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Although the lay appeal of the Net Promoter Score (NPS) is undeniable, scholars have noted concerns over its use based on conceptual and empirical grounds. We address these concerns through an examination of three research questions: (1) To what extent do NPS responses correspond to actual word-of-mouth behaviors? (2) Do NPS responses exhibit measurement invariance across key demographic groupings? (3) How well does NPS perform (as opposed to customer satisfaction scores) as a predictor of financial performance? Study results show that NPS scores correspond to reported word-of-mouth exposure for most, but not all, product categories; NPS responses are invariant across demographic groupings; and that when examined separately, both customer satisfaction and NPS are significant predictors of differences in financial performance, but customer satisfaction explains slightly more variance. We discuss the managerial and theoretical implications arising from these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses a challenge within cross-national surveys of salespeople and sales managers: systematic differences between respondents from different countries in their interpretation of response categories associated with survey items measuring a construct of interest. As a result of these discrepancies in interpretation, analyses based on uncorrected survey responses may yield misleading results. The authors mathematically demonstrate the issue and then, drawing on the literature in education and political science, demonstrate a potential solution, the use of anchoring vignettes, which possesses substantial appeal in contexts where a researcher is interested in comparing construct means across contexts where intergroup differences would otherwise make such comparisons problematic. The authors use the proposed method on data from a cross-national survey of 1,051 salespeople and 163 sales managers across three countries (Brazil, Japan, and the United Kingdom) to evaluate self-assessments and upward assessments of a sales manager's drive. The findings highlight the importance of correcting for systematic differences in survey responses driven by cross-national differences, especially when the goal is to compare construct means. Further, the authors demonstrate the value of anchoring vignettes concerning several analytical goals relevant to academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using questionnaires in research relies on the expectation that they measure the same things across different groups of individuals. If this is not true, then interpretations of results can be misleading when researchers compare responses across different groups of individuals or use in it a group that differs from that in which the questionnaire was developed. For the questionnaire we investigated, the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), we found that parents of boys and girls responded to questionnaire items in largely the same way but that the SCQ measured traits and behaviors slightly differently depending on whether the children had autism. Based on these results, we concluded that researchers using this questionnaire should carefully consider these differences when deciding how to interpret findings. SCQ scores as a reflection of autism-associated traits in samples that are mostly or entirely made up of individuals without an autism diagnosis may be misleading and we encourage a more precise interpretation of scores as a broader indication of social-communicative and behavioral traits.

This study evaluated the measurement invariance of a neuropsychological battery across rural and urban older adults from Costa Rica. Rural and urban older adults (N = 295) from the Epidemiology and Development of Alzheimer's Disease (EDAD) study in Costa Rica were assessed. The baseline factor model for the EDAD neuropsychological measures was identified with nine neuropsychological measures and three cognitive constructs: Verbal Memory, Spatial Reasoning, and Cognitive Flexibility. Measurement and structural invariance were established, and, then, group comparisons of the latent cognitive factors were conducted to explore regional disparities. The findings showed that most of the neuropsychological tests in EDAD can be directly compared across the groups, allowing for cognitive constructs comparisons. The rural sample showed a disadvantage in the Spatial Reasoning and Cognitive Flexibility abilities. When age and education were included in the models, differences between the regions disappeared. Having more years of education was associated with higher cognitive abilities, with a larger effect for the rural group. Norms for Costa Rican older adults should consider age and education adjustments. This study contributes to the growing area of measurement invariance in neuropsychological assessment as it highlights the importance of examining the comparability of assessment measures across different cultural groups.

Social-emotional competence (SEC) has been demonstrated to be a crucial factor for student mental health and is malleable through the high-quality implementation of effective school-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs. SEL is now widely practiced in the United States as a Tier 1 strategy for the entire student body, yet it remains unclear whether disparities exist in the development of SEC across socioculturally classified subgroups of students. Also, despite the field’s widespread concern about teacher bias in assessing SEC within diverse student bodies, little evidence is available on the measurement invariance of the SEC assessment tools used to explore and facilitate SEC development. Based on a sociocultural view of student SEC development, this study aimed to measure and examine the extent to which gender, racial-ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities exist in SEC developmental trajectories during elementary school years. Specifically, using 3 years of SEC assessment data collected from a districtwide SEL initiative (N = 5452; Grades K–2 at baseline; nine measurement occasions), this study (a) tested the measurement invariance of a widely-used, teacher-rated SEC assessment tool (DESSA-Mini) across student gender, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES); and (b) examined the extent to which multiyear SEC growth trajectories differed across these subgroups under a routine SEL practice condition. The invariance testing results supported strict factorial invariance of the DESSA-Mini across all the examined subgroups, thereby providing a foundation for valid cross-group comparisons of student SEC growth. The piecewise latent growth modeling results indicated that boys (vs. girls), Black students (vs. White students), Hispanic students (vs. White students), and low-income students (vs. middle-to-high-income students) started with a lower level of SEC, with these gaps being sustained or slightly widened throughout 3 elementary school years. Based on these findings, this study calls for future research that can inform practice efforts to ensure equitable SEC assessments and produce more equitable SEL outcomes, thereby promoting equity in school mental health.

The ability to quantify within-person changes in mental health is central to the mission of clinical psychology. Typically, this is done using total or mean scores on symptom measures; however, this approach assumes that measures quantify the same construct, the same way, each time the measure is completed. Without this quality, termed longitudinal measurement invariance, an observed difference between timepoints might be partially attributable to changing measurement properties rather than changes in comparable symptom measurements. This concern is amplified in research using different forms of a measure across developmental periods due to potential differences in reporting styles, item-wording, and developmental context. This study provides the strongest support for the longitudinal measurement invariance of the Anxiety Scale, Depression/Affective Problems: Cognitive Subscale, and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Scale; moderate support for the Depression/Affective Problems Scale and the Somatic Scale, and poor support for the Depression/Affective Problems: Somatic Symptoms Subscale of the Dutch Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment Youth Self-Report and Adult Self-Report in a sample of 1,309 individuals (N = 1,090 population-based, N = 219 clinic-based/referred to an outpatient clinic before age 11 years) across six waves of data (mean ages = 11 years at Wave 1 and 26 years at Wave 6).

Background: Constructs of common mental disorder (CMD) symptoms, including anxiety, depression, obsessions, compulsions, and worry, are observed in a wide range of psychiatric conditions. Reliable and valid measurements of these CMD symptoms are essential for building a generalizable science of psychopathology and ensuring valid comparisons of scores across distinct groups. Accordingly, the current study determined the psychometric properties of four widely used CMD symptom measures in the United States (U.S.) and Singapore. Method: Participants comprised college students (U.S.: n = 292; SG: n = 144) who completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), and Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated (PSWQ-A). Results: Strict measurement invariance (equal factor loadings, item thresholds, residual variances) was observed for all measures across cultures. Singapore had higher latent mean scores of worry than the U.S. sample. Conclusions: Overall, findings suggest a strong degree of cross-cultural construct compatibility. Given this finding, higher latent factor means for worry, perfectionism, and uncertainty scores likely reflect true group differences, suggesting that these symptom measures can be used to aid further study and assessment of cross-cultural differences in symptom prevalence and presentation in CMDs.

Introduction"Recidivism" is used ubiquitously in juvenile justice research and typically describes repeat legal contact; however, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians operationalize it in various ways. Despite assuming each measure is a proxy for continued delinquent behavior leading to further legal contact, few have examined the association between youth delinquent behavior and self-reported and official records of legal contact. Furthermore, systemic bias against ethnoracial and gender minoritized youth often results in more harsh treatment by the legal system, which could influence recidivism measurement. Latent variable modeling of legal contact is understudied; thus, it is important to examine the feasibility of measuring this construct as a latent variable, including measurement invariance by gender.MethodsAmong 401 youth ages 12-18 years at first ever court contact, we examined three metrics of legal contact over a 2-year follow-up period: youth-report of arrest, caregiver-report of their adolescent's arrest, and official records of the number of new court charges. We examined between-group differences on each metric based on gender and ethnoracial identity. We then measured: (1) the association between youths' self-reported delinquency and each metric, (2) gender-specific associations between self-reported delinquency and each metric, and (3) gender-based measurement invariance for a latent recidivism variable using confirmatory factor analysis.ResultsYouth were consistent reporters of their own delinquent behavior and prospective legal contact measured by arrests. There were no between-group differences based on gender or ethnoracial identity for any legal contact measures. Delinquency and all legal contact variables were positively intercorrelated for the overall sample and the male subsample. For females, delinquency was not associated with caregiver-reported youth arrest or number of new charges. The latent legal contact variable had unique factor structures for male and female subsamples, suggesting no measurement invariance.DiscussionYouth-reported delinquency at first ever legal contact was most strongly associated with youth-reported arrest during a 2-year follow-up period, followed by caregiver-reported arrest, and the number of new charges. Unique latent variable factor structures for male and female subsamples suggests the inter-relation between legal contact variables is gender-specific. Stakeholders should consider prioritizing youth-reported delinquency since it is most strongly related to prospective youth-reported arrest.

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRoad traffic injuries (RTIs) are a leading cause of disability in low- and middle-income countries. This study assesses the psychometric properties of 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 among patients with orthopedic injuries from road traffic crashes in Bangladesh across two timepoints after hospital discharge.Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assessed WHODAS 2.0 construct validity and investigated measurement invariance among a sample of RTI patients at an orthopedic hospital one month and three months post-discharge. Cronbach’s alpha measured reliability.A single-factor structure was identified in CFA for the one-month sample (χ2(53)=894.337, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.986; SRMR = 0.052, RMSEA = 0.151) and the three-month sample (χ2(53)=630.119, p < 0.001; CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.000; SRMR = 0.022, RMSEA = 0.130). Measurement invariance was supported, and internal consistency was excellent (α > 0.9) at each timepoint. Mean disability score decreased from 37.89 (out of 48, SD = 10.44) one-month post-discharge to 27.19 (SD = 18.10, p < 0.001) three months post-discharge indicating improvement in functional status over time.WHODAS 2.0 is valid and reliable for measuring disability among patients with RTIs in Bangladesh and has validity for making meaningful comparisons in disability level over time. Future research should include samples with different types of RTIs to strengthen the evidence supporting the use of the instrument.Measuring disability among survivors of non-fatal RTIs is necessary to inform tailored rehabilitation services that can reduce the burden of RTIs and facilitate patient recovery and return to pre-injury usual activities.The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) 12-item short form is a valid and reliable tool to measure disability among patients with moderate to severe road traffic injuries in Bangladesh.Measurement invariance of the Bengali version of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 suggests that patients with road traffic injuries interpret the construct of disability and the items in the instrument similarly at different timepoints.WHODAS 2.0 can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up medical rehabilitation services aimed at improving functional status among patients with orthopedic injuries.Measuring disability among survivors of non-fatal RTIs is necessary to inform tailored rehabilitation services that can reduce the burden of RTIs and facilitate patient recovery and return to pre-injury usual activities.The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) 12-item short form is a valid and reliable tool to measure disability among patients with moderate to severe road traffic injuries in Bangladesh.Measurement invariance of the Bengali version of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 suggests that patients with road traffic injuries interpret the construct of disability and the items in the instrument similarly at different timepoints.WHODAS 2.0 can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up medical rehabilitation services aimed at improving functional status among patients with orthopedic injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Work-related sense of coherence (Work-SoC) is defined as the perceived comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness of an individual's work situation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factor structure, invariance, reliability, and validity of the Polish version of the Work-SoC Scale. Method: The research was carried out between September and November 2023 in a diverse sample of employees. Factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement equivalence analysis were performed on sample N1 = 622. Criterion validity was checked on sample N2 = 255. Temporal stability was checked on sample N3 = 60 using the test-retest method. Results: A three-factor solution was the best fit for the data, and invariant across sex, age, occupational group, and education. The Work-SoC was strongest in white-collar workers. Strength of Work-SoC was positively related to seniority (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). The reliability of the Work-SoC Scale was high (α = 0.84, ω = 0.84). Work-SoC was positively correlated with general SoC (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and job satisfaction (r = 0.50, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with job burnout (r = -0.32, p < 0.001). The temporal stability of the measurement for the overall scale was high (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Polish adaptation of the Work-SoC Scale has an identical structure and is as reliable as the original version. The high criterion validity, measurement stability, and the invariant structure of the scale by sex, age, occupational group, and education suggest that the Work-SoC Scale is a valuable tool for future research on employee health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soft skills, also known as transversal skills, have gained significant attention in the organizational context due to their positive impact on various work-related outcomes. The present study aimed to develop and validate the Multiple Soft Skills Assessment Tool (MSSAT), a short self-report instrument that evaluates interpersonal skills (initiative-resourcefulness, assertiveness, conflict management), interpersonal communication skills, decision-making style (adaptive and maladaptive), and moral integrity. Methods: The scale development process involved selecting and adapting relevant items from existing scales and employing a cross-validation approach with a large sample of workers from diverse organizational settings and job positions (N = 639). In the first step, 28 items were carefully chosen from an item pool of 64 items based on their content, factor loadings, item response theory analyses, differential item functioning, and fit statistics. Next, the structure of the resulting scale was evaluated through confirmatory factor analyses. Results: The MSSAT demonstrated gender invariance and good reliability and validity. The results of a network analysis confirmed the relationships between soft skills and positive work-related outcomes. Notably, interpersonal communication skills and moral integrity emerged as crucial skills. Discussion: The MSSAT is a valuable tool for organizations to assess the soft skills of their employees, thereby contributing to design targeted development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Methods Results Conclusions Given the insufficient validation of previously imported smartphone addiction scales in China, this study revised and evaluated the Problematic Smartphone Use Scale among Chinese college students (PSUS‐C).We based our research on a national sample comprising 1324 higher education institutions and 130 145 participants. Using cross‐sectional data, comprehensive methods were employed to examine validity, reliability and measurement invariance.The final scale consists of 20 items across four dimensions: withdrawal and loss of control, negative impact, salience behaviors and excessive use. All Heterotrait‐Monotrait (HTMT) values were below 0.85, and the lower 90% and upper 95% confidence intervals were also below 0.85, except for factors 1 and 3. The amount of variance (AVE) values were greater than 0.5, composite reliability (ω) values exceeded 0.89 and all factor loadings were above 0.5. The criterion validity was supported as expected: problematic smartphone usage positively correlated with depression (r = 0.451), loneliness (8 items, r = 0.455), loneliness (6 items, r = 0.504), social media use (r = 0.614) and phone usage duration (r = 0.148); and negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = −0.218) and self‐esteem (r = −0.416). Across sex, type of university and place of residence, the measurement invariance performed well, with most changes in root mean square error of approximation (ΔRMSEA), comparative fit index (ΔCFI) and Tucker–Lewis index (ΔTLI) values being less than 0.005, and no indicator showing a difference greater than 0.010.The Problematic Smartphone Use Scale for College Students (PSUS‐C) demonstrated good factor structure, internal consistency, construct validity, discriminant validity and criterion validity. Strict and structural invariance were demonstrated across sex, type of university and place of residence. The PSUS‐C has the potential to assess smartphone addiction among Chinese university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, we take a critical look at the degree to which the measurement of bullying and sense of belonging at school is invariant across groups of students defined by immigrant status. Our study focuses on the invariance of these constructs as measured on a recent PISA administration and includes a discussion of two statistical methods for assessing measurement invariance—multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) and alignment optimization—. We discuss and illustrate how the alignment optimization method is optimal for handling data from large-scale international assessments like PISA. An acceptable degree of noninvariance was achieved for the two scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients transitioning between different care contexts are at increased risk of experiencing adverse events. In particular, being discharged to home after inpatient treatment involves significant risks. However, there is a lack of valid and internationally comparable assessment tools on patients' experiences of difficulties following hospital discharge. Therefore, this study aimed to adapt and validate the German version of the post-discharge coping difficulty scale (PDCDS-G). Methods: Patients were recruited at a German university hospital. 815 adult patients participated in a self-report survey following an inpatient stay of at least three days. Factorial validity of the PDCDS-G was evaluated via factor analyses. Further, examination of measurement invariance was performed. To establish criterion validity, associations with patients' self-reported health status and occurrence of patient safety were determined. Further, group differences regarding patient characteristics, hospitalization factors, and survey-related variables were examined. Results: Factorial validity of the PDCDS-G was confirmed by a two-factorial model with good model fit. Both factors showed good to excellent reliability. The two-factor model achieved measurement invariance across all patient characteristics, hospitalization factors, and survey-related variables. Significant relationships with patients' health status and the occurrence of patient safety incidents corroborate criterion validity of the PDCDS-G. Differential associations of the two PDCDS-G factors regarding patient characteristics, hospitalization, and survey-related variables were found. Discussion: Construct and criterion validity, as well as the reliability of the PDCDS-G, were verified. Further, instrument's measurement invariance was confirmed allowing use of the scale for the interpretation of group differences and comparisons between studies. Conclusions: The PDCDS-G provides a validated and comparable patient-reported outcomes measure for patient experiences after hospital discharge to home. The PDCDS-G can be used for patient surveys in quality or patient safety improvement in care transition processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to address a gap in the social and behavioral sciences literature concerning interaction effects between latent factors in multiple-group analysis. By comparing two approaches for estimating latent interactions within multiple-group analysis frameworks using simulation studies and empirical data, we assess their relative merits. Our simulation study results demonstrated the superiority of the Latent Moderated Structural Equations (LMS) approach over the Unconstrained Product Indicator (UPI) method in power and providing more accurate estimates of differences in latent interactions between groups. Utilizing multiple-group analysis on real-world data, we evaluated its efficacy in identifying latent interaction differences between groups. Empirical data analysis did not reveal discrepancies between LMS and UPI in terms of detecting differences in latent interactions between boys and girls, although they indicated varying sizes of differences in interaction effects. The study concludes with recommendations for examining differences in latent interactions and suggests avenues for future research. Our findings aim to deepen the understanding of intricate relationships among variables, group differences, and the moderating effects of latent variables, ultimately facilitating the development of more accurate theoretical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) is identified as a clinical and research priority by the autistic community. Researchers have the responsibility to ensure that instruments used to measure QoL do so reliably and accurately among autistic participants. Methods: Our study evaluated measurement invariance of Emotional Distress (Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Psychological Stress) and Subjective Well-Being (Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, and Meaning & Purpose) scales of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) among groups of autistic (N=140, n per scale=132–140) and general population (N=1,224, n per scale=406–411) teenagers (14–17 years). These scales were included in the PROMIS Autism Battery-Lifespan, which uses PROMIS scales to measure QoL domains most relevant for autistic people. Results: Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses using permutation tests demonstrated that Depression and Positive Affect scales exhibited scalar invariance between groups, indicating that scores can be meaningfully compared across autistic and general population teens. Anger and Psychological Stress scales demonstrated metric invariance between groups, indicating that these scales measure the same latent trait in both groups, but group comparisons are not supported. Conclusion: We provide guidance as to how these scales can be used in psychometrically supported ways to capture constructs relevant for understanding QoL among autistic teens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development and validation for a measure designed to assess the importance and meaning of Black history—the Scale of Black History Consciousness (SBHC)—in two independently recruited samples of African descent adults. After iterative exploratory (n = 350) and confirmatory (n = 366) factor analytic procedures, a 12-item measure, with scores of two internally consistent factors (sociopolitical beliefs and empowerment beliefs), emerged as the most parsimonious and psychometrically sound. An assessment of scalar measurement invariance using multiple indicators multiple causes modeling indicated that SBHC factors did not differ across racial–ethnic identification or generational status. Validity evidence was established through an examination of bivariate correlations of the SBHC factors with race centrality and impression management. Additionally, participants who endorsed being in environments where learning about Black history was emphasized reported higher SBHC scores than their counterparts who were not exposed to these environments demonstrating known-groups validity. These results provide initial support for the validity and reliability of the SBHC. Findings from this study advance scholarship about the psychological importance of Black history, and the SBHC can contribute to investigations of African descent adults' beliefs about the value of Black history in their lives. Recommendations for further scale development research and practice applications of the SBHC are also discussed. Public Significance Statement: The relevance of Black history to the advancement of African descent people is evident in literature across multiple disciplines. Findings from this study present a brief measure designed to assess the meaning and importance of Black history for African descent people. Being able to measure the extent to which African descent people hold beliefs about the value of Black history in their lives can illuminate how Black history influences mental health in a manner that may proactively challenge anti-Black racism and facilitate community perpetuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examined the factorial invariance of the factor structure of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC‐V) across the UK, US and Australia & New Zealand (A&NZ). The factorial equivalence of cognitive assessments should be demonstrated before assuming cross‐culture generalizability and interpretations of score comparisons. Methods: Data were obtained from the UK, US and A&NZ normative standardizations of the WISC‐V. The samples consisted of 415 UK, 2200 US and 528 A&NZ children, aged 6–16. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied separately in each sample to establish the baseline model. Next, tests of factorial invariance were undertaken using the recommended hierarchical approach, firstly across the UK and A&NZ samples and then across the UK and US samples. Results: The five‐factor first‐order scoring model was found to be excellent fit across all three samples independently. Strict factorial invariance of the WISC‐V was demonstrated firstly across the UK and A&NZ and secondly the UK and US nationally representative standardization samples. Comparison of latent means found small but significant differences in female children across the UK and A&NZ samples. Conclusions: Consistent with previous research, these results demonstrate the generality of the WISC‐V factor structure across the UK, US and A&NZ. Furthermore, as the WISC‐V factor structure aligns with the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) model of cognitive abilities, the results add further support to the cross‐cultural generalizability of the CHC model. Small but significant differences in latent factor scores found across samples support the development and use of local normative data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed-mode surveys are popular as they can save costs and maintain (or improve) response rates relative to single-mode surveys. Nevertheless, it is not yet clear how design decisions like survey mode or questionnaire length impact measurement quality. In this study, we compare measurement quality in an experiment of three distinct survey designs implemented in the German sample of the European Values Study: a single-mode face-to-face design, a mixed-mode mail/web design, and a shorter (matrix) questionnaire in the mixed-mode design. We compare measurement quality in different ways, including differences in distributions across several data quality indicators as well as equivalence testing over 140 items in 25 attitudinal scales. We find similar data quality across the survey designs, although the mixed-mode survey shows more item nonresponse compared to the single-mode survey. Using equivalence testing we find that most scales achieve metric equivalence and, to a lesser extent, scalar equivalence across the designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery (NIHTB-CB) was developed as a common-metric, computerized cognitive screener for research. Although extensively normed and validated in Americans of different ethnicities, there is little data on how generalizable such results would be when used outside of the United States. The objective of this study was to assess measurement invariance (MI) of the NIHTB-CB across Jamaican and African-American samples and determine appropriateness of comparisons across groups. Multi-group confirmatory factor analyses using a single-factor model were conducted using five tests of fluid cognitive abilities from the NIHTB-CB, which assess working memory, episodic memory, processing speed, and executive function. MI was tested sequentially for configural, metric and scalar invariance. 125 Jamaican and 154 American adults of African descent were included. The Jamaican mean age was 31.6 ± 8.6 years (57% males) compared to 43.5 ± 15.5 years (25% males) for the African-American group. The Jamaicans had on average 11.3 ± 2.7 years of education compared to 13.9 ± 2.6 years for the African-Americans. We found metric and configural invariance across both samples but not scalar invariance. These findings suggest that the single factor emerging from the NIHTB-CB measures the same construct, i.e. fluid cognitive ability, in both groups and hence the battery is appropriate for assessments within cultures. However, lack of scalar invariance indicates that direct cross-cultural comparisons of performance levels should be interpreted with caution, also suggesting that U.S. normative standards are not generalizable to the Jamaican population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Composite Abuse Scale (Revised) – Short Form (CASR-SF) was developed to provide a brief, reliable, and valid self-report measure that could adequately capture the complexity of intimate partner violence (IPV). Unlike many commonly used IPV instruments, it is a multidimensional measure that is appropriate for diverse groups and contexts and can be easily incorporated in population-based surveys or studies with multiple scales. Despite these benefits, however, there is limited evidence regarding its psychometric properties. Thus, the current study aimed to perform a broad cross-validation study of a new Spanish-language version of the CASR-SF. Methods: A large community sample of adults residing in the Dominican Republic (n = 1,117) responded to measures of IPV, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The analyses included assessments of content validity, dimensionality (exploratory graph analysis), factor structure (exploratory structural equation modeling), measurement invariance (multiple indicators multiple causes modeling), criterion validity (structural equation modeling), and reliability. Results: the Spanish-language CASR-SF emerged as a valid, measurement invariant, and reliable measure of the four core dimensions of IPV: sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and stalking, the latter a novel finding of this study. The analyses also revealed several at-risk populations for IPV, including females, sexual minorities (lesbian/gay/bisexual), and those with lower economic and education levels. Psychological abuse emerged as the IPV dimension most consistently and uniquely related with negative mental health outcomes. Conclusions: The Spanish CASR-SF is an excellent tool for the research of IPV victimization across Spanish-speaking groups and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 10-item Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ10) is an easy to administer, global measure of mental toughness. Previous analysis established that the MTQ10 was psychometrically superior to the preceding, widely used, 18-item version. Nevertheless, the MTQ10 is potentially undermined by a method effect arising from the inclusion of negatively phrased items. Noting this, the present paper further assessed the measurement properties of the MTQ10 via cross-cultural comparisons. This involved assessing the factor composition in samples from the UK (N = 596), Greece (N = 1230), and Italy (N = 425). Rather than a strict method effect, analyses found effects specific to pairs of negative items. The emergent model demonstrated partial invariance across countries. National variations in mental toughness scores were ascribable to societal differences. Convergent validity was demonstrated using theoretically related variables (Dark Triad and Life Satisfaction). Overall, results supported the use of the MTQ10 as a global mental toughness measure. Additionally, outcomes suggested that further cross-cultural comparison would provide useful insights into the nature of mental toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Attention to the heterogeneous manifestations of obsessive-compulsive symptoms observed in clinical and nonclinical populations has motivated researchers to use tools to identify homogeneous subgroups of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. The Obsessive-Compulsive Trait Core Dimensions Questionnaire (OC-TCDQ) is used to evaluate two motivational dimensions of OCD (harm avoidance (HA) and incompleteness (INC)), which has been developed in recent years based on the core dimensions model, and to classify homogeneous subgroups. This study aimed to validate the Farsi version of the OC-TCDQ in Iran. Methods: The psychometric properties of the OC-TCDQ were tested in two clinical samples (209 patients with OCD) and nonclinical samples (209 participants without OCD). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the two-factor structure. The measurement invariance between the clinical and nonclinical groups was evaluated. Reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha, split-half, and retesting (two-week intervals). Convergent and divergent validity were analysed with Pearson's correlation and the incremental validity of this scale in predicting Yale-Brown Obsession Scale (Y-BOCS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores using hierarchical regression analysis. The discriminant validity of the two clinical and nonclinical groups was investigated with a t-test. Results: Similar to the original version, the CFA showed a good fit for the two-factor structure. The invariance of measurement between samples, good internal consistency and retest reliability, and convergent and divergent validity of this scale were confirmed. The results of hierarchical regression analysis indicated the increasing validity of this scale in predicting the Y-BOCS and BAI compared to the OBQ-44 (p < 0.05), and comparing the scores of two groups with and without OCD indicated its discriminant validity (p < 0.01). Conclusion: These findings show that the Farsi-OC-TCDQ is a valid tool for evaluating the motivational dimensions of harm avoidance and incompleteness in Iranian individuals with and without OCD, and it allows us to compare the scores across groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With technology integration efforts expanding to early childhood education globally, assessing preschool teachers' technological competence beliefs is imperative. However, most existing tools measuring teachers' information and communication technology (ICT) competence beliefs focused on primary through secondary grades. This study examined the factorial validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the Basic ICT Competence Beliefs (BICB) questionnaire among 209 preschool teachers in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original nine-factor structure over plausible alternative models. All factors showed good reliability (α = 0.83 to 0.91) and theoretically meaningful factor intercorrelations. Multigroup CFA results supported the measurement invariance of the scale. Specifically, the results demonstrated the configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across cultural groups. Findings provide further validity for the BICB as a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing preschool teachers' ICT competence beliefs within and across contexts. The BICB can help identify teacher strengths and needs, guide professional development, and evaluate technology integration efforts in early childhood education in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyberchondria is a hybrid term signifying a state in which individuals compulsively search for health-related information online because of health distress or anxiety, further aggravating their worries. This study develops a Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) to assess the current situation of university students. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted using 145 valid questionnaires. Subsequently, a nationwide survey was conducted at various universities in Taiwan, and 802 questionnaires were used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA led to the development of a CSS for college students with four constructs: increased anxiety (α = 0.91), obsessive-compulsive hypochondria (α = 0.87), perceived controllability (α = 0.88), and online physician-patient interaction (α = 0.86), with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 and variance of 66.81%. The CFA indicated that item reliability ranged from 0.50 to 0.86, factor loadings ranged from 0.71 to 0.93, and the composite reliability for latent variables ranged from 0.83 to 0.90 (p <.001). The extracted average variance ranged from 0.46 to 0.60. There were significant differences in various dimensions: perceived controllability had the highest score and obsessive-compulsive hypochondria had the lowest (F3,2403=256.26, p <.001). Therefore, CSS has emerged as a reliable and valid measure. Future studies should explore the factors that influence cyberchondria, promote online health information searches, and enhance reading comprehension skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dark core of personality is a recent construct that encompasses the malevolent, antagonistic, and aversive side of human nature that represents the common inner core of dark personality traits. The aim of the present study is to develop a short, multidimensional, and invariant version of the dark core of personality D70 measure. Two samples of participants were used in the current study (N = 570, M = 35.42 years, SD = 11.41, range = 18–69; N = 242, M = 30.19 years, SD = 12.78, range = 16–77). The new D25 measure was developed, consisting of five factors – Callousness, Deceitfulness, Vindictiveness, Narcissistic Entitlement, and Sadism. All the structural models examined obtained adequate fits (1-factor, 5-factor, 5-factor bifactor, 5-factor 2nd order), but the 5-factor 2nd order model was considered the best option. Internal consistency/reliability, as measured by the alpha and omega coefficients and more traditional indicators, was mainly good. Construct validity (e.g., with moral disengagement, low self-control, and empathy measures) and criterion-related validity (e.g., with justice-involvement variables) were demonstrated. Scalar measurement invariance across gender and age was established, with male participants and younger participants scoring significantly higher than female participants and older participants. The findings provide support for the use of the D25 as a valid and reliable short multidimensional measure of the dark core of personality construct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological safety has recently emerged as a central construct, strictly implicated in mental health and emotional well-being. The Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) is the first scale designed to assess feelings of psychological safety from a multidimensional perspective. However, the robustness of its factorial structure requires further examination in large community samples, and evidence of construct validity along with measurement invariance across genders is scarce. The present study aimed to address these gaps through a comprehensive cross-validation approach. A community sample of 660 Italian adults, aged 18–65, completed self-report questionnaires including the NPSS, the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scale (CEAS), the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others (SOCS), and the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ). A three-factor model, i.e., Social Engagement, Compassion, and Bodily Sensations, demonstrated a good fit to the data in two random subsamples. Moreover, the measurement model was factorially invariant across genders. Model-based omega coefficients supported the internal consistency of the NPSS scores (ω ranged between 0.879 and 0.918). Zero-order correlations between NPSS subscales and CEAS, SOCS, and BPQ provided construct validity evidence. Additionally, inter-correlations between latent factors and Harman's single-factor test supported the discriminant validity of the NPSS dimensions. Overall, this study provided compelling evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the NPSS, demonstrating for the first time the invariance of its factorial structure across gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global COVID‐19 pandemic saw marked research and clinical interest in evaluating pandemic‐related distress, namely fear and anxiety regarding infection and death. The most widely used and earliest developed measure of COVID‐19 distress is Ahorsu et al. (2022) seven‐item Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S). To investigate the factor structure and measurement equivalence of the FCV‐19S, we conducted an item‐level meta‐analysis synthesizing 1155 effect sizes across k = 55 independent samples comprising N = 71,161 individuals. We found that a two‐factor measurement model comprising a four‐item Emotional factor and a three‐item Psychosomatic factor exhibits better fit than the originally proposed single‐factor measurement model. Moreover, the bidimensional FCV‐19S exhibits partial scalar/strong invariance across the general population, healthcare workers, schoolteachers, and university students as well as partial metric/weak invariance across samples from Bangladesh, China, Japan, Pakistan, Poland, and Portugal. Despite the theoretical and practical implications of these findings, more primary research across a wider range of sample types and countries is undoubtedly needed for further evaluation of the FCV‐19S's psychometric properties and generalizability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored the structure validity and sex and country measurement invariance for Filipino and U.S. adults using the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (FFWEL-A2). Method: Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance were conducted to determine consistency of responses across sex and country categories. Factorial ANOVAs were used to determine differences by sex, race, and country. Results: The hypothesized 5-factor and second-order factor structure of the FFWEL provided equivalent but poor to adequate fit to the data in a large sample (N = 2,071) of U.S. and a smaller sample (N = 269) of Filipino counselors and counselors-in-training. Coefficients α were >0.80 for almost all domain scores, but only five of the 17 facet scores met the 0.80 criterion. Weak measurement invariance was evident for men (n = 502) and women (N = 1838) across both the U.S. White and Filipino group comparisons. Conclusions: Counselors should take care to explore the way they and clients understand wellness and consider that not everyone will have the same understanding of the individual factors as outlined in the FFWEL-A2, especially among male, female, and diverse people from different countries. Significance statement: Wellness is an ethical and professional imperative for counselors to avoid professional impairment and burn out. In this study, scores on the FFWEL-A2, a prominent measure of wellness, displayed partially biased measures of male and female scores across U.S. and Filipino samples and across diverse racial groups, probably due to complexity of the wellness model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Tinnitus is a phantom sound sensation without an external sound source. Due to its subjective and multifaceted nature it is measured using multi-item self-reported instruments. Many well-validated tinnitus-related questionnaires are available for clinical practice and scientific research, but so far no attention has been paid to their measurement invariance. The study aimed to examine measurement invariance of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory with regard to gender and hearing impairment, and to identify the items that show differential item functioning (DIF) across the groups. Design: This is a retrospective study using medical data from patients with tinnitus. They completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and underwent pure-tone audiometry. Study sample: 1106 adult patients with tinnitus (554 women and 552 men; 320 with normal hearing and 786 with hearing loss), aged 19–84 years. Results: In the analysis, multi-group confirmatory factor analysis, hybrid ordinal logistic regression, Kernel smoothing in Item Response Theory, and lasso regression were applied. Measurement invariance was demonstrated across gender, but across hearing status the measurement was non-invariant. Five items were found to have DIF. Conclusions: Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of response bias when tinnitus severity is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suicide Cognitions Scale–Revised (SCS-R) is a unidimensional measure of suicidal cognitions theorized to assess the suicide belief system. Several solutions have been proposed for the Suicide Cognitions Scale and SCS-R (e.g., bifactor model with two specific factors, bifactor model with two specific factors, three correlated factors model). Research indicates the endorsement of thoughts of suicide and suicide-related cognitions varies across demographics. Thus, the current investigation tested the measurement invariance (MI) of the SCS-R across gender, race, and sexual orientation within these proposed solutions and a unidimensional model. A national sample of N = 10,625 adults completed an online survey that included the SCS-R and self-report measures of demographics. Results indicated that the bifactor model with three specific factors, the bifactor model with two specific factors, and the three correlated factors models achieved scalar invariance across gender, race, and sexual orientation; a unidimensional model was not scalar invariant by gender. Tests of latent mean differences revealed significant differences in the general factor (i.e., suicidal belief system) and the specific unlovability, unbearability, and unsolvability factors between a few demographic groups. Implications for theory, measurement, and modeling are discussed. Public Significance Statement: The Suicide Cognitions Scale–Revised is an instrument that measures the suicidal belief system, evinces measurement invariance, and is strongly related to and is predictive of other thoughts and behaviors on the suicide spectrum. Instruments that are measurement invariance for diverse groups of people ensure confident score comparisons between groups and equitable clinical decision making across mental health care systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kessler psychological distress scale is a useful tool for identifying possible psychological problems and has been widely used in research and health services. Unfortunately, its application in various populations has not always been psychometrically supported. For this reason, the present study investigated the psychometric properties of its Spanish version in adolescents, verifying its factorial structure, measurement invariance by gender, internal consistency and the discrimination and difficulty parameters of its items according to the Item Response Theory (IRT). A sample of 5132 Ecuadorian adolescents was evaluated. The sample is equally distributed between male and female participants (50%) and basic and higher education (51% the former). All participants were between 11 and 20 years old. The results show that a 9-item version with correlated intercepts presents the best fit. In addition, it is invariant by gender at a strict level and has adequate internal consistency. IRT analyses indicated that all the items, except for item eight, present adequate discrimination and difficulty. Based on these results, we conclude that the 9-item version of the Psychological Distress Scale is the most appropriate for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Self-compassion is a valuable resource for positive ageing and should be measured in a reliable and valid manner. However, findings regarding the factor structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) have been inconsistent and have been particularly lacking in older adults. Hence, the present study intended to investigate the factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance across sex at birth of the SCS in adults ≥ 65 years old. Method: The present study used a sample of 418 community-dwelling, Portuguese older adults aged 65–94 years (M = 74.45, SD = 6.94; 59.3% female). Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to test six different measurement models, and reliability and multigroup analyses were performed for the best fitting model. Results: Although all models initially showed poor adjustment, the correlated 6-factor model had the comparatively better fit. After modifications, this model achieved an acceptable fit (RMSEA = 0.060 and SRMR = 0.062). Internal consistency of this model was adequate (Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.67 to 0.86) and strong invariance across sex at birth was demonstrated (i.e., configural, metric, and scalar models showed non-significant Δχ2). Conclusions: Current findings suggest that assessing the self-compassion components is advised in older adults, as this 6-component model was reliable and provided an acceptable fit for both male and female older adults. This 6-component model is a parsimonious, theoretically sound, and statistically valid option to assess self-compassion in this population. It is, however, not an ideal solution, and an acceptable fit was only achieved after modifications in the initial 6-component model. Preregistration: This study is not preregistered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although the validity of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) as an effectiveness measure for sleep apnea treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been supported by multiple studies, some researchers continue to challenge it. They suggest that in addition to its impact on relieving patients' daytime sleepiness, CPAP also alters the internal standards patients use to evaluate their sleepiness (i.e., response shift; RS), confounding the meaning of the difference in the ESS scores. We believe an issue yet to be addressed in this debate is that all existing evidence of RS has been obtained through the then-test approach, a retrospective method sensitive to various cognitive mechanisms. Thus, in the current study, we re-examined this issue using the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, a method that can be directly applied to randomized clinical trial (RCT) data without retrospective measures. Methods: With the ESS data from two independent RCTs, we conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal measure invariance tests in SEM to examine whether CPAP would lead to RS. Results: The ESS demonstrated cross-sectional and longitudinal scalar invariance against CPAP treatments. Its factorial pattern, loadings, and thresholds were invariant between the treatment and control groups and pre- and post-treatment, supporting the comparability of the observed mean ESS scores across time and groups. Conclusion: Our results support the validity of the average difference scores of the ESS for quantifying the effectiveness of CPAP on group-level daytime sleepiness in RCTs with relatively large sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent publications emphasize the need to take greater account of differences in teaching quality between subjects. The empirical analysis of this topic requires a comparison of teaching quality in different subjects to distinguish generic aspects of teaching quality from subject-specific ones. In this paper, we compare teaching quality in mathematics and German lessons using observational data from primary schools in Switzerland (NMath = 319; NGerman = 237). Data were collected using an observation instrument reflecting the teaching dimensions of the MAIN-TEACH model, which was developed based on a synthesis of established observation frameworks. The dimensions of classroom management, motivational-emotional support, selection and implementation of content, cognitive activation, support for consolidation, assessment and feedback, and adaptation were tested for subject-related measurement invariance. With a two-fold measurement invariance approach, differences between the subjects were investigated at both a global and an indicator level. When applying alpha accumulation correction, no significant subject-related differences in factor loadings or intercepts were found. The factorial structure of our data was basically identical for the two subjects. The comparison of latent factor means revealed no mean differences between the subjects. We discuss the implications for both the MAIN-TEACH model and research into subject-related differences of teaching in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the PERMA-Profiler in a Spanish context. The PERMA-Profiler, developed by Butler & Kern (Int J Wellbeing 6(3):1-48, 2016) to measure Seligman's (Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being, 2011) PERMA model of flourishing, consists of five domains that assess well-being: Positive Emotion (P), Engagement (E), Relationships (R), Meaning (M), and Accomplishment (A). We translated and adapted the PERMA-Profiler, analyzed the instrument's reliability, its validity based on an internal structure through three confirmatory factor analyses, gender and age invariance, and its convergent and discriminant validity. A total of 2525 participants completed all measures. The results of the analyses to confirm the internal consistency are very acceptable in all the domains and in Overall Well-being (PERMA), except for the Engagement domain. The results of three confirmatory factor analyses show that the model of five independent interrelated factors (domains) presents the best fit. The analysis shows the invariance across gender and age groups. The analyses of the convergent validity show that are positively and significantly related to satisfaction with life (SWLS), to the six evaluated dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB), to positive affect (PANAS) and dispositional optimism (LOT-R) and the general physical and mental health status (SF-36). The discriminant validity analyses show that are related negatively and significantly to negative affect (PANAS), the total score of depression (BDI-II) and the Cognitive-Affective and Somatic-Motivational factors. The findings of this study indicate that the PERMA-Profiler is transferable to the Spanish context, and the Spanish version is a reliable and valid measure of well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CASP-12 is a frequently used quality of life scale for older people, but limited efforts have been made to test the factor structure or to explore the measurement consistency of the scale across key characteristics. The aim of this study is to examine if the CASP-12 questionnaire has a well-defined factor structure with a second-order structure factor nested within four first-order domains: control, autonomy, pleasure, and self-realization. The study also aims to investigates if this factor structure is interpreted similarly by respondents of different genders, ages, educational levels, net wealth, and at two time periods, using a multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA). The results show that CASP-12 with lower four first-order domains (CASP-12-4D) is consistent across genders and two time periods and satisfies the second-order strong-invariance criteria. Furthermore, the instrument demonstrates consistency in weak levels across three age groups (50–59, 60–69, and 70–90), educational levels and net wealth, but not strong invariance. The sample was divided into three subsamples based on age groups to address this issue. The consistency of CASP-12-4D has met the second-order strong invariance level requirement across gender, age, education level and two-time periods. Net wealth however still fails to meet the strong invariance levels. The CASP-12-4D version will suit social and public health research which controls for age and wealth status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal item response data often exhibit two types of measurement noninvariance: the noninvariance of item parameters between subject groups and that of item parameters across multiple time points. This study proposes a comprehensive approach to the simultaneous modeling of both types of measurement noninvariance in terms of longitudinal item response modeling while incorporating a latent growth curve model. The growth curve model represents the growth trajectory using initial status and (non)linear change over multiple time points. In addition, this study investigates the impact of measurement noninvariance across time points and subject groups in the examination of group differences in growth over multiple time points. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed model, an empirical application to large-scale longitudinal survey data is provided, along with the results of a simulation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study assessed the applicability of the Family Affluence Scale II (FASII) for conducting time trend analysis within Norway's "Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study" (HBSC), spanning from 2002 to 2018. A dataset comprising 27,470 valid questionnaires was employed to assess the psychometric properties of the FASII with respect to validity and reliability for use at single- and multiple times points. The analytical approach encompassed a range of statistical techniques, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), multi-group CFA, polychoric correlation testing between FASII scores and perceived family wealth, a subjective measure of socioeconomic position (SEP), and an assessment of perceived family wealth and FASII scores across time. The results of the study revealed an overall good model fit in CFA and a positive correlation between FASII scores and perceived family wealth. However, the analysis uncovered measurement non-invariance across survey years, sex, and age groups. Measurement non-invariance hampers direct time-to-time comparisons of FASII scores, impeding the assessment of affluence development over time. Despite this limitation, FASII maintains its utility for ranking affluence and measuring health outcomes at single time points. As such, this study offers valuable insight into the suitability of FASII for time trend analysis within the Norwegian HBSC data and broader research on social inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The family is one of the most important pillars of society. They provide strong feelings of security, emotional support, and belonging. Family health has a significant impact on the welfare of people and society as a whole. Objectives: This study aimed to create the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale (SWFLS) for Türkiye by modifying the well-known Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) first developed by Diener et al. (1985) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Method: The present study examined the factor structure, measurement invariance, convergent validity, and internal consistency of the SWFLS. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed on data from a research group of 646 participants aged 18–71 years (M = 31.71, SD = 11.79) in Study 1. As part of the validity assessment, CFA confirmed the unidimensional structure of the SWFLS. The reliability of the scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α), composite reliability, and the McDonald 0mega (ω). In Study 2, the scale was administered to a new group of 555 participants aged 18 to 67 years (M = 36.4, SD = 9.73) to assess its criterion validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed using a sample of 48 undergraduate students via the intraclass correlation coefficient model 2.1 (ICC2,1). Results: The CFA's results verified the SWFLS's single-factor model. The internal consistency coefficients of Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω were both 0.93. The composite reliability value was 0.94. The result of test-retest reliability (ICC2,1) was 0.96 and ranged from the ICC2,1 value of 0.85 to 0.90 for items of the SWFLS. Multigroup analysis supported full measurement invariance across genders for the SWFLS. Corrected item correlations ranged from 0.75 0.85. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and SWFLS were shown to have a positive correlation (r =.483, p 0.001), which supports the idea that the two scales have similar convergent validity. Conclusions: Based on these results, the Turkish SWFLS version can be utilized to measure family life satisfaction in the Turkish sample and has appropriate psychometric validity and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies different types of validity and reliability evidence of the Life Project Scale (LPS), a new psychometric measure to assess the coherence of the intended future. It comprises three studies involving five samples that accounted for 2,808 participants from Brazil and Portugal. The final version of the LPS contains two factors with four items each. The factors assess identification (i.e., awareness of one's intended future) and involvement (i.e., enactment of plans and actions in favor of one's intended future). The two factors are indicators of the coherence of life projects' intentional structures and action. Altogether, the three studies provide validity and reliability evidence based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the assessment of ceiling and floor effects, four types of reliability coefficients, relations to other measures (authenticity and meaning in life), and measurement invariance models. Therefore, the LPS is ready for further use, development, and testing in other research and practice contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a widely used self-report that assesses generalized anxiety disorder symptomatology. Whilst previous studies have reported good-to-excellent psychometric properties across different languages, it remains unclear whether GAD-7 measures the same construct across Western and non-Western countries. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the GAD-7 is measurement invariant across Western and non-Western countries and the hypothesis that a less severe GAD symptomatology can be found in non-Western countries. The present study employed an online survey to examine the GAD-7's measurement invariance (MI) across community samples from Indonesia, Germany, and the USA (N = 2350). MI was computed using multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses with a general factor model of the GAD-7. The general factor of the GAD-7 had good model fit and configural, metric, scalar, and residual MI across the three countries. No significant differences were found in mean scores (Indonesia, M = 1.78, SD = 0.64, Germany, M = 1.84, SD = 0.69, USA, M = 1.87, SD = 0.79; F (2, 1514) = 3.079, p = 0.046; Games-Howell post-hoc analysis, t Germany-Indonesia = 1.720, p = 0.199; t Germany-USA = 0.750, p = 0.734; t Indonesia-USA = 2.330, p = 0.053). This study's online nature may have inflated cross-country similarities and reduced data generalizability. The full MI demonstrates the GAD-7 captures the same GAD construct across Western and non-Western countries. Inconsistent with the previous findings GAD severity levels were similar across countries. Despite some possible reservations, the GAD-7 appears to be a culturally fair GAD measure. • The unidimensional factorial structure of GAD-7 has residual measurement invariance across Germany, Indonesia, and the USA. • Individuals in Germany, Indonesia, and the USA may experience similar generalized anxiety symptomatology. • No difference in anxiety levels between our samples from Germany, Indonesia, and the USA. • Our finding is inconsistent with the notion that people from non-Western countries have lower anxiety than Western countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to further examine the factor structure and measurement invariance of the UDRQ among a sample of Hungarian university students. Methods: Firstly, the factor structure of the UDRQ was examined among 837 Hungarian university students. Specifically, two measurement models (firstorder model and second-order model) were constructed and compared. Secondly, the internal consistency reliability of the UDRQ was examined. Thirdly, measurement invariance of the UDRQ was evaluated across genders. Finally, measurement invariance of the UDRQ was evaluated across two different samples. Results: It was found that the first-order model outperformed the secondorder model and better represented the factor structure of the UDRQ subscales. Results of Cronbach's alpha and Composite Reliability suggested that the internal consistency reliabilities of the two UDRQ subscales were satisfactory. Measurement invariance analysis revealed that the UDRQ measurement model was strict invariant across genders and samples. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that the UDRQ displayed satisfactory reliability and validity and could be used to assess demands and resources of Hungarian university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The study aimed to assess the psychometric quality of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale – Revised (PMHSS‐R), by examining its factorial structure among young adults in Ireland and Argentina. Method: A total of 429 participants aged between 18 and 25 years old were recruited (n = 187 Ireland, n = 242 Argentina). The PMHSS‐R was completed by Irish participants and was translated, pilot‐studied, and subsequently completed by Argentinian participants. Results: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated optimal factor loadings for an eight‐item solution and acceptable internal consistency for both scale dimensions in the Argentinian sample. Satisfactory levels of partial scalar invariance were achieved between countries, indicating that the scale measures mental health stigma consistently across cultures. Discussion and Conclusions: Our findings highlight the PMHSS‐R as a cross‐culturally valid and reliable psychometric instrument to evaluate interventions targeting stigma. In conclusion, the PMHSS‐R can be used in cross‐cultural research to compare levels of mental health stigma and investigate the interplay between stigma and other psychologically relevant constructs between different countries and cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotions that parents feel when they think about their own child are extremely important in determining parenting approaches toward a child. Parental emotions should be defined under the rubric of human emotions that include both basic and self‐conscious emotions. The Scale for Parent‐to‐Baby Emotions (SPBE) was developed underlying this concept, whereas an applicable scale for parent‐to‐child emotions for a wider age range for both mothers and fathers is needed. This study is aimed at examining the measurement invariance of this adapted scale among Japanese families. In a cross‐sectional internet survey, men and women who had a child/children (including a fetus), whose eldest was aged up to 12 years old (N = 4600), were recruited. The questionnaire, which included the Scale for Parent‐to‐Child‐Emotions‐62 (SPCE‐62) created from the SPBE via a process of rigorous translation, focused only on the eldest child. The feasibility of the SPCE‐62 was assessed by a panel of three researchers. Each domain of both basic and self‐conscious emotions was examined both in terms of robust factor structure and stable measurement invariance by multi‐group confirmatory factor analysis. Responses to individual items were examined via item response theory, including differential item functioning. This resulted in a 43‐item SPCE consisting of 9 domains: Happiness (four items), Anger (six items), Fear (four items), Sadness (five items), Disgust (five items), Shame (five items), Guilt (seven items), Alpha Pride (three items), and Beta Pride (four items). An empirical construct of parental emotion toward a child was derived. The SPCE makes it possible to measure parent‐to‐child emotions across parents' gender and the three age ranges of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the emotional dysregulation in teachers of the Chilean school system, focusing on gender and age similarities and differences. The sample included 1059 teachers from various regions of Chile, of whom 80.3% were female and 19.7% were male. Participants completed the Spanish version of the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS-E). A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to evaluate the structure of the theoretical model, along with the convergent, discriminant, and internal consistency of the instrument. Additionally, a measurement invariance analysis was performed to identify possible differences between demographic groups, which is crucial to ensure that comparisons between these groups are valid and unbiased. The results indicated that the theoretical model presents a good fit to the data and confirms the validity and reliability of the DERS-E. Scalar invariance was achieved among the analyzed groups. We found significant differences in emotional dysregulation between men and women, which also varied by teacher age. The importance of understanding the specific needs of teachers in terms of their emotional regulation is discussed and the urgency of implementing training programs that improve their emotional skills, fostering a positive and effective learning environment, is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figural matrices tests are common in intelligence research and have been used to draw conclusions regarding secular changes in intelligence. However, their measurement properties have seldom been evaluated with large samples that include both sexes. Using data from the Norwegian Armed Forces, we study the measurement properties of a test used for selection in military recruitment. Item-level data were available from 113,671 Norwegian adolescents (32% female) tested between the years 2011 and 2017. Utilizing item response theory (IRT), we characterize the measurement properties of the test in terms of difficulty, discrimination, precision, and measurement invariance between males and females. We estimate sex differences in the mean and variance of the latent variable and evaluate the impact of violations to measurement invariance on the estimated distribution parameters. The results show that unidimensional IRT models fit well in all groups and years. There is little difference in precision and test difficulty between males and females, with precision that is generally poor on the upper part of the scale. In the sample, male latent proficiency is estimated to be slightly higher on average, with higher variance. Adjusting for measurement invariance generally reduces the sex differences but does not eliminate them. We conclude that previous studies using the Norwegian GMA data must be interpreted with more caution but that the test should measure males and females equally fairly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symptomatic effects of mental disorders in parents could bias their reporting on their child's mental health. This study aimed to investigate the measurement invariance of the French version of the parental Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) across parental mental health in a sample (N = 20,765) of parents of children aged 3 to 17 years in France. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Structural Equation Modelling (ESEM) were used to evaluate the fit of three known alternative SDQ factor structures (five, three, or second-order factor structures). Invariance was tested across parental mental health (present anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychiatric history) and across socio-demographic characteristics (child's age, child's gender, parent's gender, parent's educational level). CFA models showed a poor fit, while all ESEM models achieved acceptable or good fit, with the five-factor model presenting the best fit. Invariance was observed for all characteristics tested, indicating that the SDQ can be used to study the links between parental mental health and their child's mental health without bias. However, ESEM showed that the hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems dimensions were not well differentiated in the French version of the SDQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotion regulation (ER) plays a crucial role in mental and social well-being. This study aims to develop an Italian version of the State Emotion Regulation Inventory (SERI) and to assess its invariance across gender, age, and different testing situations, including students facing exams or dealing with someone suffering, and healthcare professionals interacting with distressed patients. Analyzing data from a sample of 737 respondents, a 12-item version of the scale was developed, demonstrating strong reliability and structural validity. Full metric and scalar invariance were established across genders and age groups, while partial scalar invariance was established across situational groups. The study contributes to the literature by providing a lacking Italian situational ER assessment tool and offering insights into its applicability in diverse contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]