Relationship Maintenance Scale in Young Couples: Validity Evidence and Reliability of a Short Scale in Peru.

Relationship maintenance has shifted from understudied to extensively researched in the past two decades due to its close association with satisfaction. This study aimed to validate the Relationship Maintenance Scale (EMP) in a sample of young adults in Lima. The sample included 899 participants aged 18-25 (Mean = 20.67, SD = 2.54); 690 females (76.80%) and 209 males (23.20%), all in relationships of at least three months (Mean = 22.05, SD = 19.95). Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to determine the EMP's structure, with Omega coefficient (ω) estimating reliability. Results indicated a four-factor structure for EMP, removing items 8, 9, 12, and 14, demonstrating good fit (SRMR = .043; CFI = .977; TLI = .971; RMSEA = .058). EMP showed acceptable reliability across factors: Companionship (ω = .78), Affectivity (ω = .83), Complementarity (ω = .77), and Shared interaction (ω = .70), with the latter being less stable. EMP correlated as expected with relationship satisfaction (r ≥ .50). In conclusion, EMP is a valid and reliable instrument for future Spanish studies, with further research on psychometric properties recommended.

Predictors of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults: the role of socio-demographic variables and COVID-19 anxiety.

The objective of this study was to evaluate factors related to the mental health of Peruvian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study had a cross-sectional and observational design. A total of 274 older adults in Lima, Peru (Mage = 67.86) filled out a sociodemographic survey, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, Mental Health Inventory-5, Patient Health Questionnaire-2 item, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was estimated to test an a priori model that relates the sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 Anxiety, psychological well-being, anxiety and depression. The model fit indices indicated a good fit to the data. The socio-demographic variables explained 23.8% of the variance of the COVID-19 Anxiety (R2 = .238). Socio-demographic variables explained 50.5% of psychological well-being variance, 52% of anxiety and 46.9% of depression. Also, sex, work; being diagnosed with COVID-19; family member with COVID-19 diagnosis; and time of exposure to COVID-19 information had statistically significant effects psychological well-being, anxiety and depression. In conclusion, some sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 anxiety affect the psychological well-being, anxiety and depression. The findings may allow for a better understanding of the mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and guide government responses to detect, anticipate and minimize its impact on the mental health of this population.

Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: New psychometric evidence for the Spanish version based on CFA and IRT models in a Peruvian sample.

The aim of the study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), using Item Response Theory (IRT) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The participants were 790 Peruvians, selected through a convenience sampling, where the majority were women. The CFA models indicated that the one-dimensional structure better represents the data, is reliable and invariant between men and women. Likewise, IRT findings indicate that CAS is more informative for high levels of COVID-19 anxiety. The CAS in Spanish has adequate psychometric properties to be used as a short measure of COVID-19 anxiety.

Strength of Religious Faith in Peruvian Adolescents and Adults: Psychometric Evidence from the Original and Short Versions of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire in Spanish.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric evidence of the original and short versions of the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire (SCSRFQ) in Spanish in a sample of 245 Peruvian adolescents and adults (mean age = 21.04 years, SD = 3.07, 47.8% male and 52.2% female), selected by nonprobabilistic convenience sampling. Additionally, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were applied. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, internal consistency reliability methods, hierarchical sequence of variance models, and a graded response model were used. Results indicate that both versions of the SCSRFQ showed robust psychometric properties: adequate unidimensional structure, adequate difficulty and discrimination parameters, and significant relationships with the measures of fear of COVID-19 and satisfaction with life. The original version of the SCSRFQ showed evidence of strict measurement invariance by sex and age, whereas the short version showed strict invariance by sex and configural invariance by age. Both versions showed acceptable reliability indices. In conclusion, the original and short versions of the SCSRFQ in Spanish show evidence of psychometric indicators that support their use to assess the strength of religious faith.

The effect of normality and outliers on bivariate correlation coefficients in psychology: A Monte Carlo simulation.

This study aims to examine the effects of the underlying population distribution (normal, non-normal) and OLs on the magnitude of Pearson, Spearman and Pearson Winzorized correlation coefficients through Monte Carlo simulation. The study is conducted using Monte Carlo simulation methodology, with sample sizes of 50, 100, 250, 250, 500 and 1000 observations. Each, underlying population correlations of 0.12, 0.20, 0.31 and 0.50 under conditions of bivariate Normality, bivariate Normality with Outliers (discordant, contaminants) and Non-normal with different values of skewness and kurtosis. The results show that outliers have a greater effect compared to the data distributions; specifically, a substantial effect occurs in Pearson and a smaller one in Spearman and Pearson Winzorized. Additionally, the outliers are shown to have an impact on the assessment of bivariate normality using Mardia's test and problems with decisions based on skewness and kurtosis for univariate normality. Implications of the results obtained are discussed.

Validation of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale in Peruvian old adults: a study based on SEM and IRT multidimensional models.

Loneliness is a public health problem. Its assessment is important to identify older adults who experience greater loneliness and appropriate interventions can be carried out. The De Jong Gierveld Solitude Scale (DJGLS) is one of the most widely used, at least in the European context, to measure loneliness. Although the Spanish version of the DJGLS has shown reliability and validity in Spanish samples of older adults, there is no evidence of adequacy in the Latin American context. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DJGLS in Peruvian older adults. Specifically, factorial validity, internal consistency and criterion-related validity were studied, based on a double analytical perspective: Classical Test Theory (SEM models) and Item Response Theory. The participants were 235 Peruvian older adults with ages ranging from 61 to 91 years old (Mean = 72.69, SD = 6.68) that assisted to Centers for the Elderly in the city of Trujillo, Peru. Together with the DJGLS, information from the three-item UCLA loneliness scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale and the Patient Health Questionnarie-2 was also gathered. The results support a one-dimensional structure of the DJGLS but with the presence of method effects associated to the negatively worded items. Additionally, the IRT multidimensional model applied also indicated the presence of a second dimension related to these negative items. Finally, other evidences of reliability and validity were adequate. In summary, the DJGLS may be considered a reliable and valid instrument to be used in the Peruvian (older adults) context.

Measurement of coronaphobia in older adults: Validation of the Spanish version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) is an instrument that measures the severity of anxiety due to COVID-19 or coronaphobia. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults are the most vulnerable age group; therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the CAS in this group. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 274 Peruvian older adults participated (Mage=67.86; SD=6.34, 64.6% women). In addition to the CAS, the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), and 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-2) were applied. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to assess the factor structure of the CAS and Item Response Theory was used to analyze item characteristics. A sequence of hierarchical variance models was used to evaluate the measurement invariance of the CAS according to age. To assess reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α) and the omega coefficient (ω) were used. The correlations between the CAS score and the scores of the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scales were calculated with Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). RESULTS: The results of the CFA indicated that the unidimensional model of the CAS fitted the data adequately and showed very good reliability (α and ω≥.83). Likewise, all items provided high information and adequate discrimination, which allowed for better detection of average and high levels of coronaphobia in the older adult population. However, the CAS did not show evidence of being strictly invariant between older adults aged 60-65 years and 66-86 years. The CAS showed significant correlations with anxiety (r=.72; [95%CI: .66, .87] p<.01) and depression (r=.53; [95%CI: .43, .76] p<.01). CONCLUSION: The CAS in Spanish shows evidence of validity based on internal structure, convergent and divergent validity, as well as an adequate reliability estimate to assess coronaphobia in older adults. The CAS can be used to detect average and high levels of coronaphobia in the older adult population.

Development and psychometric properties of the Attitudes Towards Intellectual Disability Scale in the workplace

ABSTRACT Background: A new instrument was designed to measure attitudes towards intellectual disability in the workplace. This tool provides the opportunity to identify underlying cognitive and emotional patterns that may influence people's interaction and performance in such environments. Objective: To construct, validate, and ensure the reliability of a scale measuring attitudes towards intellectual disability, establishing its suitability in labor inclusion programs. Method: A psychometric design was used that incorporated qualitative techniques, such as focus groups and cognitive interviews, in the instrument construction phase. The content validation of the items involved the participation of 15 experts in the field, which resulted in a reduced version with 10 items distributed in two dimensions: Perception and Social Distance. Subsequently, both the validity of the internal structure and the reliability of the instrument were evaluated in a sample of 255 individuals, composed of 35% (n=88) women and 66% (n=167) men. Result: The third-factor model evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was the one that demonstrated excellent fit indices (CFI= .991; TLI=.988; RMSEA= .076; SRMR =.038), with an adequate inter-factor correlation (0.82) and adequate consistency coefficients (α=0.825; ω=0.916). Conclusion: A tool of invaluable value is presented for planning public health programs aimed at reducing stigma and promoting the socio-labor inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

RESUMEN Introducción: Se diseñó un nuevo instrumento para medir las actitudes hacia la discapacidad intelectual en el lugar de trabajo. Esta herramienta brinda la oportunidad de identificar patrones cognitivos y emocionales subyacentes que pueden influir en la interacción y el desempeño de las personas en dichos entornos. Objetivo: Construir, validar y asegurar la fiabilidad de una escala que mide las actitudes hacia la discapacidad intelectual, estableciendo su idoneidad en programas de inclusión laboral. Método: Se utilizó un diseño psicométrico que incorporó técnicas cualitativas, como grupos focales y entrevistas cognitivas, en la fase de construcción del instrumento. La validación de contenido de los ítems contó con la participación de 15 expertos en la materia, lo que resultó en una versión reducida con 10 ítems distribuidos en dos dimensiones: Percepción y Distancia Social. Posteriormente, se evaluó tanto la validez de la estructura interna como la confiabilidad del instrumento en una muestra de 255 individuos, compuesta por 35% (n=88) mujeres y 66% (n=167) hombres. Resultados: El tercer modelo factorial evaluado con análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) fue el que demostró excelentes índices de ajuste (CFI= .991; TLI=.988; RMSEA= .076; SRMR =.038), con una adecuada correlación interfactorial (0.82). y coeficientes de consistencia adecuados (α=0,825; ω=0,916). Conclusión: Se presenta una herramienta de invaluable valor para la planificación de programas de salud pública dirigidos a reducir el estigma y promover la inclusión sociolaboral de personas con discapacidad intelectual.