Psychometric properties of the Valuing Questionnaire in a Spaniard sample and factorial equivalence with a Colombian sample.

BACKGROUND: The Valuing Questionnaire (VQ) is considered as one of the most psychometrically robust instruments to measure valued living according to the acceptance and commitment therapy model. It consists of 10 items that are responded to on a 7-point Likert-type scale and has two factors: Progression and Obstruction. The Spanish version of the VQ showed good psychometric properties in Colombian samples. However, there is no evidence of the psychometric properties of the VQ in Spaniard samples. This study aims to analyze the validity of the VQ in a large Spaniard sample and analyze the measurement invariance with a similar Colombian sample. METHOD: The VQ was administered to a Spaniard sample of 846 adult participants from general online population. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were computed to analyze the internal consistency of the VQ. The fit of the VQ's two-factor model was tested through a confirmatory factor analysis with a robust maximum likelihood (MLR) estimation method. Afterward, we analyzed the measurement invariance across countries and gender. Convergent construct validity was analyzed with a package of questionnaires that evaluated experiential avoidance (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, AAQ-II), emotional symptoms (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, DASS-21), life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS), and cognitive fusion (Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, CFQ). RESULTS: The internal consistency across samples was adequate (alphas and omegas were .85 for VQ-Progress and .84 for VQ-Obstruction). The two-factor model obtained a good fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.073, 90% CI [0.063, 0.083], CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.97, and SRMR = 0.053). The VQ showed strict invariance across countries and gender and showed theoretically coherent correlations with emotional symptoms, life satisfaction, experiential avoidance, and cognitive fusion. In conclusion, the Spanish version of the VQ demonstrated good psychometric properties in a large Spaniard sample.

Psychological symptoms of the outbreak of the COVID-19 confinement in Spain.

We studied the short-term psychological effects of the COVID-19 crisis and the quarantine on 3550 adults from the Spanish population in a cross-sectional survey. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress were analyzed using the 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were analyzed using the Impact of Event Scale. Symptomatic scores of anxiety, depression, and stress were observed in 20% to 30% of respondents. Symptomatic scores indicating psychological stress were found in 47.5% of respondents. Similar to the findings of other multiple studies, confinement has been found to have significant emotional impact in the Spanish population.

Effects of the onabotulinumtoxinA follow-up delay in migraine course during the COVID-19 lockdown.

BACKGROUND: Face-to-face procedures have been postponed during COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to evaluate the impact of onabotulinumtoxinA follow-up delay in migraine during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Subjective worsening, intensity of migraine attacks, and frequency of headache and migraine were retrospectively compared between patients with unmodified and interrupted onabotulinumtoxinA follow-up in Headache Units. RESULTS: We included 67 patients with chronic migraine or high-frequency episodic migraine under onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, 65 (97.0%) female, 44.5 ± 12.1 years old. Treatment administration was voluntarily delayed in 14 (20.9%) patients and nine (13.4%) were unable to continue follow-up. Patients with uninterrupted follow-up during lockdown presented 7.6 and 8.1 less monthly days with headache (adjusted p = 0.017) and migraine attacks (adjusted p = 0.009) compared to patients whose follow-up was interrupted, respectively. CONCLUSION: Involuntary delay of onabotulinumtoxinA follow-up in patients with migraine due to COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a higher frequency of headache and migraine attacks. Safe administration of onabotulinumtoxinA during lockdown should be promoted.

Evaluation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Clinical Course of Migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that emotional stress, changes in lifestyle habits and infections can worsen the clinical course of migraine. We hypothesize that changes in habits and medical care during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown might have worsened the clinical course of migraine. DESIGN: Retrospective survey study collecting online responses from migraine patients followed-up by neurologists at three tertiary hospitals between June and July 2020. METHODS: We used a web-based survey that included demographic data, clinical variables related with any headache (frequency) and migraine (subjective worsening, frequency, and intensity), lockdown, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. RESULTS: The response rate of the survey was 239/324 (73.8%). The final analysis included 222 subjects. Among them, 201/222 (90.5%) were women, aged 42.5 ± 12.0 (mean±SD). Subjective improvement of migraine during lockdown was reported in 31/222 participants (14.0%), while worsening in 105/222 (47.3%) and was associated with changes in migraine triggers such as stress related to going outdoors and intake of specific foods or drinks. Intensity of attacks increased in 67/222 patients (30.2%), and it was associated with the subjective worsening, female sex, recent insomnia, and use of acute medication during a headache. An increase in monthly days with any headache was observed in 105/222 patients (47.3%) and was related to symptoms of post-traumatic stress, older age and living with five or more people. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half the migraine patients reported worsening of their usual pain during the lockdown. Worse clinical course in migraine patients was related to changes in triggers and the emotional impact of the lockdown.

Longitudinal evaluation of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Strict confinement and social distancing measures have been imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. The aim was to assess the temporal evolution of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown from two surveys, separated by one month, performed in Spain. METHODS: Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and the psychological impact of the situation were longitudinally analyzed using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES) respectively. RESULTS: There was a total of 4,724 responses from both surveys. Symptomatic scores of anxiety, depression and stress were exhibited by 37.22%, 46.42% and 49.66% of the second survey respondents, showing a significant increase compared to the first survey (32.45%, 44.11% and 37.01%, respectively). There was no significant longitudinal change of the IES scores, with 48.30% of the second survey participants showing moderate to severe impact of the confinement. Constant news consumption about COVID-19 was found to be positively associated with symptomatic scores in the different scales, and daily physical activity to be negatively associated with DASS-21 scores. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated a temporal increase of anxiety, depression and stress scores during the COVID-19 lockdown. Factors such as age, consumption of information about COVID-19 and physical activity seem to have an important impact on the evolution of psychological symptoms.

Psychometric properties of the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-8 in two Spanish nonclinical samples.

BACKGROUND: The ATQ is a widely used instrument consisting of 30 items that assess the frequency of negative automatic thoughts. However, the extensive length of the ATQ could compromise its measurement efficiency in survey research. Consequently, an 8-item shortened version of the ATQ has been developed. This study aims to analyze the validity of the ATQ-8 in two Spanish samples. METHOD: The ATQ-8 was administered to a total sample of 1,148 participants (302 undergraduates and 846 general online population). To analyze convergent construct validity, the questionnaire package also included the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale-Revised (DAS-R), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Acceptance Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), Generalized Pliance Questionnaire (GPQ), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). To analyze internal consistency, we computed Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the one-factor structure of the ATQ-8. In so doing, a robust diagonally weighted least square estimation method (Robust DWLS) was adopted using polychoric correlations. Afterward, we analyzed measurement invariance across samples, gender, groupage, and education level. Lastly, we evaluated convergent construct validity by computing Pearson correlations between the ATQ-8 and the remaining instruments. RESULTS: The internal consistency across samples was adequate (alpha and omega = .89). The one-factor model demonstrated a good fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.10, 90% CI [0.089, 0.112], CFI = 0.98, NNFI = 0.97, and SRMR = 0.048). The ATQ-8 showed scalar metric invariance across samples, gender, groupage, and education level. The ATQ-8 scores were significantly associated with emotional symptoms (DASS-21), satisfaction with life (SWLS), dysfunctional schemas (DAS-R), cognitive fusion (CFQ), experiential avoidance (AAQ-II), and generalized pliance (GPQ). In conclusion, the Spanish version of the ATQ-8 demonstrated adequate psychometric properties in Spanish samples.

Psychological effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown among students and workers of a Spanish university.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 in the university community during the first weeks of confinement. A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The emotional impact of the situation was analyzed using the Impact of Event Scale. An online survey was fulfilled by 2530 members of the University of Valladolid, in Spain. Moderate to extremely severe scores of anxiety, depression, and stress were reported by 21.34%, 34.19% and 28.14% of the respondents, respectively. A total of 50.43% of respondents presented moderate to severe impact of the outbreak. Students from Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences & Law showed higher scores related to anxiety, depression, stress and impact of event with respect to students from Engineering & Architecture. University staff presented lower scores in all measures compared to students, who seem to have suffered an important psychological impact during the first weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown. In order to provide timely crisis-oriented psychological services and to take preventive measures in future pandemic situations, mental health in university students should be carefully monitored.

Validity of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in Colombia and factorial equivalence with Spanish data / Validez de la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida en Colombia y equivalencia factorial con datos españoles

Abstract The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used, 5-item, 7-point Likert-type scale that measures life satisfaction. The current study aims to explore the validity of the SWLS in Colombia and its factorial equivalence with Spanish samples. The SWLS was administered to a total of 1,587 Colombian participants, including a sample of undergraduates, a sample from the general population, and a clinical sample. The internal consistency across the different samples was good (overall alpha of .89). The one-factor model found in the original scale showed a very good fit in the overall Colombian sample (RMSEA = .052, 90% CI [.034, .073]; CFI = .99; NNFI = .99). SWLS scores are significantly related to measures of valued living, emotional symptoms, negative thoughts, experiential avoidance, and cognitive fusion. The clinical sample's mean score on the SWLS was significantly lower than the scores of the nonclinical samples. Three additional Spanish samples (N = 1057) were obtained to analyze the factorial equivalence of the SWLS in Colombia and Spain. Metric and scalar invariance were observed between countries and between Colombian males and females. In conclusion, the SWLS showed good psychometric properties in Colombia and factorial equivalence with Spanish samples.

Resumen La Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (SWLS) es una escala ampliamente utilizada para medir satisfacción vital. Consta de 5 ítems que se responden en una escala tipo Likert de 7 puntos. El objetivo de este artículo es explorar la validez del SWLS en Colombia y la equivalencia factorial con muestras españolas. Se administró el SWLS a 1587 participantes colombianos, incluyendo una muestra de universitarios, una de población general y una muestra clínica. La consistencia interna a través de muestras fue buena (alfa global de .89). El modelo unifactorial encontrado en la escala original mostró muy buen ajuste en las muestras colombianas (RMSEA = .052, 90% CI [.034, .073]; CFI = .99; NNFI = .99). Las puntuaciones del SWLS estuvieron relacionadas significativamente con medidas de vida valiosa, síntomas emocionales, pensamientos negativos, evitación experiencial y fusión cognitiva. La puntuación promedio de la muestra clínica fue significativamente menor que las de las muestras no clínicas. Se obtuvieron tres muestras españolas (N = 1057) para analizar la equivalencia factorial del SWLS en Colombia y España. Se observó invarianza métrica y escalar entre países y entre género en Colombia. En conclusión, la SWLS mostró buenas propiedades psicométricas en Colombia y equivalencia factorial con muestras españolas.

The Predictive and Moderating role of Psychological Flexibility in the Development of Job Burnout / El rol predictivo y moderadores de la flexibilidad psicológica en el burnout

Abstract Recent research has found that psychological flexibility, the key construct of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model of mental health and behavioral effectiveness, is related to, and longitudinally predicts, a wide range of work-related outcomes. Less research, however, has been dedicated to explore the role of psychological flexibility as a protecting factor for the development of burnout syndrome. The current study examined whether: (a) general psychological flexibility and work-related psychological flexibility accounted for additional variance in burnout symptoms relative to work factors and other work-related constructs such as work engagement, work satisfaction, and psychological empowerment; and (b) work-related psychological flexibility moderated the relationship between exhaustion and cynicism. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 209 Spanish workers from different companies who completed questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that psychological flexibility and work-related psychological flexibility accounted for additional variance in burnout symptoms. The moderator analysis showed that the relationship between exhaustion and cynicism was higher among participants with low levels of work-related psychological flexibility as compared to participants with high levels. These results suggest that interventions aiming to increase psychological flexibility might prevent the development of burnout syndrome.

Resumen La investigación ha mostrado que la flexibilidad psicológica, el constructo central del modelo de salud mental y eficacia conductual de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT), está relacionada y predice longitudinalmente un amplio rango de variables relacionadas con el trabajo. Menor grado de investigación se ha dedicado a explorar el rol de la flexibilidad psicológica como factor protector del desarrollo del síndrome de burnout. El presente estudio analizó si: (a) la flexibilidad psicológica general y la flexibilidad psicológica relacionada con el trabajo explicaban varianza adicional de los síntomas de burnout comparado con factores laborales y constructos como compromiso laboral, satisfacción laboral y empoderamiento psicológico; y (b) la flexibilidad psicológica relacionada con el trabajo moderaba la relación entre agotamiento y cinismo. Se realizó un estudio transversal con 209 trabajadores españoles de diferentes empresas que completaron cuestionarios que miden los constructos de interés. El análisis de regresión jerárquica mostró que la flexibilidad psicológica general y la flexibilidad psicológica relacionada con el trabajo explicaron varianza adicional de los síntomas de burnout. El análisis de moderación mostró que la relación entre agotamiento y cinismo fue mayor entre los participantes con niveles bajos de flexibilidad psicológica relacionada con el trabajo comparado con los participantes con niveles altos. Los resultados sugieren que las intervenciones que tienen como objetivo incrementar la flexibilidad psicológica podrían prevenir el desarrollo del síndrome de burnout.

The mediating role of metacognitive variables in the relationship between Thought-Action Fusion and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology / El papel mediador de las variables metacognitivas en la relación entre la fusión pensamiento-acción y la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva

Diverse studies support the central role of Thought-Action Fusion (TAF) and other metacognitive variables in the understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptomatology. However,amore detailed study of the involvement of the sevariables is needed. This article seeks to assess the possible mediating role of the factors of the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ) in the relationship between TAF and OCD symptoms both in clinical and non-clinical samples.A cross-sectional design was used in which120 participants, divided into three groups (two clinical and one non-clinical), completed the questionnaires assessing the constructsof interest. The mediational findings generally supported the proposed mediation model. Specifically, the mediational analyses focused on negative beliefs and the need to control (metacognitive factors of the MCQ) showed that MCQ Negative beliefs mediated the effects of TAF-Total and TAF factors (except for the TAF-Moral) on OCD symptomatology in the OCD group. The MCQ Need to control was non-significantasa mediator of the relationships between TAF and OCD. However, it was observed that this mediation approached significance, with considerable effect sizes. In the clinical-control group, the analyses showed that MCQ Negative beliefs mediated the effects of TAF-Like lihood-One self on OCD symptoms. In the remaining group, neither MCQ Negative beliefs nor MCQ Need to control were found to be significant mediators. It is generally concluded that certain beliefs, such as TAF, can evolve toward more complex metacognitive beliefs, which ultimate ly lead to the development of OCD symptoms.

Diversos estudios han señalado el papel de la fusión pensamiento-acción (TAF) y otras creencias metacognitivas en la comprensión de la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva. No obstante, es preciso un estudio más pormenorizado que esclarezca la contribución de estas variables. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el posible papel mediador de los factores del Cuestionario de Metacogniciones (MCQ)en la relación entre la TAF y la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva, tanto en muestras clínicas como no clínicas. Con un diseño transversal, 120 participantes divididos entres grupos (dos clínicos y uno no clínico) respondieron a los cuestionarios que evaluaban los constructos de interés. Los resultados apoyaron de manera general el modelo mediacional propuesto. Concretamente, los análisis se centraron en la necesidad de control y las creencias negativas (factores metacognitivos del MCQ) y mostraron los siguientes resultados. En el grupo de sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva, las creencias negativas mediaron los efectos deTAF-totaly los factores de TAF en la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva, a excepción de TAF-moral. El factor necesidad de control no llegó a ser un mediador significativo; no obstante, esta mediación estaba próxima a la significatividad y se contemplaron tamaños del efecto considerables. Respecto al grupo de control clínico, los análisis mostraron que las creencias negativas mediaban los efectos de TAF-probabilidad-uno mismo en la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva. En el grupo restante, ni las creencias negativas ni la necesidad de control resultaron ser mediadores significativos. Se concluye, de manera general, que creencias como la TAF pueden evolucionar hacia creencias metacognitivas más complejas que conllevan, en último término, el desarrollo de la sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva.

Comparing Cognitive, Metacognitive, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Models of Depression: a Longitudinal Study Survey.

This study analyzed the interrelationships between key constructs of cognitive therapy (CT; depressogenic schemas), metacognitive therapy (MCT; dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; psychological inflexibility) in the prediction of depressive symptoms. With a lapse of nine months, 106 nonclinical participants responded twice to an anonymous online survey containing the following questionnaires: the Depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Revised (DAS-R), the Positive beliefs, Negative beliefs and Need to control subscales of the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - II (AAQ-II). Results showed that when controlling for baseline levels of depressive symptoms and demographic variables, psychological inflexibility longitudinally mediated the effect of depressogenic schemas (path ab = .023, SE = .010; 95% BC CI [.008, .048]) and dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs on depressive symptoms (positive metacognitive beliefs: path ab = .052, SE = .031; 95% BC CI [.005, .134]; negative metacognitive beliefs: path ab = .087, SE = .049; 95% BC CI [.016, .214]; need to control: path ab = .087, SE = .051; 95% BC CI [.013, .220]). Results are discussed emphasizing the role of psychological inflexibility in the CT and MCT models of depression.

The Spanish version of the Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive fusion is suggested to play an important role in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders according to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This study presents the psychometric data of the Spanish version of a cognitive fusion measure in the context of anxiety: the Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (BAFT). METHOD: First, we back-translated the BAFT into Spanish and then, administered it to three samples, with a total of 598 participants, in addition to other relevant anxiety measures. RESULTS: Data were very similar to those obtained with the original BAFT version. The BAFT showed a very good internal consistency (overall α= .92) and a hierarchical factor structure with two lower-order factors and one hierarchical factor. Participants showing mild levels of anxiety symptoms scored higher on the BAFT than participants who scored below the cutoffs. BAFT scores were significantly related to anxiety symptoms and to measures of psychological inflexibility, anxiety sensitivity, and mindfulness facets. Moreover, the BAFT showed incremental validity relative to anxiety sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: This Spanish version of the BAFT emerges as a reliable and valid measure of cognitive fusion with anxious thoughts and feelings.

The role of magical thinking in hallucinations. Comparisons of clinical and non-clinical groups.

BACKGROUND: Magical thinking consists of accepting the possibility that events that, according to the causal concepts of a culture, cannot have any causal relationship, but might somehow nevertheless have one. Magical thinking has been related to both obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of magical thinking in hallucinations of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHODS: Four groups were recruited for this purpose from a clinical population (hallucinating schizophrenic patients, patients diagnosed with psychoses who had never hallucinated, obsessive-compulsive disorder patients and a clinical control group) and a non-clinical control group, who were given the Magical Ideation Scale. RESULTS: The results show that magical ideation differentiates the group of schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations from the rest of the groups that participated in the design. Items related to "mind reading", to the presence of auditory illusions in response to sound stimuli, and to the sense of sometimes being accompanied by an evil presence are the most closely related to the presence of auditory hallucinations. CONCLUSIONS: Magical thinking, understood as beliefs in non-consensual modes of causation, is closely linked to auditory hallucinations in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The Spanish version of the Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (WAAQ).

BACKGROUND: Psychological flexibility, a key construct of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), has recently been found to be an important determinant of mental health and behavioral effectiveness in the workplace. This finding has led to designing a measure of psychological flexibility especially tailored to the workplace (the Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire; WAAQ) in the hope that it may reveal even stronger associations with variables related to a work context. METHOD: First, we back-translated the WAAQ into Spanish and then administered it to 209 workers, in addition to other relevant work-related measures. RESULTS: Data were very similar to those obtained with the original WAAQ version. The WAAQ showed a very good internal consistency (a = .92) and a clear one-factor structure. It also showed higher correlations with work-specific measures than a general measure of psychological inflexibility (the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; AAQ-II). As hypothesized by the ACT theory, the correlation between the WAAQ and the AAQ-II was moderate but not so high as to suggest that they are assessing the same construct. CONCLUSIONS: This Spanish translation of the WAAQ emerges as a reliable and valid measure of psychological flexibility in relation to the workplace.