Country-level correlates of the Dark Triad traits in 49 countries.

OBJECTIVES: The Dark Triad traits (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) capture individual differences in aversive personality to complement work on other taxonomies, such as the Big Five traits. However, the literature on the Dark Triad traits relies mostly on samples from English-speaking (i.e., Westernized) countries. We broadened the scope of this literature by sampling from a wider array of countries. METHOD: We drew on data from 49 countries (N = 11,723; 65.8% female; AgeMean  = 21.53) to examine how an extensive net of country-level variables in economic status (e.g., Human Development Index), social relations (e.g., gender equality), political orientations (e.g., democracy), and cultural values (e.g., embeddedness) relate to country-level rates of the Dark Triad traits, as well as variance in the magnitude of sex differences in them. RESULTS: Narcissism was especially sensitive to country-level variables. Countries with more embedded and hierarchical cultural systems were more narcissistic. Also, sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed societies: Women were less likely to be narcissistic in developed (vs. less developed) countries. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the results based on evolutionary and social role models of personality and sex differences. That higher country-level narcissism was more common in less developed countries, whereas sex differences in narcissism were larger in more developed countries, is more consistent with evolutionary than social role models.

Need for Affect and Attitudes Toward Drugs: The Mediating Role of Values.

Human values and affective traits were found to predict attitudes toward the use of different types of drugs (e.g., alcohol, marijuana, and other illegal drugs). In this study (N = 196, Mage = 23.09), we aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of those predictors of attitudes toward drug use in a mediated structural equation model, providing a better overview of a possible motivational path that drives to such a risky behavior. Specifically, we predicted and found that the relations between need for affect and attitudes toward drug use were mediated by excitement values. Also, results showed that excitement values and need for affect positively predicted attitudes toward the use of drugs, whereas normative values predicted it negatively. The pattern of results remained the same when we investigated attitudes toward alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs separately. Overall, the findings indicate that emotions operate via excitement and normative values to influence risk behavior.

Grandiose narcissism, unfounded beliefs, and behavioral reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A theoretical perspective on grandiose narcissism suggests four forms of it (sanctity, admiration, heroism, rivalry) and states that these forms conduce to different ways of thinking and acting. Guided by this perspective, we examined in a multinational and multicultural study (61 countries; N = 15,039) how narcissism forms are linked to cognitions and behaviors prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As expected, differences in cognitions and behaviors across narcissism forms emerged. For example, higher narcissistic rivalry predicted lower likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors, but higher narcissistic sanctity predicted higher likelihood of enactment of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Further, whereas the heroism, admiration, and rivalry narcissism forms acted in a typically antisocial manner, with high narcissism predicting greater endorsement of unfounded health beliefs, the sanctity form acted in a prosocial manner, with higher narcissism being linked to lower endorsement of unfounded COVID-19 health beliefs. Thus, the findings (a) support the idea of four narcissism forms acting differently, and (b) show that these differences reflect a double-edged sword, sometimes linking to an anti-social orientation, and sometimes linking to a pro-social orientation.

Sexual Liberalism-Conservatism: the effect of human values, gender, and previous sexual experience.

Despite theoretical associations, there is a lack of empirical studies on the axiological basis of sexual liberalism-conservatism. Two studies demonstrated important associations between these constructs for young adults. In Study 1, participants were 353 undergraduate students with a mean age of 20.13 (SD = 1.84), who completed the Sexual Liberalism-Conservatism Scale and the Basic Values Survey. In Study 2, participants were 269 undergraduate students, with a mean age of 20.3 (SD = 1.82), who completed a social desirability scale in addition to Study 1 instruments. Results showed how values can predict sexual liberalism-conservatism after controlling for social desirability. Attitudes towards one's own sexual behavior were more conservative whereas attitudes towards other's sexual behavior were more liberal. Gender was not a significant predictor of sexual attitudes whereas previous sexual experience showed a significant association to this construct. In general, results corroborated previous findings, showing that participants with a tendency to present socially desirable answers also tended to present themselves as sexually conservative.

Brazilian-Portuguese empathy quotient: evidences of its construct validity and reliability.

Empathy is the ability to read other's mind and understand their intentions. This paper examines the psychometric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of a short form of the empathy quotient (EQ, 15 items). The EQ-15 was administered to 237 participants from the general population from João Pessoa, Brazil. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the tripartite model with cognitive, emotional and social empathy factors. In line with other studies, gender differences were only observed for the first two factors, with female participants scoring higher on both, which suggests that the social factor might not constitute a truly dimension of empathy. Strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity was only observed for the cognitive factor. The poor psychometric parameters of the emotional and social factors are argued to reflect the complexity and contrasting ideas of their items. The possibility of elaborating specific items for the emotional and social factors is also discussed.

The fear of COVID-19 scale: Its structure and measurement invariance across 48 countries.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been a source of fear around the world. We asked whether the measurement of this fear is trustworthy and comparable across countries. In particular, we explored the measurement invariance and cross-cultural replicability of the widely used Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S), testing community samples from 48 countries (N = 14,558). The findings indicate that the FCV-19S has a somewhat problematic structure, yet the one-factor solution is replicable across cultural contexts and could be used in studies that compare people who vary on gender and educational level. The validity of the scale is supported by a consistent pattern of positive correlations with perceived stress and general anxiety. However, given the unclear structure of the FCV-19S, we recommend using latent factor scores, instead of raw scores, especially in cross-cultural comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Honor Scale in Romania: Psychometric Parameters and Associations to Human Values.

Honor is an important psychological construct that refers to one's worth in one's own eyes and in the eyes of others. A person's honor is dependent on implicit personal meaning, which leads the individual to behave in a way worthy of being valued and socially appreciated. In the present research, we aimed to provide psychometric evidence for the short version of the Honor Scale in the Romanian context. For that, one study was performed (N = 444). The four-dimensional structure of the measure was supported through Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and showed good reliability estimates. The measure also presented full factorial invariance across participants' gender, showing that these groups answer to the measure in a similar way and can be further compared in research. Finally, results indicated significant associations between the Honor Scale factors with human values and age. In sum, our findings suggest that the short version of the Honor Scale is psychometrically adequate to use in Romania.

The Dark Side of Human Values: How Values are Related to Bright and Dark Personality Traits.

In the present research, we replicate and extend previous findings on the relations between human values and bright\dark traits of personality, using the functional theory of human values (Gouveia, 2013). Specifically, we assessed which dark traits are associated with human values and whether the dark traits explained variance in values beyond the bright traits (Big Five). While prior research has investigated the relations between the three sets of constructs mainly in Western countries, we tested whether the findings hold in Brazil (N = 819). Although values are defined as positive constructs, several value subfunctions were positively correlated with the dark traits (e.g., excitement values with narcissism), while other relations were negative. Controlling for participants' age and gender, hierarchical regressions further revealed that dark traits explain variance in values beyond bright traits, although overall bright traits were more strongly associated with values than dark traits. Together, our findings replicate previous research. Implications for our understanding of the Dark Triad and cross-cultural research are discussed.

Structure of Dark Triad Dirty Dozen Across Eight World Regions.

The Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) has garnered intense attention over the past 15 years. We examined the structure of these traits' measure-the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen (DTDD)-in a sample of 11,488 participants from three W.E.I.R.D. (i.e., North America, Oceania, Western Europe) and five non-W.E.I.R.D. (i.e., Asia, Middle East, non-Western Europe, South America, sub-Saharan Africa) world regions. The results confirmed the measurement invariance of the DTDD across participants' sex in all world regions, with men scoring higher than women on all traits (except for psychopathy in Asia, where the difference was not significant). We found evidence for metric (and partial scalar) measurement invariance within and between W.E.I.R.D. and non-W.E.I.R.D. world regions. The results generally support the structure of the DTDD.

Cross-Cultural Differences and Similarities in Human Value Instantiation.

Previous research found that the within-country variability of human values (e.g., equality and helpfulness) clearly outweighs between-country variability. Across three countries (Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom), the present research tested in student samples whether between-nation differences reside more in the behaviors used to concretely instantiate (i.e., exemplify or understand) values than in their importance as abstract ideals. In Study 1 (N = 630), we found several meaningful between-country differences in the behaviors that were used to concretely instantiate values, alongside high within-country variability. In Study 2 (N = 677), we found that participants were able to match instantiations back to the values from which they were derived, even if the behavior instantiations were spontaneously produced only by participants from another country or were created by us. Together, these results support the hypothesis that people in different nations can differ in the behaviors that are seen as typical as instantiations of values, while holding similar ideas about the abstract meaning of the values and their importance.

The Dark Triad Traits from a Life History Perspective in Six Countries.

Work on the Dark Triad traits has benefited from the use of a life history framework but it has been limited to primarily Western samples and indirect assessments of life history strategies. Here, we examine how the Dark Triad traits (i.e., psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) relate to two measures of individual differences in life history strategies. In Study 1 (N = 937), we replicated prior observed links between life history strategies, as measured by the Mini-K, and the Dark Triad traits using samples recruited from three countries. In Study 2 (N = 1032), we measured life history strategies using the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale and correlated it with the Dark Triad traits in samples recruited from three additional countries. While there was some variability across participants' sex and country, the results were generally consistent in that psychopathy and (to a lesser extent) Machiavellianism were related to faster life history strategies and narcissism was related to slower life history strategies. These results add cross-cultural data and the use of two measures of life history speed to understand the Dark Triad traits from a life history perspective.

Psychometric Properties of the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS) for a Brazilian Sample.

The present research brings psychometric evidences for the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale (URCS), aiming at verifying its adequacy for use in the Brazilian context. Participants were 468 university students with mean age of 21.2 years. They completed a survey composed by the URCS, the Basic Values Survey (BSV), and demographic questions. Through Exploratory (Eigenvalue = 6.61) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFI = .937, TLI = .923), the results showed that the same one-factor structure from the original version of the scale was found. These results were also invariant across gender and relationship status (∆SRMR < .03), and presented evidences of internal consistence (α = .94), temporal stability (ICC = .903, p < .001), and convergent validity (r male = .32, r female = .25, p < .001). In conclusion, this measure has shown to be psychometrically adequate for use in Brazil.

Fear of COVID and trait anxiety: mediation of resilience in university students / Medo da COVID e ansiedade-traço: mediação da resiliência em estudantes universitários / Miedo al COVID y ansiedad: mediación de la resiliencia en estudiantes universitarios

The current research aimed to assess the effect of the trait anxiety on the fear of Covid-19 mediated by resilience. For that, we counted on a convenience sample of 261 university students from Brazil. Participants completed a survey composed of the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FC-19S), the Brief Resilience Scale, the Trait Anxiety Inventory, and demographic questions. Results from a simple mediation with 5000 bootstrap simulations supported the hypothesis that resilience mediates the link between the trait anxiety and fear of Covid-19 (β = .14; 95% C.I. = .027, .254). It was observed that resilience mediated around 35% of the link between the trait anxiety and the fear of Covid-19. In sum, we concluded that resilience plays an important role in maintaining people's mental health, which is especially relevant in troubled times like the pandemic.

O objetivo principaldeste estudo foi verificar o poder explicativo da ansiedade-traço no medo da Covid-19 sendo mediado pela resiliência. Para tanto, contou-se com a participação de uma amostra por conveniência composta por 261 estudantes universitários brasileiros. Os participantes responderam a um questionário online (Google formulários) contendo a Escala de Medo da Covid-19 - (FC-19S), a Escala Breve de Resiliência, o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço e questões de caráter sociodemográficas. Por meio de uma análise de mediação simples e 5000 re-amostragens bootstrap, confirmou-se a hipótese do presente estudo, uma vez que houve efeito de mediação (efeito indireto) estatisticamente significativo (β=0,14; 95% C.I. = 0,027 - 0,254), onde a variável resiliência mediou aproximadamente 35% da relação entre ansiedade-traço e medo da Covid-19. Conclui-se que a resiliência tem um papel importante para manutenção da saúde mental das pessoas, sobretudo em períodos de crise como de uma pandemia.

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue verificar el poder explicativo del rasgo de ansiedad en el miedo Covid-19, mediado por la resiliencia. Para ello, participó una muestra de conveniencia de 261 estudiantes universitarios brasileños. Los participantes respondieron un cuestionario en línea (formularios de Google) que contiene Escala de miedo Covid-19 (FC-19S), Escala de resiliencia breve, Inventario de ansiedad de rasgos y preguntas sociodemográficas. Mediante un análisis de mediación simple y un remuestreo de 5000 bootstrap, se confirmó la hipótesis del presente estudio, ya que hubo un efecto de mediación estadísticamente significativo (efecto indirecto) (β = 0,14; IC 95% = 0,027 - 0.254), donde la variable resiliencia medió aproximadamente el 35% de la relación entre el rasgo de ansiedad y el miedo al Covid-19. Concluimos que la resiliencia juega un papel importante en el mantenimiento de la salud mental de las personas, especialmente durante períodos de crisis como una pandemia.

Patterns of Value Change During the Life Span: Some Evidence From a Functional Approach to Values.

Little research has examined mean-level change in values across the life span. Using large cross-sectional data (N = 36,845) from the five geo-social regions in Brazil, this study examines how mean levels of basic values differ as a function of age (from age 12 to 65; M = 28) and whether age effects are moderated by gender. Results show that mean-level value change is substantial throughout the life course. We observed both linear and curvilinear patterns of change as well as differential patterns by gender. The observed value change is consistent with age-related life circumstances and psychosocial development. Age effects are also value dependent, supporting the notion that values have different functions for different developmental stages.

The horizontal and vertical attributes of individualism and collectivism in a Spanish population.

The authors examined the dimensionality and factorial structure of individualism and collectivism in Spanish participants (N = 526). A series of confirmatory factor analyses were performed on responses to the 32-item individualism-collectivism measure reported by T. M. Singelis, H. C. Triandis, D. S. Bhawuk, and M. Gelfand (1995). Consistent with earlier data, the best fitting model was multidimensional: a vertical versus a horizontal attribute crossed with individualism and collectivism dimensions. Whereas the overall fit of the data to a LISREL model was moderate, additional self-report data on respondents' interpersonal experiences supported the construct validity of the 4 factors. The authors suggest that the additional complexity is useful in explaining Spanish social behavior.

Scale of Positive and Negative Affects (EAPN-10): Evidence of its Psychometric Adequacy / Escala de Afetos Positivos e Negativos (EAPN-10): Evidências de sua Adequação Psicométrica / Escala de Afectos Positivos y Negativos (EAPN-10): Evidencias de su Adecuación Psicométrica

Abstract This study aimed to gather psychometric evidence of the Scale of Positive and Negative Affects (EAPN-10) within the Brazilian context. Three studies were performed (N = 911). Study 1 considered 296 undergraduate students (MAge = 23.8; 59.1% females), who answered the EAPN-10 and a demographic questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure [positive affects (α = .82) and negative affects (α = .81)], explaining 59.7% of the total variance. Study 2 took into account the participation of 313 undergraduate students (MAge = 23.3; 57.2% females), who answered the same instruments. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the two-factor structure (e.g., CFI = .92), which was invariant across males and females (e.g., ΔCFI < .01), with alphas greater than .70. Finally, Study 3's participants were 302 university students (MAge = 23.1; 54.3% females), who answered the aforementioned instruments as well as measures of vitality, positivity, optimism, anxiety, depression and stress. Supporting their criterion validity, positive affects (α = .83) were positively correlated with well-being indicators, and negative affects (α = .80) were positively correlated with indicators of psychological discomfort. In conclusion, the EAPN-10 is a psychometrically adequate measure that can be employed to assess people's affects and their correlates within the Brazilian context.

Resumo Este estudo objetivou reunir evidências psicométricas da Escala de Afetos Positivos e Negativos (EAPN-10) no contexto brasileiro. Realizaram-se três estudos. O Estudo 1 considerou 296 estudantes universitários (MIdade = 23,8; 59,1% mulheres), os quais responderam a EAPN-10 e perguntas demográficas. A análise fatorial exploratória revelou uma estrutura bifatorial [afetos positivos (α = 0,82) e afetos negativos (α = 0,81)], explicando 59,7% da variância total. No Estudo 2 participaram 313 estudantes universitários (MIdade = 23,3; 57,2% mulheres), que responderam os instrumentos do estudo anterior. A análise fatorial confirmatória corroborou a estrutura bifatorial (e.g., CFI = 0,92), que se mostrou invariante entre homens e mulheres (e.g., ΔCFI < 0,01), tendo alfas superiores a 0,80. Por fim, o Estudo 3 reuniu 302 estudantes universitários (MIdade = 23,1; 54,3% mulheres), que responderam os instrumentos prévios e medidas de vitalidade, positividade, otimismo, ansiedade, depressão e estresse. Atestando evidências de sua validade de critério, os afetos positivos (α = 0,83) se correlacionaram positivamente com os indicadores de bem-estar, enquanto os negativos (α = 0,80) o fizeram com aqueles de mal-estar psicológico. Conclui-se que a EAPN-10 é psicometricamente adequada, podendo ser empregada para conhecer os afetos e seus correlatos no contexto brasileiro.

Resumen Este estudio ha tenido como objetivo reunir evidencias psicométricas de la Escala de Afectos Positivos y Negativos (EAPN-10) en el contexto brasileño. Se realizaron tres estudios. El Estudio 1 consideró 296 estudiantes universitarios (MEdad = 23.8, 59.1% mujeres), que contestaron a la EAPN-10 y preguntas demográficas. El análisis factorial exploratorio ha indicado una estructura bifactorial [afectos positivos (α = .82) y afectos negativos (α = .81)], explicando el 59.7% de la varianza total. En Estudio 2 reunió 313 estudiantes universitarios (MEdad = 23.3, 57.2% mujeres), que contestaron los instrumentos del estudio anterior. El análisis factorial confirmatorio ha corroborado la estructura bifatorial (CFI = .92), que se mostró invariante entre varones y mujeres (ΔCFI < .01), con alfas superiores a .70. Por último, el Estudio 3 contó con 302 estudiantes universitarios (MEdad = 23.1, 54.3% mujeres), que contestaron a los instrumentos previos y medidas de vitalidad, positividad, optimismo, ansiedad, depresión y estrés. Confirmando evidencias de validez de criterio, los afectos positivos (α = .83) se han correlacionado positivamente con los indicadores de bienestar, mientras que los negativos (α = .80) lo hicieron con aquellos de malestar psicológico. Concluyendo, la EAPN-10 se ha mostrado psicometricamente adecuada, pudiendo ser empleada para conocer los afectos y sus correlatos en el contexto brasileño.

Formação em Avaliação Psicológica: Situação, Desafios e Diretrizes / Training in Psychological Assessment: Situation, Challenges, and Guidelines / Formación en Evaluación Psicológica: Situación, Desafíos y Directrices

Este artigo teve como objetivo conhecer a formação em Avaliação Psicológica no Brasil, considerando pesquisas com estudantes, professores e profissionais, identificando desafios, avanços e diretrizes. A diversidade da área é o aspecto mais evidente, variando nomes de disciplinas, cargas horárias e conteúdos de um curso a outro, inclusive dentro de um mesmo Estado. Embora se suponha competência do psicólogo, seus conhecimentos e suas atitudes não diferem tanto daqueles dos estudantes, e muitos não conhecem dispositivos legais que regulamentam a prática da Avaliação Psicológica. São identificados entraves para a formação (por exemplo, natureza da área, dificuldade na relação professor-aluno), mas também propostas de diretrizes para formação nesta área. Concluiu-se que é necessário diferenciar níveis de formação ou, decidindo-se por uma generalista, focar em conteúdos mínimos, priorizando documentos que regulamentam a prática profissional....(AU)

This article aimed to know the training in Psychological Assessment in Brazil, considering studies with undergraduate students, teachers, and professionals, identifying challenges, advances and guidelines. The diversity of the area is the most evident aspect, varying names of disciplines, schedules and contents from one course to another, even within the same state. Although the competence of the psychologist is assumed, their knowledge and their attitudes do not differ so much from those of the students, and many do not know the laws that regulate the practice of Psychological Assessment. Some obstacles, but also some guidelines, to training (e.g., nature of the field, difficulty in the teacher-student relationship) have been identified. In conclusion, it is necessary to differentiate levels of training or, deciding for a generalist one, to focus on minimum contents, prioritizing documents that regulate the professional practice....(AU)

Este artículo tuvo como objetivo conocer la formación en Evaluación Psicológica en Brasil, considerando investigaciones con estudiantes, profesores y profesionales, identificando desafíos, avances y directrices. La diversidad del área es el aspecto más evidente, variando nombres de disciplinas, cargas horarias y contenidos de un curso a otro, incluso dentro de un mismo Estado. Aunque se suponga competencia del psicólogo, sus conocimientos y sus actitudes no difieren tanto de los de estudiantes, y muchos no conocen dispositivos legales que regulan la práctica de la Evaluación Psicológica. Se identifican obstáculos para la formación (e.g., naturaleza del área, dificultad en la relación profesor-alumno), pero también propuestas de directrices para formación en esta área. Se concluyó que es necesario diferenciar niveles de formación o, decidiendo por una generalista, enfocarse en contenidos mínimos, priorizando documentos que regulan la práctica profesional....(AU)

Escala de necessidade de pertença: evidências de qualidade psicométrica / Need to belong scale: evidences of psychometric quality / Necesidad de pertenecer: evidencias de calidad psicométrica

A necessidade de pertença representa uma motivação do ser humano para estabelecer relacionamentos intensos e duradouros, sendo isso um importante aspecto para a manutenção do bem-estar e saúde mental destes. Considerando a relevância desse construto, busca-se validar a escala de Necessidade de Pertença (ENP) para o contexto brasileiro em três estudos (N = 642). O primeiro e segundo estudos objetivaram apresentar a estrutura fatorial da presente medida por meio de análise fatorial exploratória e confirmatória, os quais confirmaram a solução unifatorial esperada (CFI = 0,96) com a eliminação de três itens da versão original. Já o terceiro estudo buscou apresentar evidências de validade convergente da ENP, tendo confirmado a significativa associação desse construto com medidas de natureza similar (e.g., solidão emocional). Conclui-se que os objetivos foram alcançados e que a medida apresenta-se psicometricamente adequada para uso no Brasil. (AU)

The need to belong represents a motivation of the human being to establish intense and long-term relationships, and it is an important aspect for the maintenance of people's well-being and mental health. Considering the relevance of this construct, we sought to validate the Need to Belong Scale (NBS) for the Brazilian context in three studies (N = 642). The first and second studies aimed to present the factorial structure of this measure through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, which confirmed the expected single-factor solution (CFI = 0.96) with the elimination of three items from the original version. The third study sought to present evidence of convergent validity of the NBS, confirming the significant association of this construct with measures of a similar nature (e. g., emotional loneliness). In conclusion, this measure showed to be psychometrically adequate for use in Brazil. (AU)

La necesidad de pertenencia representa una motivación del ser humano para establecer relaciones intensas y duraderas, siendo esto, fundamental para mantener el bienestar y la salud mental de las personas. Considerando la pertinencia de este constructo, se busca validar la Escala de Necesidad de Pertenencia (ENP) para el contexto brasileño a través de tres estudios (N = 642). El primer y segundo estudio presentan la estructura factorial de esta medida a través de análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, confirmando la estructura unifactorial esperada (CFI = 0,96), con la eliminación de tres ítems de la versión original. El tercer estudio trató de presentar evidencias de validez convergente de la ENP, confirmando la asociación significativa de este constructo con medidas de naturaleza similar (e.g. soledad emocional). Conclusión, los objetivos fueron alcanzados y la medida ha demostrado ser psicométricamente adecuada para su uso en Brasil. (AU)

[General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12): the effect of negative items in its factorial structure]. / Questionário de Saúde Geral (QSG-12): o efeito de itens negativos em sua estrutura fatorial.

The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) detects non severe psychiatric illnesses. Although commonly treated as a general index, the definition of its factorial structure is cause for debate. This study aimed to test this structure comparing three models: two frequently cited in the literature (one- and bi- factorial) and a third, also one-factor, which controls response bias due to the negative wording of items. A total of 1,180 people participated (300 undergraduates, 311 military policemen, 274 elementary school teachers and 295 members of the general population) answering the GHQ-12 and demographic questions. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-factor structure, controlling by the wording effect, gathered the best fit indexes, except among the military. This structure showed greater than 0.80 reliability in all groups. It was concluded that the one-factor model of the GHQ-12 is more appropriate, however, future studies are required with people with different occupations and levels of mental health.

Index of health development: conceptualization and reflections on its need.

This article aimed to review the concept of social indices by focusing on their practical use and need in the health setting. For this purpose, the initial consideration was how these indices are defined, their possible use, and the importance they have as a means of depicting the real world. Thus, a wide concept of health, consistent with the current view, was adopted. Health was further described within international and national settings, emphasizing indicators that can be employed to estimate health problems in the population were highlighted. Finally, as no specific social index describing health in a Brazilian setting has been developed, the need to rely on the Health Development Index was indicated. This index will serve as a tool for managers, inspection agents, and the general population to follow-up the developments reached and the shortcomings that should be addressed to ensure a better health status for the majority of the population.