Use of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) in Different Contexts. What Is Being Measured?

The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) has been used to assess the impact that oral health problems can have on an individual’s life. Different theoretical models were proposed to evaluate the results. The aims of this study were to evaluate the fit of different factorial models of the OHIP-14 to non-dental patients (NDP) and dental patients (DP) samples from Brazil and Finland and to estimate the differential functioning of the items in the OHIP-14 between the samples. Two studies were conducted, one in Brazil and the other in Finland, composed of five samples (Brazil—Sample 1 (S1): DP, n = 434, age: 25.3 [SD = 6.3] years; S2: NDP, n = 1486, age: 24.7 [SD = 5.6] years; S3: DP, n = 439, age: 29.0 [SD = 6.7] years; Finland—S4: DP, n = 482, age: 26.3 [SD = 5.4] years; S5: NDP, n = 2425, age: 26.7 [DP = 5.5] years). The fit of the OHIP-14 models to the data was estimated using a confirmatory strategy (validity based on the internal structure). Differential item functioning (DIF) between samples was estimated. For NDP from both countries, the response pattern severely violated the normality assumption in six items of the OHIP-14, indicating that the instrument does not fit for these samples. For DP, the model with the best fit was unifactorial, which deals with the estimation of the general impact of oral health on an individual’s life, without addressing specific dimensions. Configural invariance was refuted between samples. DIF indicated that the characteristic of the sample (NDP and DP) in both countries interfered in the response given to the items, with the response level being more adequate for the latent PD trait. The validity of data related to the impact of oral health problems on an individual’s life was confirmed through a unifactorial model. OHIP-14 works properly in DP samples and was limited in NDP samples, being also influenced by cultural context and age.

Measurement Invariance in the Assessment of Mood Between American and Mexican Community Studies

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a principal source for American public health research, has numerous global sister studies. Harmonization efforts seeking to establish measurement equivalence amongst these various datasets, is a critical prerequisite to cross-cultural research. Given well-known cultural variability in depressive symptom endorsement, the purpose of this study was to assess measurement invariance in a brief mood measure used in the HRS and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Total sample size using both groups was 15,319 participants (10,931 HRS; 4,388 MHAS) who were 65 and older from Waves 6 to 13 in the HRS and Waves 1 to 4 in the MHAS. MPlus Version 8.4 was used to conduct CFA analyses of measurement invariance. A contemporary approach with categorical data calls for examining threshold invariance first while establishing configural invariance, before examining invariance tests of thresholds, loadings, and intercepts in a second step. Results were that measurement invariance was not supported in this series of two steps with four out of six indices showing model fit in the first model and none of the indices showing model fit in the second model. These findings implied that there were differences in ways of responding to the brief mood measure between HRS and MHAS participants at the conceptual level. Thus, comparisons based on these measures may result in misleading findings and should be interpreted very conservatively. This study adds to the growing body of literature guiding harmonization efforts from the Program on Global Aging, Health and Policy.

Working Adults' Intentions to Participate in Microlearning: Assessing for Measurement Invariance and Structural Invariance

The current study set out to understand the factors that explain working adults' microlearning usage intentions using the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB). Specifically, the authors were interested in differences, if any, in the factors that explained microlearning acceptance across gender, age and proficiency in technology. 628 working adults gave their responses to a 46-item, self-rated, 5-point Likert scale developed to measure 12 constructs of the DTPB model. Results of this study revealed that a 12-factor model was valid in explaining microlearning usage intentions of all working adults, regardless of demographic differences. Tests for measurement invariance showed support for invariance in model structure (configural invariance), factor loadings (metric invariance), item intercepts (scalar invariance), and item residuals (strict invariance) between males and females, between working adults below 40 years and above 40 years, and between working adults with lower technology proficiency and higher technology proficiency levels. While measurement invariance existed in the data, structural invariance was only found across gender, not age and technology proficiency. We then assessed latent mean differences and structural path differences across groups. Our findings suggest that a tailored approach to encourage the use of microlearning is needed to suit different demographics of working adults. The current study discusses the implications of the findings on the use and adoption of microlearning and proposes future research possibilities.

Collective teacher efficacy beliefs: testing measurement invariance using alignment optimization among four cultures

PurposeCollective teacher efficacy (CTE) is a promising construct for understanding how schools can foster student achievement. Although much of the early research on CTE took place in North America, researchers from other parts of the world are now delving into this topic. The current study explores whether these powerful collective beliefs function similarly across diverse cultural and linguistic groups: Arab and Jewish teachers in Israel, and teachers in Turkey and the USA.Design/methodology/approachParticipants included 4,216 teachers from Israel, Turkey and the USA, representing four cultures: Arab, Jewish, Turkish and American. We tested configural invariance using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (AMOS) and alignment optimization (Mplus) to identify the groups in which specific parameters are noninvariant, and to compare the latent factor means.FindingsConfigural invariance showed adequate fit of the model structure across the four groups. Based on invariance tests, using the alignment optimization method, CTE scales held different meanings for specific items across the four cultures, where the USA and Arab cultures were the sources of these differences. Furthermore, in comparing the two-dimensional CTE belief scale across the four groups, latent means revealed the highest mean ranking for the USA and the lowest for Turkey.Originality/valueThis research makes a significant theoretical contribution by examining and comparing the concept of teachers' collective efficacy in multiple cultures. This comparison can also contribute to instructional teaching practices worldwide.

Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Between Fathers and Mothers and Across Three Time Points After Childbirth: Identification of Core Items of The Japanese Version of The Mother-To-Infant Bonding Scale

Background The Japanese version of the mother-to-infant bonding scale (MIBS-J), a self-report of postnatal bonding disorder, is widely used in Japan. However, its psychometric properties, particularly measurement invariance, have rarely been reported, and the appropriateness of the use of the MIBS-J among perinatal fathers remains to be investigated. This study aimed to select and to validate MIBS-J items suitable for mothers and fathers at three time points (postpartum hospitalization period and 1 and 4 months postpartum) commonly used in clinical practice in Japan. Methods Postpartum mothers (n = 543) and fathers (n = 350) were surveyed at 5 days, 1 month, and 4 months postpartum. All participants were randomly divided into two subgroups, one for exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and another for confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance of the best model was tested using the entire sample, between fathers and mothers, and across the three observation periods. Results A three-item structure (items 1, 6, and 8) extracted through EFAs showed acceptable configural invariance. This model was accepted for scalar invariance between fathers and mothers and for metric invariance across the three time points. Conclusions This study showed that the three-item MIBS-J could be used reliably among Japanese parents in the first four postpartum months. Currently, all 10 MIBS-J items are used in clinical and research settings at various time points during the perinatal period. Our findings suggest that the MIBS-J with only three items is sufficient for diagnosis of postnatal bonding disorder, at least during the first four postpartum months.

Leadership Excellence in Corporate Communications: A Multi-Group Test of Measurement Invariance

This study aims at advancing leadership research in corporate communications by introducing a more rigorous statistical approach to test whether communication professionals of different hierarchical reporting levels, years of experience, and educational backgrounds would ascribe the same meanings to the construct of leadership excellence in corporate communications via survey research. By using an established measurement model of leadership excellence in corporate communications, the study uses three samples, including senior communication executives/leaders, mid-level communication professionals, and senior college students majoring in communication and/or public relations, to conduct the measurement invariance tests. By imposing constraints to different parameters in a sequence of nested models, findings indicate that the measures of leadership excellence in corporate communications can be equivalent across multiple groups. Measurement invariance was confirmed at multiple levels, including the higher-order measurement model, configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, and error invariance. This study deepens our understanding of measurement invariance when applying multi-group comparison in testing leadership excellence. Such evidence can also be used as central principles when developing corresponding leadership training and development modules by organizations in supporting multicultural and multi-group sensitivity in leadership development. Future research and practical implications are also discussed.

Stability of the Data-Model Fit over Increasing Levels of Factorial Invariance for Different Features of Design in Factor Analysis

The aim of this study is to provide an empirical evaluation of the influence of different aspects of design in the context of factor analysis in terms of model stability. The overall model stability of factor solutions was evaluated by the examination of the order for testing three levels of Measurement Invariance (MIV) starting with configural invariance (model 0). Model testing was evaluated by the Chi-square difference test (Δx2) between two groups, and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI). Factorial invariance results revealed that the stability of the models was varying over increasing levels of measurement as a function of Variable-To-Factor (VTF) ratio, Subject-To-Variable (STV) ratio, and their interactions. There were invariant factor loadings and invariant intercepts among the groups indicating that measurement invariance was achieved. For VTF ratios 4:1, 7:1, and 10:1, the models started to show stability over the levels of measurement when the STV ratio was 4:1. Yet, the frequency of stability models over 1000 replications increased (from 77% to 91%) as the STV ratio increased. The models showed more stability at or above 32:1 STV.

Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey of experiences with ambulatory healthcare for Asians and non-Hispanic Whites in the United States

Background Differences in experiences of care reported by Asian Americans (Asians) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (Whites) may be due to lack of measurement invariance. Methods We evaluated the three-factor structure and the equivalence of responses to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinical and Group (CG-CAHPS) Adult Visit Survey 1.0 and compared care experiences of Asians and Whites. Thirteen questions were used to elicit reports about specific aspects of care and two questions assessed overall care perceptions. This analysis of the CAHPS database included 769 providers and 266,327 respondents. Most surveys (98%) were administered by mail and the rest (2%) by phone. Only 0.5% of the surveys were administered in Spanish. The sample was 64% female, 89% White and 2% Asian, 39% 65 years or older, and 32% were high school graduates or less. Results A three-factor model was supported by categorical confirmatory factor analysis using weighted least squares with mean and variance adjustment: confirmatory fit index (CFI) = 0.99 and root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.03). A multi-group configural invariance model also fit the data well: (CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.031). Regression models indicated that Asians reported worse access, lower scores on office staff courtesy and helpfulness and rating their doctors and were less likely to recommend their doctors to family/friends than did Whites. Conclusions Use of the CG-CAHPS Adult Visit Survey 1.0 to assess perceptions of care by Asians and Whites is supported. Quality improvement efforts are needed to address worse experiences of care among Asians in the United States.

Strength of Religious Faith in Peruvian Adolescents and Adults: Psychometric Evidence from the Long and Short Version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire in Spanish

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric evidence of the original and brief version of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSRFQ) in Spanish in a sample of 245 Peruvian adolescents and adults (mean age = 21.04 years, SD = 3.07, 47.8% male and 52.2% female), selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Additionally, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were applied. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, internal consistency reliability methods, hierarchical sequence of variance models and Graded Response Model were used. Results indicate that both versions of the SCSRFQ showed robust psychometric properties: adequate unidimensional structure, adequate difficulty and discrimination parameters, and significant relationships with the measures of fear of COVID-19 and satisfaction with life. The original version of the SCSRFQ showed evidence of strict measurement invariance by gender and age; whereas the short version showed strict invariance by gender and configural invariance by age. Both versions showed acceptable reliability indices. In conclusion, the original and brief versions of the SCSRFQ show evidence of psychometric indicators that support their use to assess the strength of religious faith