in this study were 270 system engineering college students from three universities in the North of Lima, Peru. We test causality relationships between barriers and supports and each nuclear component of SCCT. To test direct effects, structural equation modelling was employed. In addition to these, we established different types of barriers and support in the current sample. Therefore, the present study may help educational institutions and policymakers to develop specific systematic strategies for system engineers such as career orientation, academic skills training, counselling, and psychological services.

Within the rapid proliferation of gender studies and the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), an area of research has emerged among scholars. Over the past years, different academic, health and economic institutions have called for a closer analysis of women underrepresentation in STEM careers. In Peru, there is some preliminary evidence with regard of women underrepresentation in STEM careers, however, qualitative studies are scarce in the field. To analyze this gender gap phenomenon, we explored experiences, feelings, behaviors and Social Cognitive Career Theory variables such as self-efficacy, barriers, supports and career development. To reach this goal, qualitative and in-depth interviews were carried out among female engineering students. All participants were in their last year of career andwere selected from three universities in Lima, Peru. A thematic analysis confirmed SCCT variables such as self- efficacy, interest, goals, outcome expectations, barriers and supports in different themes. In addition to this, several subthemes emerged in each component across the sample. However, it was of particular interest the presence of sub- themes in the barrier theme, which was composed of "economic barriers", "effects barriers", "mother career barriers", "father career barriers", "institutional barriers", "social barriers", "direct gender discrimination" and "indirect gender discrimination". Even though these factors were not present in the majority of students, it showed educational experiences in female students from engineering careers in Peru. Implications for these findings are discussed for educational institutions, career counsellors and gender equality policymakers.

According to many reports, one of the fastest growing industries in the US is video games. In Peru, it is estimated that Peruvians spent more than one hundred million dollars annually in videogames. However this number may be underestimated since piracy is a common practice. With the rapid proliferation of this form of entertainment, the inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the recent inclusion of Gaming Disorder in the beta draft of the 11th International Classification of Diseases, many academic researchers and health professionals have become concerned with the addictive properties of videogames. Previous research has found that motivational factors have an important role in addictive behaviors. For this reason, the present study aimed to identify the main motivational factors underlying IGD. To reach this goal, a large empirical survey was carried out among 821 Peruvian gamers. Results showed that escape and fantasy were the factors that most predict IGD among Peruvian gamers. Implications for mental health professionals, game developers, and academics are discussed.

Structural Equation Model (SEM) has become in one of the most useful tools in causal modeling research, which is commonly implemented in multidisciplinary areas such as business, medicine, etc. In the last years, attention to multivariate analyses has been growing and this may lead the increase of modeling approaches in the scientific literature. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using two different software applications usually employ to assess SEM modeling. We assessed a specific model designed to evaluate career development and factors that influence engineering student’s persistence at three universities from the North of Lima. The first model was measured by Covariance Basic SEM (CB-SEM) approach through AMOS software, while the second model was measured by Partial Least Squares SEM (PLS-SEM) approach through SmartPLS software.

it is well known that an economy based on knowledge has a strong potential for human capital. In this sense, universities have a key role in student’s professional development and performance, as well as to increase the number of professional population in science, technology, engineer, and mathematics. The aim of the present study is to obtain student’s individual, structural and external characteristics by considering their context, which represents a condition that shape student’s interest, persistence and goals in computing engineering discipline through career development. To accomplish this, we used self-reports based on Social Cognitive Career Theory in a sample of system engineering students (n=270) from three universities in the north of Lima. In addition to this, we evaluate the model through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) under the partial least squared (PLS-SEM) approach. Results showed different associations and effects in individual and contextual variables among system engineering students.

According to the world internet statistics, Peru reported 22 million of internet users in 2017 and the penetration rate was 67% in the same year [1]. With the rapid proliferation of internet and videogames, internet addiction and addiction to videogames has become a topic of interest among different professionals, scholars, organizations and the media in Peru. Despite the fact that previous research has found clear differences and demographic profiles for internet addiction and internet gaming disorder, to our knowledge, there have been no further reports on these associations between these variables in Peruvian gamers. In addition to this, the term "internet addiction" has always been associated with videogames in the Peruvian context. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the extent of association between problematic internet use, gaming addiction, and time spent playing, depression, and anxiety. Methods: To examine these associations, Peruvian gamers completed the problematic internet use questionnaire (PIUQ), and problematic online gaming questionnaire (POGQ), as well as anxiety and depression subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Results: As expected, results demonstrated significant associations between PIUQ, POGQ, anxiety, depression and amount of weekly gaming. Implications and results are discussed for academics and mental health professionals in Peru.