Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Nightmares Distress Questionnaire (NDQ-AV) in a community sample of adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ), known and commonly used for its adequate psychometric properties, is the most widely used instrument for the measurement of nightmare distress. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a newly translated Arabic version of the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ-AV). METHODS: A total of 546 Lebanese adolescents was recruited for this study and completed the NDQ-AV, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the eight-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8). RESULTS: The results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported both a one-factor model and a two-factor model of the NDQ-AV, with the latter consisting of seven items within both factors. The first factor was referred to as the "general nightmare distress and coping" while the second was named "nightmare impact and perception". The reliability of the scale was excellent (α = 0.930 and ω = 0.915). Moreover, measurement invariance was shown across gender, demonstrating that this measure performs consistently for both men and women. Additionally, the NDQ-AV scores exhibited excellent reliability alongside factorial and concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results support the psychometric validity of the Arabic version of the NDQ. The availability of the NDQ-AV is expected to facilitate the understanding of nightmare distress within the Lebanese context.

The moderating effect of resilience in the association between insomnia severity and PTSD symptoms in Lebanese adolescents in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake.

The interplay between insomnia and PTSD symptoms remains misunderstood, and seems to be influenced by other factors like individual resilience. Our study examined the moderating role of resilience in the relationship between insomnia and PTSD symptoms among a sample of Lebanese adolescents, in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake. This cross sectional study, conducted in April, 2 months after the earthquake, enrolled 546 Lebanese adolescents. We used the Sleep Self Report, the Resilience Scale for Adolescents and the 13-item Children's Impact of Event Scale. The interaction insomnia severity by resilience was significantly associated with PTSD scores. At low, moderate and high resilience levels, higher insomnia severity was significantly associated with lower PTSD. Resilience moderated the relationship between insomnia and PTSD, mitigating the detrimental impact of disrupted sleep on PTSD symptoms. This data can guide healthcare administrators and psychiatric caregivers in classifying risk factors and implementing interventions to predict PTSD development.

Validation of the Arabic version of the resilience scale for adolescents (READ).

INTRODUCTION: Adolescents react differently to challenging negative life events. Resilience, a dynamic characteristic of individuals, was studied to be a protective factor against such events. In order to study the resilience among Arabic-speaking adolescent populations, age-appropriate measures that are fully apprehended by younger respondents are needed. In this context, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) in a community sample of native Arabic-speaking adolescents aged 13-18 years. METHODS: A sample of 546 community Arabic-speaking adolescents from Lebanon was recruited (n = 328 females, with a mean age of 15.76 ± 1.65 years). Through an online questionnaire, participants were requested to complete the READ, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8) and the 13-item Children's Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13). RESULTS: Following the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA-to-CFA) strategy, a unidimensional model of the Arabic version of the READ was met after 10 items were removed from the scale, and showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.943). Additionally, the one-factor solution of the Arabic version of the READ was identical across male and female adolescents at the three levels of invariance (Configural, Metric and Scalar). Finally, higher resilience scores were significantly correlated with lower levels of psychopathology, namely depression, anxiety, stress and PTSD, thus attesting to the concurrent validity of the Arabic READ. CONCLUSION: Findings lend support to the psychometric reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the READ, and therefore its suitability for use among Arabic-speaking adolescents. The availability of this tool facilitates the implementation of interventions that foster resilience, especially in adolescents who have faced a number of negative life events.

Depressive symptoms among a sample of Lebanese adolescents: Scale validation and correlates with disordered eating.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a transitional phase that brings many psychological and physiological challenges that increase emotional vulnerability and threaten the adolescent's mental well-being. Indeed, mental illnesses, such as depression and eating disorders, show an alarming increase in prevalence after puberty. Adolescent depression is particularly concerning owing to the fact that it is a principal cause of disability among adolescents, an important risk factor for suicidality, and is associated with higher risks of present and subsequent morbidity. Our study aimed at (1) examining the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and (2) evaluating the correlation between depression, eating disorders, stress, and other variables in a sample of Lebanese adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional research enlisted 555 Lebanese teenagers (15-18 years) from all Lebanese governorates (May-June 2020). The confirmatory factor analysis of the PHQ-9 scale items was carried out using the SPSS AMOS program v.24. The relative chi-square, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI) were all utilized as goodness-of-fit indexes. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 16.66 ± 1.00 years, with 75.7% females. Among these 555 adolescents, 62.9% had mild-to-moderate depression and 14% reported moderately severe-to-severe depression, while only 23.1% were classified as not suffering from depression. Confirmatory factor analysis of the PHQ-9 scale was conducted using the one-factor structure that is described in the literature; the fit indices obtained were acceptable as follows: χ2/df= 136.26/27 =5.05, CFI=0.92, TLI=0.90 and RMSEA=0.085 [0.072-0.100]. However, the modification indices between items 6 and 9 were high; after correlating these two items, the fit indices improved more as follows: χ2/df= 105.59/26=4.06, CFI=0.94, TLI=0.92 and RMSEA=0.074 [0.060-0.089]. The multivariable analysis results showed that more stress (ß=0.59), female sex (ß=1.54), and more binge eating (ß=0.16) were significantly associated with more depression. CONCLUSION: This study supports the validity of the PHQ-9, which presents as a reliable tool for the evaluation of depression in future epidemiological studies of Lebanese adolescents. It also elucidates the high level of depression among this age group and its correlation with modifiable and unmodifiable factors.

Factors associated with problematic social media use among a sample of Lebanese adults: The mediating role of emotional intelligence.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship of smoking (cigarettes or waterpipe), alcohol drinking, alexithymia, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, stress, social phobia, emotional intelligence, impulsivity, insomnia, physical health, and loneliness with problematic social media use (PSMU) in a sample of Lebanese citizens. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 466 participants (January-May 2019). RESULTS: Higher anxiety, alcohol use disorder, and social phobia were correlated with elevated PSMU, while older age was associated with lower PSMU. Emotional intelligence partially mediated the association between alexithymia and PSMU by 4.55%. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Since these manifestations are preventable, spreading awareness through our schools, educational programs, and even healthcare professionals would considerably reduce the pace at which young adults are transforming into anxious and distorted individuals.