Sex-related differences in the associations between diurnal cortisol pattern and social and emotional loneliness in older adults.

Introduction: Loneliness is a distressful feeling that can affect mental and physical health, particularly among older adults. Cortisol, the primary hormone of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA-axis), may act as a biological transducer through which loneliness affects health. While most previous studies have evaluated the association between loneliness, as a unidimensional construct, and diurnal cortisol pattern, no research has examined this relationship discriminating between social and emotional loneliness in older adults. As sex differences in the negative mental health outcomes of loneliness have been reported, we also investigated whether diurnal cortisol indices and loneliness associations occur in a sex-specific manner. Methods: We analyzed the diurnal cortisol- pattern in 142 community-dwelling, non-depressed, Caucasian older adults (55,6% female) aged 60-90. Social and emotional (family and romantic) loneliness scores were assessed using the Spanish version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA). Five salivary cortisol samples were used to capture key features of the diurnal cortisol pattern, including: awakening and bedtime cortisol levels, awakening response (CAR), post-awakening cortisol output (post-awakening cortisol [i.e., the area under the curve with reference to the ground: AUCG]), total diurnal cortisol release (AUCG), and diurnal cortisol slope (DCS). Results: After controlling for sociodemographic variables, the hierarchical linear multiple regression analyses revealed that in male older adults, higher scores on social and family loneliness were associated with elevated awakening cortisol levels, total diurnal cortisol output, and a steeper diurnal cortisol slope (DCS). However, these associations were not observed in female older adults. In addition, feelings of romantic loneliness were positively associated with bedtime cortisol levels and AUCG in older males. Multilevel growth curve modeling showed that experiencing more social and emotional loneliness predicted higher diurnal cortisol output throughout the day in older male adults. Discussion: The presence of sex differences in the relationship between cortisol indices and loneliness among older adults holds particular significance for diagnostic and screening procedures. Combining loneliness scales as screening tools with diurnal cortisol measures has the potential to be an effective and cost-efficient approach in identifying higher-risk individuals at early stages.

Normative Data for Verbal Fluency, Trail Making, and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Tests on Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to generate updated normative data for commonly used tests in neuropsychological assessment applied to older monolingual Spanish-speaking adults: Verbal fluency tests, the Trail Making Test (TMT), and the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF). METHOD: To obtain normative data, 382 cognitively healthy 60- to 90-year-old Spanish monolingual participants from the Autonomous Community of Madrid (Spain) with 0-22 years education were assessed using an overlapping interval strategy that involved cell and midpoint techniques, and that assessed the influence of age, education, and sex. RESULTS: Age and education were associated with the scores in the verbal fluency tests, TMT, and ROCF, whereas sex only significantly affected the TMT results. Age-adjusted scaled scores (SSA) based on percentile ranks were also converted into age-education scaled scores (SSAE) using a linear regression model. In addition, tables with the relevant adjustments for sex are provided for TMT-A and TMT-B. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, this study provides updated, uniform normative data for widely used neuropsychological tests on older Spanish adults. The normative procedure followed helps to make consistent comparisons when using these neuropsychological tests, which will improve the interpretation of the data obtained when these tools are employed, reducing the risk of misdiagnosing cognitive impairment in older adults.

Normative data for the Spanish version of the California Verbal Learning Test (TAVEC) from older adults.

The aim of this study was to establish normative data for the Spanish version of the California Verbal Learning Test, the Test de Aprendizaje Verbal España-Complutense (TAVEC). Through different subtests, the TAVEC allows verbal learning and episodic memory to be evaluated, an assessment that was carried out on a sample of 382 cognitive healthy Spanish individuals aged 60-90 years old. Unlike the participant's educational level, their age and sex significantly influenced performance in the TAVEC. We provide tables that allow the scaled scores obtained with this test to be adjusted for age and other tables with the relevant adjustments for sex. The normative data obtained in this study will help more precisely interpret the performance of older Spanish adults in the TAVEC, enhancing the utility of this neuropsychological test to evaluate verbal learning and episodic memory in clinical settings and in relation to healthy aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Revised in Colombian undergraduates / Estructura factorial y propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Actitudes Disfuncionales Revisada en universitarios colombianos

The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) is a classic, 40-item measure of dysfunctional schema - a key construct of the cognitive model of depression. However, some controversy exists regarding the factorial structure of the DAS. Accordingly, a revised version of the DAS (hereafter, the DAS-R) has been recently proposed using confirmatory factor analysis and consisting of 17 items. The DAS-R contains two correlated factors: Perfectionism/Performance evaluation and Dependency. In a previous study with a Spanish sample, a hierarchical factor model with these two first-order factors and a general factor showed the best fit of the data. This study analyses the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the DAS-R in a sample of 762 Colombian undergraduates. The results were very similar to the ones obtained in the Spanish sample. The hierarchical factor structure showed the best fit of the data, and the DAS-R showed good internal consistency and discriminant and convergent validity. In conclusion, the DAS-R seems a good option to measure dysfunctional schema in Colombia. Furthermore, the replication of the hierarchical factor structure indicates that the DAS-R provides general and specific measures of dysfunctional schema that are theoretically meaningful.

La Escala de Actitudes Disfuncionales (DAS) es una medida clásica de 40 items de los esquemas disfuncionales, un constructo central en el modelo cognitivo de la depresión. Sinembargo, existe alguna controversia en torno a su estructura factorial. Recientemente se ha Análisis factorial propuesto una versión revisada del DAS (de aquí en adelante DAS-R), consistente en 17 items, usando un análisis factorial confirmatorio. El DAS-R contiene 2 factores correlacionados: perfeccionismo/evaluación del rendimiento y dependencia. En un estudio previo con una muestra española, una estructura jerárquica con estos 2 factores de primer orden y un factor general mostró el mejor ajuste a los datos. Este estudio analiza la estructura factorial y las propiedades psicométricas del DAS-R en una muestra de 762 estudiantes universitarios colombianos. Los resultados fueron muy similares a los obtenidos en la muestra española. La estructura factorial jerárquica mostró el mejor ajuste a los datos y el DAS-R mostró buena consistencia interna y validez discriminante y convergente. En conclusión, el DAS-R parece una buena opción para medir los esquemas disfuncionales en Colombia. Además, la replicación de la estructura factorial jerárquica indica que el DAS-R provee medidas generales y específicas de los esquemas disfuncionales que son teóricamente significativas.

Psychometric properties of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale in Colombian undergraduates / Propiedades psicométricas de la Mindful Attention Awareness Scale en universitarios colombianos

The Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale is one of the most popular instruments to measure mindfulness, and this construct is conceived as unidimensional, emphasizing attention/awareness as its essential aspect. This study aimed to analyze the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the MAAS in a Colombian sample of 762 undergraduates. Data were very similar to those obtained in other validation studies of the MAAS. A confirmatory factor analysis found that the expected one-factor structure showed a good fit to the data. The MAAS had excellent internal consistency, and showed theoretically coherent correlations with emotional symptoms, automatic negative thoughts, psychological inflexibility, and life satisfaction. Participants who could have a psychopathological problem because they exceeded the cut-off of the General Health Questionnaire, 12 scored lower on the MAAS than participants who scored below this cut-off. In conclusion, the MAAS seems to be a reliable and valid measure of mindfulness in Colombian undergraduates.

La Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale es uno de los instrumentos más populares para medir mindfulness, concibe este constructo como unidimensional y subraya el aspecto esencial de la atención/conciencia. Este estudio pretende analizar la estructura factorial y las propiedades psicométricas de la versión en español de la MAAS en una muestra de 762 universitarios colombianos. Los resultados fueron muy similares a los obtenidos en otros estudios de validación. El análisis factorial confirmatorio encontró que la estructura unifactorial esperada mostró un buen ajuste a los datos. La MAAS tuvo una consistencia interna excelente y mostró correlaciones teóricamente coherentes con síntomas emocionales, pensamientos automáticos negativos, inflexibilidad psicológica y satisfacción vital. Los participantes que podían tener algún problema psicopatológico por exceder el punto de corte del General Health Questionnaire - 12, puntuaron más bajo en la MAAS que los participantes que puntuaron por debajo de este punto de corte. En conclusión, la MAAS parece ser una medida fiable y válida de mindfulness en universitarios colombianos.

Craniofacial pain and disability inventory (CF-PDI): development and psychometric validation of a new questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial pain, headaches, and neck pain are very common pain conditions in the general population and might be associated in their pathophysiology, although this is not yet clarified. The development and validation of a prediction inventory is important to minimize risks. Most recent questionnaires have not focused on pain, but pain is the common symptom in temporomandibular disorders, headaches, and neck pain. It is necessary to provide tools for these conditions. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to present the development and analysis of the factorial structure and psychometric properties of a new self-administered questionnaire (Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory [CF-PDI]) designed to measure pain, disability, and functional status of the mandibular and craniofacial regions. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive survey design. A secondary analysis of the reliability of the measures was a longitudinal, observational study. SETTING: A convenience sample was recruited from a hospital and 2 specialty clinics in Madrid, Spain. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 192 heterogeneous chronic craniofacial pain patients. A sub-sample of 106 patients was asked to answer the questionnaire a second time, to assess the test-retest reliability. The development and validation of the CF-PDI were conducted using the standard methodology, which included item development, cognitive debriefing, and psychometric validation. The questionnaire was assessed for the following psychometric properties: internal consistency (Cronbach's α); floor and ceiling effects; test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient [ICC]; Bland and Altman method); construct validity (exploratory factor analysis); responsiveness (standard error of measurement [SEM] and minimal detectable change [MDC]); and convergent validity (Pearson correlation coefficient), by comparing visual analog scale (VAS), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the strength of the associations with theoretically similar constructs. RESULTS: The final version of the CF-PDI consists of 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 2 factors ("pain and disability" and "jaw functional status"), both with an eigenvalue greater than one, explaining 44.77% of the variance. Floor or ceiling effects were not observed. High internal consistency of the CF-PDI (Cronbach's α: 0.88) and also of the 2 subscales (Cronbach's α: 0.80 - 0.86) was confirmed. ICC was found to be 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86 - 0.93), which was considered to be excellent test-retest reliability. The SEM and MDC were 2.4 and 7 points, respectively. The total CF-PDI score showed a moderate correlation with most of the assessed questionnaires (r = 0.36 - 0.52) and a strong correlation with the NDI (r = 0.65; P < 0.001). The NDI, VAS, and TSK-11 were predictors of CF-PDI. LIMITATIONS: Only self-reported measures were considered for convergent validity. Future research should use physical tests to explore the clinical signs relating to pain and disability. CONCLUSION: The CF-PDI showed good psychometric properties. Based on the findings of this study, the CF-PDI can be used in research and clinical practice for the assessment of patients with craniofacial pain.