Examining the Factor Structure of a Risk Assessment Inventory in Young Offenders: FER-R, Risk and Resource Assessment Form

The FER-R, Risk and Resource Assessment Form, is a multidimensional inventory of structured professional judgment that assesses criminogenic risks and resources for the design and management of individualized intervention plans with criminally sanctioned adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the FER-R, reviewing its factorial structure to contribute evidence of convergent and discriminant construct validity in a sample of adolescents sentenced for crimes in Chile. For each domain (risks and resources) with its respective facets, a unidimensional bifactor structure (CFA-BF) was obtained, with adequate indices of fit that confirmed its construct validity, while the convergent validity was demonstrated with the YLS/CMI and the divergent validity with two MACI scales. The FER-R adds factorial validity to the evidence of the previously reported predictive validity, making it a robust inventory for the evaluation of young offenders, and a relevant tool to manage differentiated interventions in Chile, with a high potential for use in Latin America. The importance of finding a suitable balance in assessing risks and protective factors is discussed, in order to manage interventions adjusted to the needs of the adolescents to promote their criminal desistance.

Social communication in fragile X syndrome: pilot examination of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC)

Background Social communication is a key area of difficulty in fragile X syndrome (FXS) and there are not yet adequate outcome measurement tools. Appropriate outcome measures for FXS have been identified as a key area of research interest in order to evaluate future therapeutic trials. The Brief Observation of Social Communication Change-Minimally Verbal (BOSCC-MV), an outcome measure with strong psychometrics developed for autism spectrum disorder, has promise as an outcome measure to assess social communication change with FXS participants. Methods We examined the BOSCC-MV via central coders in this multi-site-trial to assess its appropriateness for FXS. Eighteen minimally verbal males ages 3–12 years were enrolled and assessed on two consecutive days and 7 participants completed a third visit 6 months later. We examined test-retest reliability, inter-rater reliability, and both convergent and divergent validity with standard clinical measures including the Autism Diagnostic and Observation Schedule-2, Vineland 3, Social Responsiveness Scale, and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. Results The BOSCC-MV in FXS demonstrated strong inter-rater and test-retest reliability, comparable to previous trials in idiopathic ASD. Strong convergent validity was found with Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 and Vineland-3. Divergent validity was demonstrated between BOSCC-MV and unrelated measures. Conclusions The BOSCC-MV shows promise as a FXS social communication outcome measure, warranting further large-scale evaluation.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Persian version of Mentalized Affectivity Scale

Background and Aims: Mentalized affectivity is a new approach that expresses the process of emotion regulation through a dynamic perspective. Since social-cognitive variables and cultural context play a major role in the process of mentalized affectivity, the present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale in Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 447 students were selected via the convenience sampling method. The Persian version of Mentalized Affectivity Scale was administered simultaneously with other scales. exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses was used to evaluate the validity of the scale. Moreover, convergent validity and divergent validity of this scale were assessed with other scales. The reliability of the scale was calculated by Cronbach's alpha, coefficient theta, and composite reliability. Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis showed four factors of emotion recognition, emotion processing, emotion tracing, and emotion expression. The significant correlation of factors with the used scales pointed to the content validity and divergent validity of the scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale was 0.93. The composite reliability of the factors was in the range of 0.82-0.89, and the coefficient theta of the scale was reported as 0.98. With respect to average variance extracted (AVE) greater than 0.5 and composite reliability greater than 0.8, the convergent validity of the factors was confirmed. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the Persian version of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale is a valid scale in the field of emotion regulation and social cognition that can be used for Iranian populations. The factor structure includes four factors.

Spanish adaptation of the Ambivalent Classism Inventory (ACI)

Introduction: Hostile and benevolent classism influence the derogation of poor people and groups, with negative consequences. The present study aims to adapt and validate the Ambivalent Classism Inventory (ACI) to obtain an adequate tool for expanding research on this topic among the Spanish-speaking population. Method: Toward this end, the researchers back-translated the ACI version originally developed for English speakers. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses verify the ACI’s reliability and factor structure with a sample of Mexican participants. Results: The results demonstrated that the adapted scale’s psychometric properties are acceptable. Its original and factor structure are similar to those of the original scale:hostile classism (12 items), protective paternalism (4 items), and complementary class differentiation (4 items). Furthermore, the study tests the convergent and divergent validity of the scale´s sub-dimensions concerning other ideological and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion:The proposed ACI adaptation should contribute to understanding attitudes toward the poor as well as their consequences among Spanish speakers.

The Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the COVID-19 Burnout Scale

Background: Because of the long duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, people may suffer greatly from the common burnout caused by this virus. Objectives: Considering the psychological consequences of COVID-19, this study investigated the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the COVID-19 Burnout Scale (COVID-19-BS). Methods: The Persian version of the COVID-19-BS was prepared through forward translation, reconciliation, and back-translation. The method of the study was descriptive (psychometric). The statistical population included all students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from October 2020 to October 2021. Using the convenience sampling method, 251 students were selected. All participants completed the COVID-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS), the Compassion Scale (CS), and the COVID-19-BS. Convergent validity, divergent validity, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to evaluate the validity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 and LISREL 8.5 software. Results: The findings supported the single-factor structure of COVID-19-BS and a good internal consistency of the scale. Internal consistency obtained by Cronbach’s alpha method for the total score of C-19ASS was 0.72, indicating a good internal consistency. The COVID-19-BS had a positive and significant correlation with the C-19ASS (P = 0.01, r = 0.37) and a negative and significant correlation with the CS (P = 0.01, r = -0.41), indicating the convergent and divergent validity of this scale (P

Psychometric properties of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale in Greek Adolescents

The psychometric properties of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-47) are established cross-culturally but lacking for the Greek population. The present study examined RCADS internal consistency and validity (structural and concurrent) in Greek adolescents, and tested measurement invariance across sex and age groups. We recruited 619 secondary school students ( n = 321 females), aged 12–18 years ( n = 318, 12–14-year-olds). Besides RCADS, all students completed Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a subsample ( n = 300) completed Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), whereas a non-overlapping subsample ( n = 219) completed Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS). Structural validity was examined with Confirmatory Factor Analysis and measurement invariance was assessed with Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) modeling. Convergent and divergent validity were examined using Spearman correlations between RCADS subscales and DSRS, SCARED, and SDQ validators. The six-factor model fitted the data best, validating the originally proposed RCADS structure. Three items displayed differential item functioning for sex, another three for age group, and one item for both, albeit with trivial effect sizes ( d < 0.2). Cronbach’s alpha was .94. Convergent and divergent validity were also established. In conclusion, the RCADS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing anxiety and depression symptoms in Greek adolescents.

Leading the Charge in the Education Sector: Development and Validation of the School Implementation Leadership Scale (SILS)

BackgroundStrategic implementation leadership is a critical determinant of successful implementation, hypothesized to create a more supportive implementation climate conducive to the adoption and use of evidence-based practices. Implementation leadership behaviors may vary significantly across contexts, necessitating studies that examine the validity of established measurement tools in novel health service delivery sectors. The education sector is the most common site for delivering mental health services to children and adolescents in the United States, but research focused on implementation leadership in schools is in the early phases, and there is a need for adaptation and expansion of instruments in order to tailor to the school context. The current study adapted and validated the School Implementation Leadership Scale (SILS) (based on the Implementation Leadership Scale) in a sample of elementary school personnel from six school districts who were implementing one of two well-established prevention programs for supporting children’s mental health.MethodsParticipants were 441 public school teachers from 52 elementary schools in the Midwest and West Coast of the United States. Participants completed a survey that contained: (1) an adapted and expanded version of the SILS with additional items generated for four existing subscales as well as three new subscales (Communication, Vision/Mission, and Availability), and (2) additional tools to evaluate convergent and divergent validity (i.e., measures of general/molar leadership and teaching attitudes). Data underwent: (1) examination of item characteristic curves to reduce items and ensure a pragmatic instrument, (2) confirmatory factor analyses to establish structural validity, and (3) evaluation of convergent and divergent validity.ResultsItem reduction analyses resulted in seven subscales of three items each. Results indicated acceptable fit for a seven-factor structural model (CFI = .995, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .08, WRMR = 0.95). Second-order factor loadings were high (λ = .89 to .96), suggesting that the SILS subscales comprise a higher-order Implementation Leadership factor. All subscales demonstrated good inter-item reliability (α = .91 - .96). Convergent and divergent validity results were generally as hypothesized, with moderate to high correlations between SILS subscales and general leadership, moderate correlations with teaching attitudes, and low correlations with school demographics.ConclusionsOverall, results provided strong structural, convergent, and divergent validity evidence for the 21-item, 7-factor SILS instrument. Implications for the measurement of implementation leadership in schools are discussed, as well as strategies to support leaders to enhance their strategic behaviors related to the implementation of mental health prevention programs (e.g., adaptation of existing leadership-focused implementation strategies).Clinical Trial Registration: Not applicable.

Validation of an Acoustic-Based Framework of Speech Motor Control: Assessing Criterion and Construct Validity Using Kinematic and Perceptual Measures

Purpose This study investigated the criterion (analytical and clinical) and construct (divergent) validity of a novel, acoustic-based framework composed of five key components of motor control: Coordination, Consistency, Speed, Precision, and Rate. Method Acoustic and kinematic analyses were performed on audio recordings from 22 subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during a sequential motion rate task. Perceptual analyses were completed by two licensed speech-language pathologists, who rated each subject's speech on the five framework components and their overall severity. Analytical and clinical validity were assessed by comparing performance on the acoustic features to their kinematic correlates and to clinician ratings of the five components, respectively. Divergent validity of the acoustic-based framework was then assessed by comparing performance on each pair of acoustic features to determine whether the features represent distinct articulatory constructs. Bivariate correlations and partial correlations with severity as a covariate were conducted for each comparison. Results Results revealed moderate-to-strong analytical validity for every acoustic feature, both with and without controlling for severity, and moderate-to-strong clinical validity for all acoustic features except Coordination, without controlling for severity. When severity was included as a covariate, the strong associations for Speed and Precision became weak. Divergent validity was supported by weak-to-moderate pairwise associations between all acoustic features except Speed (second-formant [F2] slope of consonant transition) and Precision (between-consonant variability in F2 slope). Conclusions This study demonstrated that the acoustic-based framework has potential as an objective, valid, and clinically useful tool for profiling articulatory deficits in individuals with speech motor disorders. The findings also suggest that compared to clinician ratings, instrumental measures are more sensitive to subtle differences in articulatory function. With further research, this framework could provide more accurate and reliable characterizations of articulatory impairment, which may eventually increase clinical confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with different articulatory phenotypes.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference of Executive Function Performance in Older Adults Who Fall: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Executive function is responsive to exercise and predictive of subsequent falls. Minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) are critical for understanding whether observed changes are meaningful. However, MCIDs of many cognitive measures are not established. We aimed to determine MCIDs of the Digit Symbol Substitution Test ([DSST] processing speed measure), Stroop (inhibition measure), and Trail Making Test B-A (TMT; set-shifting measure), using anchor- and distribution-based approaches in older adults who have fallen and received the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) relative to usual care only (CON). Our secondary aim was to establish construct (convergent and divergent) validity of these measures. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Complete case analyses of cognitive outcomes (DSST, Stroop, TMT, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA]) were acquired at baseline and 1 year (NCT01029171; NCT003235960); participants were randomized to the OEP (<i>n</i> = 114/172; Age: 80.6 ± 6.1 years; 64.9% Female) or CON (<i>n</i> = 128/172; Age: 82.3 ± 5.8 years; 71.9% Female)]. The MoCA was used as the anchor. We estimated MCIDs using anchor- and distribution-based approaches. Anchor-based executive function change differences ([CD] 1 year minus baseline) observed in participants with meaningful changes in the MoCA (≥3 or ≤ −3 points) receiving the OEP were subtracted from the CON. An anchor-based receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to identify optimal cut-off scores of the 3 executive function measures. The distribution-based approach (DA) accounted for variability in baseline and follow-up data. MCID ranges were estimated using these approaches. We used Spearman’s correlations to explore convergent validity between executive function measures and other measures involving the same construct (DSST, Stroop, TMT, MoCA, and Mini-Mental State Examination), and divergent validity between executive function measures and variables reflecting different constructs (Geriatric Depression Scale, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, sex, and body mass index). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Based on the 3 approaches, MCID improvement ranges were 3–5 symbols for the DSST (CD = 5; ROC = 2.5; DA = 3.3 symbols), and −11.5 to −26.0 s for the Stroop (CD = −26.0; ROC = −11.5; DA = −20.6 s). MCID decline ranges were −3 to −6 symbols for the DSST (CD = −5.2; ROC = −2.5; DA = −3.3 symbols) and 5.4–30.6 s for the Stroop (CD = 30.6; ROC = 5.4; DA = 20.6 s). MCIDs for the TMT were not meaningful due to high variability (Improvement: CD = −106.6; ROC = −18.4; DA = −69.1 s; Decline: CD = 69.1; ROC = 14.5; DA = 69.1 s). The executive function measures exhibited good convergent (<i>r</i> = −0.22 to <i>r</i> = 0.42) and divergent (<i>r</i> &#x3c; −0.01 to <i>r</i> = 0.16) validity. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> These established MCIDs will allow clinicians to interpret meaningful changes in executive function following exercise amongst older adults who have fallen. The DSST, Stroop, and TMT demonstrated good construct validity, supporting their use in comprehensive fall-risk assessments in older adults who fall.

An Implicit Measure of Sexual Double Standard Endorsement in Emerging Adults: Reliability and Validity Aspects

Psychometric characteristics were investigated of an Implicit Association Test to assess implicit endorsement of the sexual double standard (SDS-IAT) in emerging adults. The reliability of the SDS-IAT was investigated focusing on internal consistency across different phases of the test. Convergent validity of the SDS-IAT was evaluated against the Scale for the Assessment of Sexual Standards in Youth, an explicit measure of SDS, and against gender investment. Divergent validity was evaluated against the personality characteristics of extraversion, neuroticism, and social desirability proneness. Gendered patterns were examined. Attenuation-corrected alphas demonstrated acceptable internal consistency, with alphas ranging for .65–.70. A modest level of explicit SDS endorsement was found in both female and male participants. In line with their explicit SDS level, a modest level of implicit SDS endorsement was found in male participants, whereas a reverse implicit SDS was found among young women. In agreement with our theoretical expectations, we found low convergent validity in multitrait-multimethod analysis of the SDS-IAT with a measure of explicit SDS endorsement, and with general level of investment in gender ideals. Similarly, divergent validity analysis revealed absence of significant correlations with the conceptually unrelated concepts of extraversion, neuroticism, and social desirability proneness, except for extraversion in female participants. The present findings suggest that implicit SDS endorsement can be assessed using the SDS-IAT. The finding that explicit and implicit SDS approvals differ in young female participants, while they align in young male participants, warrants further research.