Association between Resting-state EEG oscillation and psychometric properties in perimenopausal women

Background: The perimenopausal period is associated with higher risk for various mood disorders. Resting-state EEG (rsEEG) brain oscillatory activity has been associated with various neuropsychological disorders and behaviors but has not been assessed in perimenopausal women. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate quantitative relationships between psychometric properties and rsEEG rhythms (δ, θ, α, and γ powers) in perimenopausal women. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational descriptive study was conducted to quantitatively analyze the correlations among rsEEG low to high band activity (δ, θ, α, and γ powers) and psychometric properties for 14 perimenopausal women. Participants completed a psychological inventory comprised of a State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), Depression Inventory (DI), Behavioral Inhibition Scale (BIS), and short-form UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (IS) before EEG recording. Results: Results showed that impulsivity was positively related to the β power, symmetrical at most channels (frontal, temporal, central, parietal, and occipital regions; p <.05), but did not relate to the δ, θ, α, and γ powers. The brainwave low to high bands, δ, θ, α, β, and γ power, were not associated with DI, SAI, or BIS scores. Conclusions: This study’s findings suggest that significantly enhanced resting-state beta activity is a trait marker of impulsivity in perimenopausal women. This finding has potential implications for preclinical or clinical evaluation of perimenopausal women.

An Exploratory Study of a New Psychological Instrument for Evaluating Sustainability: The Sustainable Development Goals Psychological Inventory

The psychometric properties of the Sustainable Development Goals Psychological Inventory (SDGPI) are verified, by employing quantitative and qualitative approaches, in order to obtain a thorough comprehension of the self-perceptions of the sustainable development goals by the Italian participants in this research. The reliability, dimensionality, and aspects of concurrent validity were tested for the SDGPI. Three unidimensional factors (interest, motivation, and self-efficacy) were shown to be prevalent using exploratory factor analysis. Furthermore, the SDGPI showed adequate concurrent validity and internal consistency in the present study. To broaden the quantitative findings, responses to open-ended questions were analyzed. The results suggest perspectives for future exploration and actions regarding the psychology of sustainable development and sustainability.

Empirical Foundations

The authors review the published, peer-reviewed studies relevant to two questions: What psychological constructs underlie police officer suitability and fitness? and What assessment instruments provide empirically validated measures of these constructs? In addressing the second question, the authors focus on examples of research related to the most commonly used instruments in these suitability and fitness evaluations (i.e., current versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, California Psychological Inventory, Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, and Personality Assessment Inventory). The discussion is limited to a review of studies published in peer-reviewed journals and pertaining only to versions of the test currently supported by the test’s publisher.

Implicațiile factorilor cognitivi si de personalitate în luarea deciziilor – un model teoretico-explicativ

This study is aimed to show the influence of cognitive and non-cognitive factors on decisional efficiency through the design of a theoretical-explicative model and by testing it against reality. This model reflects the link between cognitive variables, personality variables and decisional performance. The participants in this study (N=88) are managers in a IT&C company and have an average age of 32.3 years and a average working seniority of 8.6 years, 74.9% being males and 25.1 % being females. The instruments used were California Psychological Inventory (CPI 260 items form), a questionnaire for assessing the decisional style, a decision making questionnaire, decisional skills test (BTPAC), and Raven standard test, Plus form, a questionnaire for assessing cognitive complexity and Melbourne decision making questionnaire. In order to evaluate decisional performance I developed an behaviorally anchored scale. The evaluation of cognitive competencies, defined in behavioral terms like decision making performance and cognitive complexity, together with the personality dimensions, help us to select managers with an increased adaptive orientation to organizational change and a better decisional performance

Factores psicosociales que contribuyen al éxito deportivo de jugadores universitarios de balonmano

El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar los factores de dureza mental y contexto social que contribuyen al éxito deportivo según la posición de jugadores universitarios de balonmano. Participaron 212 jugadores de equipos representativos. Para evaluar la dureza mental se aplicó el Inventario Psicológico de Ejecución Deportiva (IPED) y la contribución del contexto social se evaluó mediante el Cuestionario sobre la Percepción de los Factores Relacionados con la Excelencia en el Deporte (PFED). Los análisis mostraron que la dureza mental interpretada a través del control atencional muestra diferencias por posiciones (K = 14,21; p < 0,05), los laterales presentan puntuaciones superiores respecto a porteros, pivotes, centrales y extremos (p < 0,05). Respecto al contexto social, se obtuvieron diferencias entre posiciones de juego. Para los laterales, el factor de mayor contribución a su excelencia deportiva son sus propias habilidades (K = 11,08; p < 0,05), mientras que para porteros es la naturaleza del entrenamiento (K = 10,08; p < 0,05). Se concluye que las características psicosociales son diferentes en función de la posición de juego del jugador universitario de balonmano. El entrenador, la familia, la naturaleza y características del entrenamiento son los factores que más contribuyen al éxito deportivo y a su vez incrementan la autoconfianza del jugador. The objective of the present study was to identify the factors of mental toughness and social context that contribute to sporting success according to the position of college handball players. Participants were 212 representative teams players. To evaluate the mental toughness we applied the Psychological Inventory of Sports Performance (IPED) and the contribution of the social context was assessed using the Questionnaire on the Perception of the Related Factors with the Excellence in Sport (PFED). The analyzed showed that mental toughness interpreted through attentional control shows differences by positions (K = 14,21; p < 0,05), the sided have higher scores with respect to goalkeeper, pivots, central and back position (p < 0,05). Regarding the social context, there were differences between playing positions. For the sides, factor the greatest contribution to their sporting excellence are their own skills (K = 11,08; p < 0,05), whereas for goalkeepers is the training nature (K = 10,08; p < 0,05). It is concluded that the psychosocial characteristics are different depending on the playing position of the university handball player. The coach, family, nature and characteristics of the training are the factors that contribute most to sport success and in turn increase the self-confidence. O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar os fatores de tenacidade mental e contexto social que contribuem para o sucesso esportivo de acordo com a posição dos jogadores de handebol universitário. Os participantes foram 212 jogadores das equipes representativas. Para avaliar a tenacidade mental foi aplicado o Inventário Psicológico do Desempenho Esportivo (IPED) e a contribuição do contexto social foi avaliada por meio do Questionário de Percepção dos Fatores Relacionados à Excelência no Esporte (PFED). Os analisados ​​mostraram que a dureza mental interpretada pelo controle de atenção apresenta diferenças por posições (K = 14,21; p < 0,05), os lados apresentam maiores pontuações em relação ao goleiro, pivôs, posição central e traseira (p < 0,05). Em relação ao contexto social, houve diferenças entre as posições de jogo. Para os lados, a maior contribuição para sua excelência esportiva são suas próprias habilidades (K = 11,08; p < 0,05), enquanto que para os goleiros e centrais são as natureza do treinamento (K = 10,08; p < 0,05). Conclui-se que as características psicossociais são diferentes dependendo da posição de jogo do jogador de handebol da universidade. O treinador, a família, a natureza e as características do treinamento são os fatores que mais contribuem para o sucesso esportivo e, por sua vez, aumentam a autoconfiança.

Confound It!

Many investigators have noted “reverse-coding” method factors when exploring response pattern structure with psychological inventory data. The current article probes for the existence of a confound in these investigations, whereby an item’s level of saturation with socially desirable content tends to covary with the item’s substantive scale keying. We first investigate its existence, demonstrating that 15 of 16 measures that have been previously implicated as exhibiting a reverse-scoring method effect can also be reasonably characterized as exhibiting a scoring key/social desirability confound. A second set of analyses targets the extent to which the confounding variable may confuse interpretation of factor analytic results and documents strong social desirability associations. The results suggest that assessment developers perhaps consider the social desirability scale value of indicators when constructing scale aggregates (and possibly scales when investigating inter-construct associations). Future investigations would ideally disentangle the confound via experimental manipulation.