Analysis of the psychometric properties of the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire in Colombian adolescents / Análisis de las propiedades psicométricas del Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire en adolescentes colombianos

Abstract Background/objective: Decision-making is a set of skills useful for daily functioning which allow people to perform their tasks and control objectives and goals, generating responses to the environment's demands from their resources. Research and intervention with adolescents require reliable instruments to assess decision-making. The Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (MDMQ) is an instrument that assesses decision-making styles and has been successfully validated in different cultural contexts. This study analysed the psychometric properties, construct validity (factorial, convergent, and discriminant), and predictive validity of the MDMQ in Colombian adolescents. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which 822 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (M = 16.09, SD = 1.31, 33.7% girls), 410 from the regular school system (M = 15.50, SD = 1.29, 48.54% girls) and 412 adolescents from the Criminal Responsibility System (M = 16.6, SD = 1.04, 18.93% girls) participated. Decision-making styles, emotional intelligence, cognitive distortions, prosocial behaviour and antisocial behaviour were assessed. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), reliability, correlational and predictive analyses were performed. Results: The CFA showed satisfactory fit indices for the original model of four factors and 22 items. Sufficient reliability conditions were observed. The results indicated that rational decision-making (vigilance) is positively associated with emotional intelligence and influences prosocial behaviour. Negative decision-making styles are associated with cognitive distortions and influence antisocial behaviour. Conclusions: After analysing the psychometric properties, it is concluded that the MDMQ is a valid instrument to assess the decision-making styles of Colombian adolescents.

Resumen Antecedentes/objetivo: La toma de decisiones es un conjunto de habilidades útiles para el funcionamiento diario que permite a las personas realizar sus tareas y controlar objetivos y metas, generando respuestas a las demandas del entorno a partir de sus recursos. La investigación y la intervención con adolescentes requieren instrumentos fiables para evaluar la toma de decisiones. El Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire (MDMQ) es un instrumento que evalúa los estilos de toma de decisiones y ha sido validado con éxito en diferentes contextos culturales. Este artículo analizó las propiedades psicométricas, la validez de constructo (factorial, convergente y discriminante) y la validez predictiva del MDMQ en adolescentes colombianos. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal en el que participaron 822 adolescentes de 14 a 18 años (M = 16.09, DT = 1.31, 33,7% chicas), 410 del sistema escolar (M = 15.50, DT = 1.29, 48.54% chicas) y 412 adolescentes del Sistema de Responsabilidad Penal (M = 16.6, DT = 1.04, 18.93% chicas). Se evaluaron los estilos de toma de decisiones, la inteligencia emocional, las distorsiones cognitivas, la conducta prosocial y la conducta antisocial. Se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios (AFC), análisis de fiabilidad, correlacionales y predictivos. Resultados: El AFC mostró índices de ajuste satisfactorios para el modelo original de cuatro factores y 22 ítems. Se observaron condiciones de fiabilidad suficientes. Los resultados indicaron que la toma de decisiones racional (vigilancia) se asocia positivamente con la inteligencia emocional e influye en el comportamiento prosocial. Los estilos negativos de toma de decisiones se asocian con las distorsiones cognitivas e influyen en el comportamiento antisocial. Conclusiones: Después de analizar las propiedades psicométricas, se concluye que el MDMQ es un instrumento válido para evaluar los estilos de toma de decisiones de los adolescentes colombianos.

Family-Based Intervention Program for Parents of Substance-Abusing Youth and Adolescents.

The use of drugs among adolescents/youth often results in a high degree of distress for the family members who live with them. This in turn can lead to a deterioration of mental (psychological) health, hindering any attempt to successfully cope with the situation. The goal of our research was to study the effect of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) program on parents of adolescents/young adult drug users. Study volunteers (n = 50) were parents from Valencia (Spain) that were divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 25) was made up of parents whose sons and daughters exhibited problems with drug use and the constructed noncausal baseline group (n = 25) was made up of parents whose sons and daughters did not show any substance abuse problems. For both groups, self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), depression (BDI-II), anxiety (STAI), and anger (STAXI-II) were evaluated before and after the application of the CRAFT program. Results show a significant improvement in the experimental group's self-esteem, depression, and anger state and a decrease in negative moods. These changes in parents produce a positive effect on their substance-using sons and daughters: of the 25 participants, 15 contacted specialized addiction treatment resources for the first time.

Emotion awareness, mood and personality as predictors of somatic complaints in children and adults.

BACKGROUND: The relationships among somatic complaints, emotion awareness and mood have been observed in late childhood and adolescence, but very few studies have been carried out in adult populations like this work. This study also incorporates personality dimensions that can exacerbate or reduce the emergence of somatic complaints. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the combined contribution of emotion awareness, mood, and personality to healthy children and adults’ somatic complaints. METHOD: Self-reported questionnaires about emotion awareness, mood, personality, and somatic complaints were administered to 1,476 children (7-14 years old) and 479 adults (27-56 years old). RESULTS: Emotion awareness and mood were the strongest predictors of somatic complaints (ΔR 2 = .32 for children; ΔR 2 = .36 for adults), and the contribution of personality dimensions was not so relevant (ΔR 2 = .07 for children; ΔR 2 = .12 for adults). CONCLUSIONS: Emotional and personality factors must be addressed in health-promotion programmes, tailored differently according to whether they are to be used with children or with adults.

Psychometric properties of the Somatic Complaints Scale in Spanish children and adults.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Somatic Complaints List (SCL) in Spanish child and adult populations. This instrument assesses the frequency with which people experience and feel pain such as stomach ache and headache, among others. It has been validated in different countries and languages (Dutch, English, and Persian), showing adequate psychometric properties. Nevertheless, it has never been validated in a Spanish context. METHOD: For the adaptation and validation, we used two different samples: 1423 children, age ranging from 8 to 12 years old, selected from 12 primary and secondary schools at 7 locations in the Valencian Community, Spain (age = 9.11 years, SD = 1.27; 52.4% female); and 940 adults, age ranging from 18 to 56 years old (age = 32.3 years, SD = 11.62; 64% female). RESULTS: The Spanish adaptation of the SLC showed adequate levels of reliability and validity. CONCLUSIONS: The empirical evidence seems sufficient to justify using this diagnostic tool with Spanish children and adults.

The MOOD Questionnaire: adaptation and validation of the Spanish version.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the MOOD Questionnaire in child population. This instrument was developed to cover the existing gap in the evaluation of mood in children. METHOD: The MOOD was administered to 1489 children (mean age = 9.11 years old). RESULTS: The psychometric properties of the Mood questionnaire are adequate. Moreover, the questionnaire was associated with somatic complaints and emotional awareness. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the study, the use of this diagnostic tool with Spanish children seems justified.

[Behavioral gender differences in school relationships]. / Diferencias conductuales según género en convivencia escolar.

Adolescents take on different social roles mediated by gender, which affect the development of their identity and the expression of school violence. The purpose of this work is to study the behavioral differences in bullying depending on gender. The sample (N=641) is aged between 12 and 16 years old. Personal variables are assessed by self-reports, and relational variables by sociometric measures. Results indicate a large incidence of bullying, peer rejection, and school maladjustment among boys. Girls report more relational aggressions, acceptance and social skills, but also higher personal maladjustment. Female victims are rejected the most. Gender differences seem more relevant in relational variables, suggesting the special importance of the relational context in bullying.