Analysis of the psychometric properties of the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13) in patients with cardiovascular risk factors: a study of the method effects associated with negatively worded items

Purpose The objectives of this study were to analyze the psychometric properties of the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13), determine the role of the method effect in the performance of the instrument, and identify the relationship with health perception, quality of life, and sleep quality in patients at cardiovascular risk. Methods The final sample consisted of 293 patients at cardiovascular risk, with a mean age of 61.9 years (SD = 8.8), 49.8% of whom were women. The SOC-13, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale (MOS-Sleep) were administered. In addition, the participant's self-perceived health and quality of life were also evaluated. All analyses were carried out with SPSS 26.0 and EQS 6.1 statistical software. Results The results showed adequate reliability for the SOC-13, with a Cronbach's alpha of .789. The fit of the structures was not adequate in any of the cases (.26 to .62 for one factor, .26 to.73 for three factors, .20 to .54 for one second-order factor, and .25, .42, and .54 for three first-order factors). The three structure models showed an improved fit when adding a latent factor resulting from the method effect (.6 to .85 for one factor, .11 to.90 for three factors, and .11 to .96 for one second-order factor). Moreover, positive correlations were found with health perception, perceived quality of life, and perceived sleep quality. Conclusion The SOC-13 is a suitable instrument for patients with cardiovascular risk in Spain, and it is also an indicator of health perception, quality of life, and perceived quality of sleep. Control of the method effect improves the fit of the instrument’s structure. As a future direction, it is recommended to conduct new studies in this and other samples and using different versions of the SOC. Trial registration International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number: ISRCTN76069254, 08/04/2015 retrospectively registered.

Governance Factors That Influence the Internationalization of Tourism Destinations

The literature is highlighting that research on the internationalization of destinations is scarce. This chapter presents a validation of the governance factors which contribute to the internationalization of tourism destinations. A survey was carried out on Portuguese DMOs with responsibilities in the areas of tourism and local/regional development (N=147). The ‘Questionnaire on Internationalization of Tourist Destinations' was submitted to content, reliability, and construct validations through exploratory and confirmatory second-order factor analysis. Governance factors influencing the internationalization of destinations were F1-Collaboration and F2-Networks. F1 associates items related to stakeholder involvement in destination decisions. F2 highlights the interaction between stakeholders, whose collective action is oriented towards active participation in decisions and leadership. The perception of Portuguese entities with different levels of influence on tourism development allows the systematization of results that meet some priority lines defined in the Tourism Strategy 2027.

Validation and measurement invariance of the Compound PsyCap Scale (CPC-12): a short universal measure of psychological capital

The Compound PsyCap Scale (CPC-12) was developed by Lorenz et al. (2016) to broaden the application of psychological capital, since usually tied to workplace settings; however, no further verification of its suitability across different samples was performed. The present work investigated the psychometric properties of an Italian adaptation of the CPC-12 with the aim of verifying its applicability in samples where the item wording of the existing measures of PsyCap might not be suitable (e.g., students and unemployed people). Study 1 (n = 450) examined the factor structure of the scale. Study 2 (n = 255) advanced the previous CPC-12 validation by testing its measurement equivalence across gender through MCFA. Results confirmed a one higher-order factor structure with four first-order factors, the scale was found to be invariant across gender. The findings advanced the general claim of CPC-12 to be suitable for application in multiple contexts, including sport, education, vocational guidance, as well as typical and atypical work settings. Lorenz y sus colegas desarrollaron la Escala Compound PsyCap (CPC-12) para ampliar este enfoque de dominio específico; sin embargo, no se realizó ninguna verificación adicional de su idoneidad en diferentes muestras / entornos. El presente trabajo investigó las propiedades psicométricas de una adaptación italiana del CPC-12 con el objetivo de verificar su aplicabilidad en muestras donde la redacción de los ítems de las medidas existentes de PsyCap podría no ser adecuada (por ejemplo, estudiantes y desempleados). El estudio 1 (n = 450) examinó la estructura factorial de la escala. El estudio 2 (n = 255) avanzó en la validación anterior de la CPC-12 al probar su equivalencia de medición entre sexos a través de MCFA. Los resultados confirmaron una estructura factorial de un orden superior con cuatro factores de primer orden; se encontró que la escala era invariante en todos los sexos. Los hallazgos avanzaron la afirmación general de la CPC-12 de ser adecuada para su aplicación en múltiples contextos, incluidos el deporte, la educación, la orientación profesional, así como los entornos laborales típicos y atípicos.

Pretense, Executive Functions, and Counterfactual Reasoning: Evaluating the Case for a ‘Unified Theory of Imaginative Processes’

This study investigated the relation between pretense, counterfactual reasoning (CFR), and executive functions (EFs) based on the ‘Unifying Theory of Imaginative Processes’ proposed by Weisberg & Gopnik (2013). An observational study tested a hypothetical model of the structural relation between pretense and CFR and whether a second-order factor explains their shared associations. 189 typically developing children (Mean age = 58 months, SD = 4 months; males = 101, females = 88) were recruited from Cambridgeshire, UK and completed pretend-play, CFR, EFs, and language tasks. Pretense and CFR constructs were significantly correlated (r = 0.57, p = .001) and the hypothetical model was a good fit of the data. The empirical evidence provides initial support to the unifying theory of imaginative processes.

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Temperance Scale in Adolescents

Recent research has shown the relevance of measuring the virtue of temperance. The present study tested a multidimensional and second-order structure scale to assess temperance using a sub-scale of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth). Scale properties were tested using data from a sample of 860 adolescents aged from 12 to 18 years old (M = 14.28 years, SD = 1.65). The sample was randomly split into two subsamples for model cross-validation. Using the first sample, we assessed scale dimensionality, measurement invariance, and discriminant and concurrent validity. A second sample was used for model cross-validation. Confirmatory factorial analysis confirmed the fit of one second-order factor temperance virtue model, with the dimensions of forgiveness, modesty, prudence, and self-control. The results indicate scale measurement equivalence across gender and stage of adolescence (early vs. middle). Latent means difference tests showed significant differences in forgiveness, modesty, and self-regulation by gender, and modesty according to adolescence stage. Moreover, the scale showed discriminant and concurrent validity. These findings indicate that this scale is helpful for assessing temperance in adolescents and suggest the value of temperance as a multidimensional and second-order construct.

Influence of different sowing density in two varieties of maize. Part I. Relation to yielding

Summary A study was carried out to determine the effect of sowing density on the yield of maize of two different varieties. The field experiment was carried out in 2012–2014 at the Department of Agronomy of Poznań University of Life Sciences. The first-order factor was the variety: SY Cooky and Drim “stay-green”; the second-order factor was sowing density: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 plants per m2. Weather conditions during the maize growing seasons significantly influenced the values of the studied traits. Significantly the lowest green mass yield of maize was obtained at the sowing density of 6 plants m−2, and the highest for 10 plants m−2. The “stay-green” variety significantly responded to an increase in sowing density with reduced fresh weight of leaf blades of a single plant compared with the conventional variety. This indicated highly effective photosynthesis with a lower plant density per unit area, which is also the basis for effective absorption of solar radiation for these maize varieties.

Territorial dimension in the internationalization of tourism destinations: Structuring factors in the post-COVID19

This study presents an empirical validation of a scale designed to measure the territorial factors which contribute to the internationalisation of tourism destinations. It is part of a broader investigation in which the dimensions and factors of tourism destinations’ internationalisation were identified, strengthening a systemic perspective of tourism: ‘territory’, ‘product’, ‘governance’ and ‘DMOs’. Here we present the psychometric properties of the items that operationalise the 'territorial' dimension. The questionnaire was administered to 470 Portuguese DMO with responsibilities in the areas of tourism and local or regional development. The scale items were submitted to content, reliability and construct validations through exploratory (principal component analysis) and confirmatory factor analysis (first and second-order factor structures). The data sustain a factor structure composed of the factors ‘resources’, ‘economic activity’, and ‘borders’. The relationship between political options of destinations’ internationalisation and territories’ geographical, cultural and economic characteristics were determined. This relationship forms the foundation of tourism in times of crisis, such as we are currently experiencing.

Applicability and validation of the Reaction to Tests Scale (RTT) in a sample of Portuguese medical students

Background Test anxiety is a crucial factor in determining academic outcomes, and it may lead to poor cognitive performance, academic underachievement, and psychological distress, interfering specifically with their ability to think and perform during tests. The main objective of this study was to explore the applicability and psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Reactions to Tests scale (RTT) in a sample of medical students. Method A sample of 672 medical students completed the RTT. The sample was randomly split in half to allow for independent Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and to test the best fit model—Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). CFA was used to test both the first-order factor structure (four subscales) and second-order factor structure, in which the four subscales relate to a general factor, Test Anxiety. The internal consistency of the RTT was assessed through Cronbach’s alpha, Composite reliability (CR) and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for the total scale and each of the four subscales. Convergent validity was evaluated through the correlation between RTT and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y).To explore the comparability of measured attributes across subgroups of respondents, measurement invariance was also studied. Results Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable fits for the Portuguese RTT version. Concerning internal consistency, results indicate that RTT was found to be reliable to measure test anxiety in this sample. Convergent validity of the RTT with both state and trait anxiety STAI-Y’s subscales was also shown. Moreover, multigroup analyses showed metric invariance across gender and curriculum phase. Conclusion Our results suggest that the RTT scale is a valid and reliable instrument for the measurement of test anxiety among Portuguese Medical Students.

The Dimensionality of the Brief COPE Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) is a frequently used questionnaire assessing 14 theoretically derived coping mechanisms, but psychometric research has suggested inconsistent results concerning its factor structure. The aim of this study was to investigate primary and secondary order factor structures of the Brief COPE during the COVID-19 pandemic by testing 11 different models by confirmatory factor analyses and to assess differences between sex, age groups, and relationship status. Altogether, 529 respondents from Austria and Germany participated in a web-based survey. Results supported the originally hypothesized 14-factor structure but did not support previously described higher-order structures. However, bass-ackwards analyses suggested systematic overlap between different factors, which might have contributed to different factor solutions in previous research. Measurement invariance across sex, age groups, and relationship status could be confirmed. Findings suggest that cultural and situational aspects as well as the functional level should be considered in research on theoretical framing of coping behavior.

Assessing Parenting Interactions With Children: Spanish Validation of PICCOLO With Fathers

Background/Objective: To gain knowledge about mothers' and fathers' interactions with their sons and daughters, we need reliable and valid tools to assess parental behaviors that can be used for different caregivers and in a variety of cultural contexts. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of Parenting Interactions with Children: Checklist of Observations Linked to Outcomes (PICCOLO) to assess fathers' interaction with their children at early ages. PICCOLO is an observational tool originally developed in the United States for mothers and fathers and previously validated in Spain with a sample of mothers.Methods: One hundred and ninety-one father–child dyads were observed during free-play situations at home when the children were between 10 and 47 months of age (55.0% male). The fathers auto recorded 8–10 minutes of interaction and trained evaluators assessed the recordings with PICCOLO.Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the dimensional structure of the original version of the scale: four first-order factors (Affection, Responsiveness, Encouragement and Teaching) and one second-order factor (Parenting). The tool was found to have high inter-rater reliability at domain and total score level. Ordinal alpha and omega coefficients for each domain ranged between 0.79 and 0.85, and 0.64 and 0.79, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found in any PICCOLO domain or in the total score according to the child's gender. In assessments of the child's development with the Bayley-III scales, moderate positive correlations were found between Encouragement and receptive language (r = 0.32), and between Teaching and expressive (r = 0.34) and composite language (r = 0.31).Conclusion: The Spanish version of PICCOLO can be used to assess fathers' parenting. As PICCOLO is clearly linked to intervention goals, it is of particular interest for practitioners in early intervention and family programs.