Psychometric validity of the sum score of the Sniffin' Sticks-Extended Test.

A common tool to measure olfactory function is the Sniffin' Sticks Test extended version (SSET). The SSET evaluates olfactory ability by summing the scores of three subtests: Threshold, Discrimination, and Identification. Recent meta-scientific literature revealed that many psychometric instruments currently in use have not been adequately validated, leading to a measurement crisis that raises concerns about the validity of the conclusions drawn with these instruments. Two examples of the measurement crisis are i) the use of sum scores without testing their assumptions (e.g., unidimensionality and tau-equivalence), which indicate that all subtests have the same, stable relationship with their underlying construct, and ii) the lack of assessment of measurement invariance across groups. Here, we aim to investigate the unidimensionality and tau-equivalence assumptions, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of sex and age groups of the SSET. We tested 988 (555 females, mean±SD: 39.75±18.60 years) participants with the Italian version of the SSET. The tau-equivalent model demonstrated excellent fit indices (CFI robust = 1, TLI robust = 1, RMSEA robust = 0, SRMR = .013), which best explain the data, indicating that all subtests are equally important in measuring olfactory function, but not necessarily equally precise. The results also revealed full measurement invariance across age groups and configural, partial metric, and scalar invariance across sexes, indicating that the use of latent means to compare sex groups should be chosen over raw scores. However, the SSET demonstrated moderate internal consistency. Future studies should clarify whether the reliability of the SSET can be increased.

Metacognition as a transdiagnostic factor across eating disorders: a latent profile analysis study.

Background: Metacognition is a crucial aspect of understanding and attributing mental states, playing a key role in the psychopathology of eating disorders (EDs). This study aims to explore the diverse clinical profiles of metacognition among patients with EDs using latent profile analysis (LPA). Method: A total of 395 patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ED (116 AN-R, 30 AN/BP, 100 BN, 149 BED) participated in this study. They completed self-report measures assessing metacognition, eating psychopathology, depression, emotional dysregulation, personality traits, and childhood adversities. LPA and Welch ANOVAs were conducted to identify profiles based on metacognition scores and examine psychological differences between them. Logistic regression models were employed to explore associations between personal characteristics and different profiles. Results: A 3-class solution had a good fit to the data, revealing profiles of high functioning (HF), intermediate functioning (IF), and low functioning (LF) based on levels of metacognitive impairments. Participants in the IF group were older and had a higher BMI than those in the HF and LF groups. Individuals with BN were largely categorized into HF and LF profiles, whereas participants with BED were mainly included in the IF profile. Participants in the LF group reported an impaired psychological profile, with high levels of depression, emotional dysregulation, childhood adversity, and personality dysfunction. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed significant associations between metacognitive profiles and emotional and neglect abuse, emotion dysregulation, and detachment. Conclusion: This exploratory study unveils distinct metacognitive profiles in EDs, providing a foundation for future research and targeted interventions. In this light, metacognitive interpersonal therapy could be a valid and effective treatment for EDs, as suggested by the initial promising results for these patients.

Italian validation of the body odor disgust scale.

Introduction: Disgust sensitivity to body odors plays a role in a set of psychological mechanisms supposedly evolved to avoid pathogens. To assess individual differences in body odor disgust, we previously developed the body odor disgust scale (BODS) and validated it in English. The BODS presents six scenarios where disgust could be evoked by smells coming from an internal source and an external source. The present study aimed to validate the BODS in the Italian population and to find further evidence for its structural, construct, and criterion validity. Methods: We used two large samples (N = 1,050, F = 527; and N = 402, F = 203, respectively) that were representative of the Italian population for sex and age. Results: Across these two studies, we confirmed the hypothesized bifactor structure, with all the items loading onto a general body odor disgust sensitivity factor, and on two specific factors related to the internal structure. In terms of construct validity, we found that the BODS converged with pathogen disgust sensitivity of the three-domain disgust scale (TDDS) but was distinct from a general propensity to experience negative emotions. The BODS showed criterion validity in predicting the behavioral intentions toward COVID-19 avoidance behavior, although it did not seem to be incrementally valid when compared to the TDDS pathogen subscale. We also established scalar measurement invariance of the BODS regarding gender and found that women display higher levels of BODS. Discussion: Results from the Italian version of the BODS indicate its structural, construct, nomological and criterion validity. Furthermore, our result on sex differences in disgust sensitivity are consistent with previous literature, and we discuss them in the broader context of cross-cultural and primate findings that points toward a possible evolutionary explanation of this difference.

Psychometric Characteristics of the Italian Version of the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory.

Sociosexuality refers to the tendency to engage in uncommitted sexual behavior and has been dissected into three domains: sociosexual behavior, attitudes, and desire (Penke & Asendorpf, 2008), which led to the revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), which was validated on a German sample. The current research aimed at translating and validating an Italian version (I-SOI-R), administered to three distinct Italian participant groups. In the first sample (N = 710, females = 521, age = 18-59 years), we found evidence for a bifactor model, articulated in a general sociosexuality factor and three specific factors (behavior, attitudes, desire). High internal consistency was established for total and subscale scores, alongside favorable test-retest reliability. A connection was found between relationship status and sociosexual desire, though not gender dependent. We found evidence for test-retest reliability in a second sample (N = 55, females = 37, age 20-58 years). In a third study (N = 305, females = 147, age = 19-60 years), the earlier findings were replicated, further confirming the I-SOI-R's construct, criterion, and nomological validity on an online sample. Combining data from the three studies revealed full configural, metric, and scalar invariance regarding gender. This allowed us to meaningfully compare the observed scores of women and men and replicated the finding that men display higher levels of unrestricted sociosexuality. In conclusion, the I-SOI-R may serve as a valuable tool to assess and enhance sexual health, albeit warranting future research on construct and criterion validity.

Italian adaptation of the Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS).

Background: Suggestibility is a personality trait that reflects a general tendency to accept messages. The Multidimensional Iowa Suggestibility Scale (MISS) is a self-report scale developed to measure the degree of individuals' perceptions of their suggestibility. This study aimed to adapt the MISS in an Italian sample. Methods: We conducted two studies. In the first study, 345 subjects (270 females (78%), mean age = 36.21 years ± 14.06 SD) completed the translated Italian version of the MISS, composed of five subscales (consumer suggestibility; persuadability; sensation contagion; physiological reactivity; peer conformity). We investigated the structural validity of the scale through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) testing four measurement models (unidimensional, four-factor, hierarchical four factors, and bifactor) and explored reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald's omega. In the second study, we cross-validated the MISS on a new independent sample. We enrolled 277 participants (196 females (71%), mean age 30.56, SD = 12.58) who underwent the new version of the scale. We performed factor analyses to test structural validity and compared four measurement models. Then, we investigated reliability and conducted a latent variable analysis to explore divergent validity. Results: The CFA in the first study revealed a bifactor solution of the MISS. This structure was interpretable and provided an adequate fit for the data. The final version of the scale was reduced to forty-six items with globally good indices of adaptation. The scale also demonstrated acceptable reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald's Hierarchical Omega. In the second study, we found that the bifactor structure was confirmed. Factor loadings inspection revealed that there was no justification to report only the separate scores for the subscales. We also found that the scale showed good internal consistency, but mixed evidence for divergent validity. Conclusions: In the end, the Italian version of the MISS demonstrated good psychometric properties which will be discussed in detail below.

Aberrant salience mediates the interplay between emotional abuse and positive symptoms in schizophrenia.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood trauma and adversities (CTA) and aberrant salience (AS) have a pivotal role in schizophrenia development, but their interplay with psychotic symptoms remains vague. We explored the mediation performed by AS between CTA and psychotic symptomatology in schizophrenia. METHODS: We approached 241 adults suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), who have been in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months, excluding the diagnosis of dementia, and recent substance abuse disorder, and cross-sectional evaluated through the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short-Form (CTQ-SF), and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). We tested a path-diagram where AS mediated the relationship between CTA and psychosis, after verifying each measure one-dimensionality through confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The final sample comprised 222 patients (36.9% female), with a mean age of 42.4 (± 13.3) years and an average antipsychotic dose of 453.6 (± 184.2) mg/day (chlorpromazine equivalents). The mean duration of untreated psychosis was 1.8 (± 2.0) years while the mean onset age was 23.9 (± 8.2) years. Significant paths were found from emotional abuse to ASI total score (ß = 0.39; p < .001) and from ASI total score to PANSS positive (ß = 0.17; p = .019). Finally, a statistically significant indirect association was found from emotional abuse to PANSS positive mediated by ASI total score (ß = 0.06; p = .041; CI 95% [0.01, 0.13]). CONCLUSION: Emotional abuse has an AS-mediated effect on positive psychotic symptomatology. AS evaluation could allow a better characterization of psychosis as well as explain the presence of positive symptoms in adults with SSDs who experienced CTA.

Changes in social norms during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic across 43 countries.

The emergence of COVID-19 dramatically changed social behavior across societies and contexts. Here we study whether social norms also changed. Specifically, we study this question for cultural tightness (the degree to which societies generally have strong norms), specific social norms (e.g. stealing, hand washing), and norms about enforcement, using survey data from 30,431 respondents in 43 countries recorded before and in the early stages following the emergence of COVID-19. Using variation in disease intensity, we shed light on the mechanisms predicting changes in social norm measures. We find evidence that, after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, hand washing norms increased while tightness and punishing frequency slightly decreased but observe no evidence for a robust change in most other norms. Thus, at least in the short term, our findings suggest that cultures are largely stable to pandemic threats except in those norms, hand washing in this case, that are perceived to be directly relevant to dealing with the collective threat.

Effects of cancer severity on the relationship between emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress in Italian women.

PURPOSE: This study aims to understand the association between emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress) in women with cancer at different stages. Specifically, the aims of this study were to investigate: i) the links between emotional intelligence and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression); ii) the mediating role of perceived social support provided by family members, friends, and significant others in the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress; iii) the impact of cancer type and cancer stage (I-II vs III-IV) in moderating these relationships, among Italian women. METHODS: The research sample consisted of 206 Italian women (mean age = 49.30 ± 10.98 years; 55% breast cancer patients) who were administered a questionnaire to assess emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis was carried out to confirm the hypothetical-theoretical model. RESULTS: Emotional intelligence had a positive association with perceived social support, which in turn prevented psychological distress only in women with early-stages cancers. The type of cancer has no effect on these relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate a pressing need to screen and recognize women with lower emotional intelligence and perceived social support, as they may be more prone to experiencing psychological distress. For such individuals, our results recommend the implementation of psychological interventions aimed at enhancing emotional intelligence and fortifying their social support networks, with consideration for the stage of cancer they are facing.

Using latent class analysis to identify different clinical profiles according to food addiction symptoms in obesity with and without binge eating disorder.

Background and aims: Existing research suggests that food addiction (FA) is associated with binge eating disorder (BED) and obesity, but the clinical significance of this relationship remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the different clinical profiles of FA symptoms among patients who have obesity with/without BED using latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: 307 patients (n = 152 obesity and BED, n = 155 obesity without BED) completed a battery of self-report measures investigating eating psychopathology, depression, emotional dysregulation, alexithymia, schema domains, and FA. LCA and ANOVAs were conducted to identify profiles according to FA symptoms and examine differences between classes. Results: LCA identified five meaningful classes labeled as the "non-addicted" (40.4%), the "attempters" (20.2%), the "interpersonal problems" (7.2%), the "high-functioning addicted" (19.5%) and the "fully addicted" (12.7%) classes. Patients with BED and obesity appeared overrepresented in the "high-functioning addicted" and "fully addicted" classes; conversely, patients with obesity without BED were most frequently included in the "non-addicted" class. The most significant differences between the "high-functioning addicted" and "fully addicted" classes versus the "non-addicted" class regarded heightened severity of eating and general psychopathology. Discussion and conclusions: The results bring to light distinct clinical profiles based on FA symptoms. Notably, the "high-functioning addicted" class is particularly intriguing as its members demonstrate physical symptoms of FA (i.e., tolerance and withdrawal) and psychological ones (i.e., craving and consequences) but are not as functionally impaired as the "fully addicted" class. Identifying different profiles according to FA symptoms holds potential value in providing tailored and timely interventions.

Relationship between disgust and orthorexia nervosa and psychometric properties of the Italian Dusseldorf orthorexia scale in a general population sample.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear among clinicians and researchers whether orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a part of the obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum or eating disorders. Disgust seems to be a shared psychopathological factor in these clinical presentations, indicating a potentially crucial role in ON. On the other hand, numerous psychometric tools have been developed to evaluate ON. The Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) was recently validated in an Italian sample. However, the study's primary limitation was that the scale was only administered to undergraduate university students. This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties (including factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance conditional on sex) of the Italian version of the DOS (I-DOS) on a sample from the general population. Additionally, the study sought to determine the nomological validity of the I-DOS by examining its relationship with disgust sensitivity. METHODS: A sample of 521 participants took part in this study and completed a battery that assessed ON and disgust sensitivity. To assess the I-DOS structure, reliability, and measurement invariance we respectively conducted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), computed McDonalds's omega, and performed hierarchical series of multigroup CFAs. Then, we tested the relationship between ON and disgust sensitivity. RESULTS: CFA confirmed the unifactorial model of I-DOS and it respected the configural, metric, and strict invariance while a partial scalar invariance was achieved. It also showed good reliability with an omega of 0.87. In addition, we found a positive relationship between ON and disgust sensitivity, thus confirming the nomological validity of I-DOS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the Italian version of the Dusseldorf orthorexia scale (I-DOS) exhibits strong psychometric properties and can be an effective instrument for assessing ON in a general population sample. Notably, the most significant and innovative outcome was the positive correlation between ON and disgust sensitivity. As disgust has been linked to other clinical presentations, this preliminary result could serve as a foundation for future research exploring this phenomenon in greater detail.

This study sought to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS) in an Italian sample from the general population. Furthermore, as disgust seems to be a shared psychopathological factor in orthorexia nervosa (ON), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders, we explored the nomological validity of I-DOS testing its relationship with disgust. The results confirmed that I-DOS has sound psychometric properties and, especially, a positive relationship between ON and disgust sensitivity. Therefore, future studies should focus on targeting disgust sensitivity as the focal point in ON.

Attitudes towards Italian Mafias Scale (AIMS): development and validation.

In two studies we aimed at developing the Attitude towards Italian Mafias Scale (AIMS). In study 1 (N = 292) we used an Exploratory Factor Analysis to reduce the number of the items and explore their latent constructs. In study 2 (N = 393) we performed a Confirmatory Factor Analysis on the resulting 18-item questionnaire, whose latent structure was best identified by a general factor Mafia Attitude and three specific factors related to Behaviors, Cognitions and Emotions-Cognitions towards mafias. Moreover, we showed that the AIMS has (i) discriminant validity compared to a measure of attitudes towards crime, (ii) predictive validity of donation behavior to an association against mafias, (iii) internal consistency, and (iv) invariance for people of the five deep-rooted mafia regions of Southern Italy and those from the rest of Italy. Finally, we observed a difference between the participants from the five deep-rooted mafia regions (i.e., Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Sicily) and the rest of Italy, with the former having surprisingly more negative attitudes towards mafias compared to the latter. The AIMS might help to reliably survey people's sentiment towards Italian mafias and promote targeted and effective law-related education interventions.

The mediation role of impulsivity between childhood trauma and dissociative symptomatology in bipolar disorder.

In bipolar disorder (BD) patients, trauma has been associated with emotional dysregulation, potentially leading to an increase in impulsivity and dissociative symptomatology. We aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, impulsivity, and dissociative symptomatology in BD with a special focus on the role of impulsivity as a mediator between childhood trauma and dissociative symptomatology. METHODS: We administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), Dissociative Experience Scale (DES-II), and Alda scale. Spearman correlation analysis assessed the independent variables associated with CTQ and DES-II. We performed a mediation analysis using the bootstrapping technique to verify the hypothesis that impulsivity represented an intervening variable between childhood trauma and dissociation. RESULTS: CTQ and DES-II scores in 100 BD patients were both significantly associated with the number of lifetime affective episodes, a clinical course of mania-depression-euthymia, suicidal ideation, a history of antidepressant-induced manic switch, poor response to mood stabilizers, mixed features, psychotic symptoms, aggressive behavior, and BIS-11 (p<0.01). At the regression analysis, CTQ was associated with DES-II (p<0.001), while DES-II was associated with the CTQ (p<0.001) and BIS-11 (p< 0.001), as well as with aggression (p=0.002). The mediation analysis showed that impulsivity significantly mediated the effect of childhood trauma on dissociative symptomatology (z=25.71; 0.930-1.084). CONCLUSIONS: Impulsivity might play a key role in onset and prognosis of BD patients. Our findings may help in increasing the knowledge about the possible association between impulsivity, childhood traumatic experiences and dissociative symptomatology. BD patients with dissociative symptoms might benefit from a tailored treatment which could include a training based on emotional and behavioral regulation.

Body odour disgust sensitivity is associated with xenophobia: evidence from nine countries across five continents.

Body odour disgust sensitivity (BODS) reflects a behavioural disposition to avoid pathogens, and it may also involve social attitudes. Among participants in the USA, high levels of BODS were associated with stronger xenophobia towards a fictitious refugee group. To test the generalizability of this finding, we analysed data from nine countries across five continents (N = 6836). Using structural equation modelling, we found support for our pre-registered hypotheses: higher BODS levels were associated with more xenophobic attitudes; this relationship was partially explained by perceived dissimilarities of the refugees' norms regarding hygiene and food preparation, and general attitudes toward immigration. Our results support a theoretical notion of how pathogen avoidance is associated with social attitudes: 'traditional norms' often involve behaviours that limit inter-group contact, social mobility and situations that might lead to pathogen exposure. Our results also indicate that the positive relationship between BODS and xenophobia is robust across cultures.

Body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) is related to extreme odor valence perception.

Odors are important disease cues, and disgust sensitivity to body odors reflects individual differences in disease avoidance. The body odor disgust sensitivity (BODS) scale provides a rapid and valid assessment of individual differences. Nevertheless, little is known about how individual differences in BODS might correlate with overall odor perception or how it is related to other differences in emotional reactivity (e.g., affect intensity). We investigated how BODS relates to perceptual ratings of pleasant and unpleasant odors. We aggregated data from 4 experiments (total N = 190) that were conducted in our laboratory, and where valence and intensity ratings were collected. Unpleasant odors were body-like (e.g., sweat-like valeric acid), which may provide disease cues. The pleasant odors were, in contrast, often found in soap and cleaning products (e.g., lilac, lemon). Across experiments, we show that individuals with higher BODS levels perceived smells as more highly valenced overall: unpleasant smells were rated as more unpleasant, and pleasant smells were rated as more pleasant. These results suggest that body odor disgust sensitivity is associated with a broader pattern of affect intensity which causes stronger emotional responses to both negative and positive odors. In contrast, BODS levels were not associated with odor intensity perception. Furthermore, disgust sensitivity to odors coming from external sources (e.g., someone else's sweat) was the best predictor of odor valence ratings. The effects were modest in size. The results validate the BODS scale as it is explicitly associated with experimental ratings of odor valence.

Development, Validation, and Measurement Invariance of the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA) in Italian and Spanish Children and Early Adolescent Samples.

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is an important public health issue as it negatively influences the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of children/early adolescents. Available measures of BD for this population are scarce, have a significant bias, or only evaluate weight-related dissatisfaction. This study, through the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), aims to develop and validate the Italian (Study 1) and Spanish (Study 2) versions of a new tool, the Body Image Bidimensional Assessment (BIBA), which is not subject to sex-age-race biases and is able to identify BD related to weight and height among children/early adolescents. Study 3 regards the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), testing the measurement of invariance across sex and country. The BIBA has a two-factor structure (i.e., weight and height dissatisfaction) according to studies 1 and 2. McDonald's ω ranged from 0.73 (weight) and 0.72 (height) with good reliability. CFA confirmed the two-factor model as a good fit for the Italian and Spanish samples. Finally, partial metric and scalar invariance of the BIBA dimensions across sexes and nations emerged. The BIBA has proven to be an easy-to-use tool that identifies two BD dimensions among children/early adolescents who could benefit from prompt educational interventions.

Sensitivity of conventional cognitive tests in multiple sclerosis: Application of item response theory.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and its prevalence rate ranges between 22% and 70%. Because CI significantly impacts vocational status, caregiver burden, and quality of life, an accurate neuropsychological assessment is required. Three widely used and validated batteries for MS-associated CI are the Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery (BRN-B), the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function (MACFIMS), and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment (BICAMS). Although similar, these batteries differ in time-consuming and in specific tests employed. This study aims to assess the sensitivity of cognitive tests included in these batteries through an Item Response Theory approach. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with MS and 91 demographically matched controls (HC) were consecutively assessed using the three neuropsychological batteries (i.e., BRN-B, MACFIMS, and BICAMS). Continuous Response Model (CRM) was used to identify the cognitive test(s) that best discriminate patients with MS from HC. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the accuracy of the CRM results. RESULTS: Cognitive tests loaded on two different latent variables: the 'higher-order executive functioning,' consisting of tests assessing concept formation, problem-solving, and inhibitory control, and the 'memory and information processing speed,' comprising tests assessing long-term, working memory, and information processing speed. The Delis Kaplan Executive Functioning System-Sorting Test and the Stroop Test were the most sensitive tests in differentiating cognitive functioning between MS and HC. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the importance of including a more extensive executive assessment in MS clinical practice since higher-order executive functions (e.g., abstraction and inhibitory control) significantly impact patients' quality of life and functional autonomy. Clinical implications of careful dissection of executive functioning in MS neuropsychological assessment are discussed.

A multi-lab test of the facial feedback hypothesis by the Many Smiles Collaboration.

Following theories of emotional embodiment, the facial feedback hypothesis suggests that individuals' subjective experiences of emotion are influenced by their facial expressions. However, evidence for this hypothesis has been mixed. We thus formed a global adversarial collaboration and carried out a preregistered, multicentre study designed to specify and test the conditions that should most reliably produce facial feedback effects. Data from n = 3,878 participants spanning 19 countries indicated that a facial mimicry and voluntary facial action task could both amplify and initiate feelings of happiness. However, evidence of facial feedback effects was less conclusive when facial feedback was manipulated unobtrusively via a pen-in-mouth task.

The validity and reliability of the Test of Memory Strategies among Italian healthy adults.

Background: Previous literature has shown that executive functions (EF) are related to performance in memory (M) tasks. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of psychometric tests that examine these two constructs simultaneously. The Test of Memory Strategies (TMS; previously validated in Spain and Portugal) could be a useful verbal learning task that evaluates these two constructs at once. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the TMS in an Italian adult sample. Method: One hundred twenty-one healthy volunteers (74 F, Mean age = 45.9 years old, SD = 20.4) who underwent a neuropsychological examination participated in this study. We conducted a Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the structural validity of the TMS. We conducted a latent variable analysis to examine convergent and discriminant validity of the TMS sub-scale scores reflecting executive functions and memory. We also examined the TMS reliability in terms of internal consistency through the McDonald's omega. Results: The CFA confirmed the expectation that the TMS-1 and TMS-2 subtests reflect a factor and that the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests reflect a different factor. This result is in line with the prediction that TMS-1 and TMS-2 require the use of executive functions and memory simultaneously, and therefore we called this factor executive functions (EF); whereas the TMS-3, TMS-4, and TMS-5 subtests require less involvement of executive functions, thus reflecting a construct that we named memory (M). The TMS subtests for EF and M showed convergent validity with the test scores using a traditional neuropsychological battery, assessing memory and executive functions separately. Finally, the reliability of the subtests was good. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that TMS is a valid and reliable scale to simultaneously assess M and EF while among Italian healthy adults.

Development, validation and clinical use of the Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (EBA-O).

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a major health problem with an increasing risk of mortality, associated with comorbidities and high rates of dropout. Research demonstrated that pathological eating behaviors could help to phenotype obese patients thus tailoring clinical interventions. Therefore, our aim was to develop (study 1), validate (study 2), and test in a clinical setting (study 3) the Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (EBA-O). METHOD: Study 1 included the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and McDonald's ω in a general population sample (N = 471). Study 2 foresaw the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and convergent validity in 169 participants with obesity. Study 3 tested the capability of the EBA-O to characterize eating behaviors in a clinical sample of 74 patients with obesity. RESULTS: Study 1. EFA identified five factors (i.e., food addiction, night eating, binge eating, sweet eating, and prandial hyperphagia), explaining 68.3% of the variance. The final EBA-O consisted of 18 items. McDonald's ω ranged between 0.80 (hyperphagia) and 0.92 (binge eating), indicating very good reliability. STUDY 2: A second-order five-factor model, through CFA, showed adequate fit: relative chi-square (χ2/df) = 1.95, CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.075, and SRMR = 0.06, thus suggesting the appropriateness of the EBA-O model. Significant correlations with psychopathological questionnaires demonstrated the convergent validity. Study 3. Significant associations between EBA-O factors and emotional-related eating behaviors emerged. CONCLUSION: The EBA-O demonstrated to be a reliable and easy-to-use clinical tool to identify pathological eating behaviors in obesity, particularly useful for non-experts in eating disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, descriptive research.

The relationship between sociosexual orientation, muscle performance and disgust sensitivity: a preliminary correlational study.

BACKGROUND: Sociosexual orientation (SO), muscle performance (MP), and disgust sensitivity (DS) play a crucial role in sexual life. Previous research reported a relationship between SO and muscle strength, but the association across these variables has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SO, MP, and DS. METHODS: Seventy-two subjects (age: 49.7±13.7 years, 38 F) participated in the study. The SO, MP and DS were evaluated using a Sexual Attitude Scale (SAS), a revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), a body composition analysis, handgrip test (HG), a Standing Long Jump Test (SLJ), a Body Odor Disgust Scale (BODS) and Three Domains of Disgust Scale (TDDS). RESULTS: A strong evidence in favor of a positive association between SO and MP (r=0.52, BF10=29), inconclusive evidence for a negative correlation between SO and DS (r=-0.37, BF10=2) and moderate evidence in favor of the absence of a relationship between MP and DS (r=0.001, BF01=5) was found using a Bayesian hypothesis testing approach (Bayes Factor). CONCLUSIONS: Higher MP is associated with a greater tendency to have occasional relationships and multiple sexual partners, in both genders. MP-related self-esteem and perceived vulnerability may be involved in mating behaviors. We speculate that the sexual hormones might mediate the relationship among these variables. Future studies are warranted to explore this hypothesis.