Self-perceived health status, gender, and work status.

This study analyzes the relationship between gender and self-perceived health status in Spanish retirees and housewives from a sample of 1,106 community-dwelling older adults. A multivariate linear regression model was used in which self-perceived health status was measured by the EQ-5D visual analogue scale and gender according to work status (retired men and women and housewives). Retired males reported a significantly better health status than housewives. Self-perceived health status was closely associated with physical, mental, and functional health and leisure activities. Finally, being a woman with complete dedication to domestic work is associated with a worse state of self-perceived health.

Modelling the low temperature growth boundaries of Salmonella Enteritidis in raw and pasteurized egg yolk, egg white and liquid whole egg: Influence of the initial concentration.

Salmonella is the most frequently reported cause of foodborne outbreaks with known origin in Europe, with eggs and egg products standing out as the most frequent food source (when it was known). The growth and survival of Salmonella in eggs and egg products have been extensively studied and, recently, it has been reported that factors such as the initial concentration and thermal history of the egg product can also influence its growth capability. Therefore, the objective of this study was to define the boundary zones of the growth/no growth domain of Salmonella Enteritidis (4 strains) as a function of temperature (low temperature boundary) and the initial concentration in different egg products. A series of polynomial logistic regression equations were successfully adjusted, allowing the study of these factors and their interaction on the probability of growth of S. Enteritidis in these products. Results obtained indicate that the minimum growth temperatures of Salmonella Enteritidis are higher in egg white (9.5-18.3 °C) than in egg yolk (7.1-7.8 °C) or liquid whole egg (7.2-7.9 °C). Results also demonstrate that in raw liquid whole egg and raw and pasteurized egg white, the minimum growth temperature of Salmonella Enteritidis does depend on the initial concentration. Similarly, the previous thermal history of the egg product only influenced the minimum growth temperature in some of them. On the other hand, large differences in the minimum growth temperatures among strains were observed in some products (up to approx. 6 °C in egg white). Finally, it should be noted that none of the strains grew at 5 °C under any of the conditions assayed. Therefore, storage of egg products (particularly whole liquid egg and egg yolk) below this temperature might be regarded/proposed as a good management approach. Our experimental approach has allowed us to provide a more accurate prediction of S. Enteritidis minimum growth temperatures in egg products by taking into account additional factors (initial concentration and thermal history) while also providing a quantification of the intra-specie variability. This would be of high relevance for improving the safety of egg products.

Adaptation and Validation of the Perception of Anomie Scale in Chilean University Students.

The Perception of Anomie Scale (PAS) is a measure used to evaluate the state of society and whether it is disintegrated and deregulated. Although widely used, the psychometric properties of reliability, validity, and measurement invariance according to sex have not been studied in the Chilean university population. To explore these properties, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 383 students from public (45.7%) and private (54.3%) universities, with a mean age of 21.5 years (SD = 3.3). A CFA and ESEM were performed, which confirmed the two-factor correlated structure, achieving better goodness-of-fit indices by eliminating five items (RMSEA = 0.09; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.95). This also provided evidence of reliability and measurement invariance according to sex. This study provides evidence of the psychometric quality of the PAS scale, thus allowing its use in the Chilean university context.

Gender-based differences in the impact of Dark Triad traits on academic dishonesty: The mediating role of moral disengagement in college students.

This study explores whether gender differences influence the components of the Dark Triad of personality and moral disengagement on the manifestations of dishonest academic behavior in Peruvian university students. Moreover, it evaluates how moral disengagement mediates the effect that the Dark Triad components have on academic dishonesty. The participants were 591 university students, aged between 18 and 40 years (women = 71.7 %; Mage = 21.5; SDage = 3.60), to whom the Dirty Dozen Dark Triad, the Propensity to Morally Disengage Scale, and the Scale of Academic Dishonesty, which has 3 dimensions (cheating on exams, plagiarism, and falsification) were applied. The results reveal that only Machiavellianism has a significant and consistent influence on all dimensions of academic dishonesty, in both men and women, while psychopathy influences the dimension of plagiarism in both men and women and falsification only in men. In addition, moral disengagement affects falsification in both groups, cheating on exams only in the men's group, and plagiarism in the women's group. Finally, the mediating role of moral disengagement between the effect of the Dark Triad and the manifestations of academic dishonesty was not demonstrated.

Infectious abortions in small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula: Optimization of sampling procedures for molecular diagnostics.

Introduction: Infectious abortions have a major impact on small domestic ruminant farms, i.e., sheep and goats, both in terms of profitability and health status. Therefore, rapid and sensitive diagnosis is essential to minimize losses. Currently, molecular techniques, such as qPCR, are routinely used for their diagnosis, which imply the need to manipulate all abortive material, with consequent biosafety risks. Here, we evaluate the frequency of the main abortifacient pathogens in small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula and also assess an alternative approach for the optimization of sampling for molecular diagnosis. Results: A total of 392 clinical cases were analyzed from April 2020 to May 2021, evidencing that the main causative agents of abortion detected were Coxiella burnetii (49.0%), Chlamydia abortus (38.3%) and, to a lesser extent, Toxoplasma gondii (10.2%), Salmonella enterica (7.1%) and Campylobacter spp. (6.1%). An uneven distribution of these pathogens was observed between ruminant species, with a higher frequency (p < 0.05) of T. gondii, S. enterica and Campylobacter spp. in sheep than goat abortions, and among geographic areas, highlighting the higher frequency (p < 0.05) of T. gondii and Campylobacter spp. in the north compared to southeastern Spain. The alternative sampling method, consisting on the use of fetal tongues and placental swabs in replacement of the whole fetus and placental tissue, offered a very good agreement with the classical method for all pathogens, except for low concentrations of C. burnetii, which seems to have a doubtful role in abortion when its concentration in the abortifacient material is low. Conclusions: This study reveals a high frequency of infectious etiology in abortions of small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula and validates for the first time an alternative sampling method for molecular diagnosis that will help to provide rapid and accurate results while minimizing biosafety risks.

Psychometric Analysis of Two Brief Versions of the CERQ in the Argentinean Population: CERQ-18 and CERQ-27.

Background: Emotion Regulation (ER) involves any explicit or implicit process that may alter the emotion felt, its duration and expression, and is a transdiagnostic factor of vulnerability involved in the etiology and maintenance of different emotional disorders. The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) assesses nine cognitive strategies involved in ER and is a valuable tool. Its popularity and wide use led to the development of two abbreviated versions: a version with 18 items (two items per factor) and a 27-item version (three items per factor). Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties of both versions in the Argentinean population. Design: The research design was instrumental. The factor structure of the CERQ-18 and CERQ-27 as well as the reliability of the scores and the construct of each dimension were evaluated. In addition, we gathered validity evidence for its relationship with other variables by associating the CERQ scores with Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) scores. Results: The CERQ-18 presented more consistent evidence regarding its internal structure (adequate fit indices and factor loadings of moderate magnitude) and reliability. Given that the association of the two versions with the DERS is similar, we recommend that the 18-item version be used. Conclusion: The CERQ-18 has quite similar psychometric properties to the CERQ-27 in the general population of Argentina and the findings contribute to an understanding of its internal structure.

Psychometric properties of the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale in a sample of Chilean public school teachers.

The Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) has demonstrated suitable levels of reliability and validity for its use on the teacher population in several countries, and it is the most used scale to assess teachers' beliefs in their efficacy. However, few psychometric studies exist on its applicability to elementary teachers in public schools. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the TSES in teachers who work in elementary education. The sample comprised 1,406 Chilean teachers, mainly women (77.2%), from various Chilean public and subsidized schools. The results obtained from three confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the model that best fit the data was bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (B-ESEM) for 24 items, one general factor, and three residual factors. The results of the factorial invariance analysis indicate that the TSES remains stable up to the strict level of invariance for the variable sex. These results imply that the TSES can be used on Chilean teachers. The results are discussed based on the theoretical and empirical evidence available.

Psychometric Validation of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale in a Professional Teaching Context.

For the teaching profession, prosociality is a relevant skill. From this perspective, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale (APBS) in a professional setting of primary school Chilean teachers (n = 1404; mean age = 41.4; SD = 10.8; 77.4% women). ESEM and CFA were applied to evaluate its factor structure, internal consistency, factorial reliability, and invariance. The results supported a bifactor ESEM model in which prosociality was represented by a general latent factor and four specific factors (helping, sharing, caring, and empathy). A predominance of the unidimensional component of the APBS was observed (general factor, ECV = 0.938; ωh = 0.945), with adequate reliability (α = 0.932; ω of the factor general = 0.968) and invariance of the measurement in terms of gender. Its adequacy was confirmed by a good level of fit (RMSEA = 0.042 90%CI [0.036-0.049]; SRMR = 0.012; CFI = 0.995; TLI = 0.988). It is concluded that the APBS is a suitable instrument to measure prosociality in the professional setting studied. Its general and specific dimensions are relevant to the prosocial behaviors currently required of teachers. Future studies could contribute evidence of the transcultural validation of the APBS in other educational contexts in order to undertake comparative studies.

Psychometric Properties of the SV-RES60 Resilience Scale in a Sample of Chilean Elementary School Teachers.

The concept of resilience, identified as a crucial variable due to its association with several beneficial outcomes in adulthood, is of particular interest in the teaching field. Specifically, teachers work in a demanding, challenging, and stressful context that requires a remarkable ability to adapt; therefore, resilience is important in the field of teaching and training, as it plays a fundamental role in children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. This study sought to analyze the psychometric properties of the SV-RES60 Resilience Scale in a sample of Chilean elementary school teachers from first to eighth grade (N = 1406; mean age = 41.4; SD = 10.8). ESEM and bifactor ESEM analyses were performed to evaluate its factor structure, internal consistency, and reliability. The results supported a bifactor structure in which resilience was represented by one general latent factor and twelve specific factors (RMSEA = 0.032; 90%CI [0.030, 0.033]; SRMR = 0.012; CFI = 0.986; TLI = 0.977). A predominance of the unidimensional components of the SV-RES60 (general factor, ECV = 0.812; ωh = 0.975) and a high reliability (α = 0.981; ω of the general factor = 0.991) were observed. In conclusion, the SV-RES60 Resilience Scale is a suitable instrument for measuring the general factor of resilience in the investigated teaching environment. Future studies could contribute towards evidence of a reduced scale and transcultural validation to conduct comparative studies.

Structural analysis and reliability of the Perceived Stress Scale in nursing professionals from Peru.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to provide psychometric evidence of the 14-item and 10-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale in nursing professionals from Peru. METHOD: Data on 2848 professionals (92.275% women) between 23 and 69 years old (M = 21.876; SD = 10.763) was extracted from ENSUSALUD 2015. An exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) was applied with Mplus 7.0 software to analyse several measurement models in the PSS: unidimensional, bidimensional, models with method factor, and bifactor. Finally, the reliability was analysed. RESULTS: The two-factor structure obtained adequate fit indices, and acceptable factorial loadings (>.50), while the unidimensional model has poor statistical support. The construct and score reliability was also adequate. CONCLUSION: The two-factor model of the PSS-10 and PSS-14 presents adequate psychometric properties to expand its use to empirical research.

Peer pressure and risky driving: Development of a new scale.

INTRODUCTION: Peer pressure is a main factor influencing risky driving behavior in young people. Most empirical studies have focused either on direct or indirect peer pressure, and comprehensive measures assessing both are currently lacking. The present study aimed at developing and validating a scale to examine the influence of different types of peer pressure on risky driving in young drivers: the Peer Pressure on Risky Driving Scale (PPRDS). METHOD: Scale construction and assessment of its psychometric properties involved four phases: item development, assessment of content validity by expert reviewers, pre-testing of the scale and evaluation of psychometric properties of the final version in a sample of 773 young drivers aged 18-29. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure that reflected the multifaceted definition of peer pressure on risky driving in the immediate driving context: risk-encouraging direct peer pressure; risk-discouraging direct peer pressure, and indirect pressure. The three factor scales showed good internal consistency and construct reliability, and correlated as expected with self-reported risky driving. Younger drivers (18-24) reported more direct and indirect peer pressure to engage in risky driving. Males indicated more direct peer pressure towards risky driving. Finally, interaction effects between age and sex were observed. Young male drivers reported the greatest direct peer pressure and adult female drivers the lowest direct peer pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The 23-item PPRDS scale has good psychometric properties and provides a useful tool for assessing different forms of peer pressure on risky driving. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The PPRDS can be used for evaluating the impact of peer-based education and road safety programs. The scale also provides valuable information for the design of evidence-based intervention.

New Psychometric Evidence of a Bifactor Structure of the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) in Ecuadorian College Students.

Background: Emotion Regulation comprises a set of strategies (cognitive, emotional, and physiological) that allow individuals faced with internal or external stimuli to manage their emotional response, to adapt to the environment, and to achieve goals. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is used to assess Emotion Regulation. It has been translated into several languages (including Spanish) and has been adapted around the world, but its psychometric properties have not been tested in Ecuador. Objective: To confirm the bifactor structure of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and its reliability in a sample of Ecuadorian college students. Design: A quantitative and instrumental study using Confirmatory Factor Analysis with Robust Maximum Likelihood estimation. The sample consisted of 400 participants (62.5% women), aged 18 to 25 (M = 21.1; SD = 1.95) from two universities in Ecuador and seven different undergraduate courses. Results: The bifactor model of the test is confirmed with an adequate adjustment ꭓ2 = 35.99; p > .001; ꭓ2/df = 1.43; CFI = .98; TLI = .96; SRMR = .034; and RMSE A = .033 CI95%: [.033-.052]; ωH = .70; ωHs1 = .23; ωHs2 = .35. Reliability is high with ω = .86 CI95%: [.81-.88]. Conclusion: The bifactor model of the ERQ is an adequate and reliable test to assess Emotion Regulation among Ecuadorian college students.