An Evaluation of Age-Group Latent Mean Differences in Maladaptive Identity in Adolescence

Little is known about the differences between age groups in maladaptive personality function as denoted in Criterion A of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorder (AMPD) in the DSM-5, which is the entry criterion for diagnosing personality disorder in the upcoming ICD-11. The current study aimed to address this gap by evaluating latent mean age group differences in maladaptive identity, which is one aspect that has been identified as an important feature of maladaptive, general personality function as represented in the DSM-5 and ICD-11. We were also interested whether mean differences would track with mean differences in borderline personality disorder (BPD) features given prior data suggesting that general personality function overlap with the construct of BPD. A community sample of N = 2,381 adolescents, representing a mix of different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, ages 12-18 (M = 14.92, SD = 1.94; 46% male) completed a measure of maladaptive identity. A subset (n = 1,165) completed a measure of borderline personality features. Latent variable modeling was used to evaluate latent mean differences across seven age bands. Results suggested a normative increase in maladaptive identity after age 12, which remained consistent until age 17 when it dropped back to levels observed in 12-year-olds. Maladaptive identity was significantly associated with mean-level increases in borderline personality features, with these constructs becoming more closely associated with increasing age.

Measuring Individuals’ Misogynistic Attitudes: Development and Validation of the Misogyny Scale

Across three studies based on a nationally representative survey (n = 1500), we developed and validated the misogyny scale. Initial items were generated from an extensive literature search and subsequently derived from validated scales assessing internalised misogyny, hostile sexism, and hostility towards women. Construct and measurement validity were established across several studies. An exploratory factor analysis (Study 1, n = 750) established the factor structure of the 10-item misogyny scale. In study 2 (n = 750), the 10-item structure was replicated via confirmatory factor analysis. The misogyny scale displayed good convergent (i.e., significant and strong relationship with male sexual entitlement, masculinity related violent beliefs and willingness to use violence) and discriminant validity (i.e., no relationship with analytical thinking). In study 3 (n = 750), we established measurement invariance across gender and age groups. This allows researchers to deploy the scale among male and female individuals, across different age groups as well as to assess latent mean differences. Significant latent mean differences for all three latent factors emerged between male and female participants, demonstrating that men had significantly stronger misogynistic attitudes than women (MDiff1 = -.482***; MDiff2 = -.324***; MDiff3 = -.197***). The latent mean differences ranged from small (Cohen’s d2 = .27; Cohen’s d3 = .19) to medium effect sizes (Cohen’s d1 = .38). The strongest latent mean differences between age groups were found for the factor ‘manipulative and exploitative nature of women’. Older age groups reported significantly stronger attitudes relating to this factor than younger participants. The misogyny scale will allow researchers to explore the psychological antecedents and consequences of misogyny among population samples and the subsequent findings may have important practical implications for prevention and intervention programs on violent (extremist) propensity development.

Exploring the Dimensions of Smartphone Distraction: Development, Validation, Measurement Invariance, and Latent Mean Differences of the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS)

Background: Distraction is a functional emotion regulation strategy utilized to relieve emotional distress. Within the attention economy perspective, distraction is increasingly associated with digital technology use, performance impairments and interference with higher-order cognitive processes. Research on smartphone distraction and its association with problematic smartphone use is still scarce and there is no available psychometric assessment tool to assess this cognitive and emotive process parsimoniously.Method: The present study reports the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS) through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, construct validity, gender invariance, and latent mean differences. The study was conducted in a sample of British university students (N = 1,001; M = 21.10 years, SD = 2.77).Results: The 16-item SDS was best conceptualized in a four-factor model solution comprising attention impulsiveness, online vigilance, emotion regulation, and multitasking. Construct validity was established using relevant psychosocial and mental health measures, with SDS scores being moderately associated with deficient self-regulation and problematic social media use. Gender measurement invariance was achieved at the configural, metric, and scalar levels, and latent mean differences indicated that females had significantly higher means than males across all four SDS latent factors.Discussion: The SDS presents with several strengths, including its theoretical grounding, relatively short length, and sound psychometric properties. The SDS enables the assessment of distraction, which appears to be one of the pathways to problematic smartphone use facilitating overuse and overreliance on smartphones for emotion regulation processes. The assessment of distraction in relation to problematic use in vulnerable populations may facilitate interventions that could encourage metacognition and benefit these groups by allowing sustained productivity in an increasingly disrupted work and social environment.

Examination of the Validity of the Chinese Version of the Children’s Hope Scale Among Chinese Adolescents

Given possible developmental and/or cultural differences in the meaning and levels of hope among children, we evaluated the validity, measurement invariance, and latent mean differences for the Chinese version of the Children’s Hope Scale (CHS) across gender. Our sample comprised 2045 Chinese adolescents (46.4% men), with a mean age of 12.94 years. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) supported one-factor and two-factor models. Cronbach’s alphas, mean inter-item correlations, and test–retest coefficients supported their reliability for both models. Also, multigroup CFA for both models indicated measurement invariance across gender. Analyses of latent means revealed no significant gender differences for the CHS total or Agency factor. However, men scored higher than women on the Pathways factor. Such differences suggest consideration of gender when assessing and promoting hope in Chinese adolescents.

Do Turkish teachers feel personal accountability the same way? Measurement invariance and latent mean comparisons across gender, tenure, teacher branches and school grades

PurposeThe primary purpose of this study is to test the measurement invariance and the latent mean differences of the personal accountability measure (PAM) constructs.Design/methodology/approachObtained through the Turkish version of the PAM from a random sample of 453 teachers working in elementary and secondary schools in Aksaray province, data were analyzed using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test the measurement invariance and latent mean differences of the internal and external accountability constructs across gender, tenure, school grade and teacher branches, respectively.FindingsTeacher internal and external accountability constructs were demonstrated in this study to be fully equivalent across gender and tenure, and partially equivalent across school grade and teacher branches. Latent mean comparisons showed that less-experienced tenure teachers, class teachers and ESL teachers in Turkey felt more internally accountable compared to their peers in other groups. No significant latent mean differences of teacher external accountability were observed across genders, tenures, school types or teacher branches.Originality/valueThis study contributes to research by providing further valuable information on the equivalencies of the external and internal accountability constructs across gender, tenure, school grade and branch for future research studying multigroup comparisons and structural relationships of personal accountability constructs. It also provides school principals and policymakers with more accurate, multigroup comparisons of teacher external and internal accountability dispositions across gender, tenure, school grade and branch.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance Across Sex of the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale in Chinese adolescents

The aim of this study was to validate the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) in Chinese adolescents by examining factor structure, sex-related measurement invariance and latent mean differences, reliability, and criterion-related validity.A total of 1674 Chinese adolescents aged 12–17 years old (Mage = 15.26, SD = .58) were recruited. Results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the four-factor model of the WLEIS as the best fit to the data. Multi-group CFA suggested that the measurement structure of the WLEIS was invariant across sex. Testing for the latent mean differences showed that male adolescents scored lower on the Other-Emotional Appraisal subscale, but scored higher on the Regulation of Emotion subscale than female adolescents. Furthermore, all the subscales of male and female adolescents had satisfactory composite reliability. Finally, the WLEIS had favorable criterion-related validity with self-esteem, life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and perceived stress. These findings suggested that the WLEIS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing trait emotional intelligence of adolescents and can be generalized across sex.