Assessing the Two Sources of Construct-Relevant Psychometric Multidimensionality of the Nomophobia Questionnaire: The Integrated Framework of Bifactor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling.

The current study aimed at investigating the two sources of construct-relevant psychometric multidimensionality of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), applying the newly developed bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling (B-ESEM) approach. We first contrasted several CFA and ESEM models to test the psychometric multidimensionality due to the fallibility of indicators. Then, we compared the first-order structures with those specifying both global and specific factors to test the coexistence of hierarchically ordered factors. Results from 469 participants to the 20-item questionnaire showed the superiority of a B-ESEM representation with a well-defined G-factor and four weaker S-factors. On a methodological level, our findings provide additional support for the utility of using B-ESEM's integrative perspective to better capture the complexity of multidimensional constructs.

Effects of Difficulty in Handling Emotions and Social Interactions on Nomophobia: Examining the Mediating Role of Feelings of Loneliness.

This study was addressed to assess nomophobia in an Italian sample (N = 456, 53.1% men, M age = 31.8, SD = 11.1), also providing a deeper knowledge about how it is distributed across demographics, as well as identifying its best predictors. The main goal was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of difficulty in emotion regulation and social interaction anxiety on nomophobia through loneliness. Our findings indicated that loneliness explained the effect of the expressive suppression strategy (fully) and social interaction anxiety (partially) on nomophobia, whereas it was not a significant mediator when the cognitive reappraisal strategy was taken into account. Our study suggests that loneliness during the pandemic plays a crucial role in explaining the associations between the investigated predictors and the outcome variable, offering a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this emerging construct. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and shortcomings and suggestions for future works are presented.

Dimensionality and Accuracy of Measurement Based on Item Response Theory in the Fatalism Scale During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

The Fatalism Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring fatalistic beliefs about health. However, no previous studies have been conducted to verify its psychometric properties across different populations and, most importantly, during a public health emergency. Hence, this study aimed to examine the factorial structure, reliability, construct validity, and accuracy of measurement of the Fatalism Scale during the COVID-19 pandemic among Italian-speaking people. The total sample was comprised of 300 participants. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. Construct validity was estimated by comparing fatalism scores with two theoretically-related constructs (i.e., optimism, locus of control). The test information function was analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of measurement based on item response theory (IRT). Differences in fatalism scores across gender were examined by performing MANOVAs. Results show a four-factor model: Luck, Powerlessness, Predetermination, and Pessimism with adequate fit indices and satisfactory internal consistency. Data support the expected relationships between fatalism subscales and related measures. The test information function and standard error curve provide the largest amount of information around = zero and two standard deviations above the mean in the latent trait. Significant differences across gender are observed in Luck and Pessimism subscales. Our study suggests that the Fatalism Scale is a valuable tool for assessing fatalism during an acute health crisis among Italian-speaking people. This instrument might be useful for assessing fatalism during future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises (AU)

Instruments measuring fatalism: A systematic review.

This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing scales for fatalism, along with information regarding their methodological robustness. A systematic search was conducted in PsycINFO (PsycARTICLES and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences), PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Articles were selected if they described a Self-Report questionnaire properly designated for assessing fatalism (both original developments and further validations), if they included a measure in which fatalism is the core construct rather than a subscale of a multidimensional scale, and if they were published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language. The methodological quality of the retrieved instruments was appraised using Skinner's (1981) validity evidence framework. From the starting number of 1,210 records, the screening process led to 16 studies examining the psychometric properties of eight instruments. Our findings offer a general overview of the available fatalism scales, providing evidence of the variety of ways in which fatalism has been conceptualized and assessed. The systematic analysis, the rigorous methodological appraisal, and the critical discussion about the reported scales' features may represent a useful guide for scholars and practitioners in choosing measures with a high level of quality for their research aims. Limitations and directions for future research are also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental Images and School Learning: A Longitudinal Study on Children.

Recent literature have underlined the connections between children's reading skills and capacity to create and use mental representations or mental images; furthermore data highlighted the involvement of visuospatial abilities both during math learning and during subsequent developmental phases in performing math tasks. The present research adopted a longitudinal design to assess whether the processes of mental imagery in preschoolers (ages 4-5 years) are predictive of mathematics skills, writing and reading, in the early years of primary school (ages 6-7 years). The research lasted for two school years; in the first phase, the general group of participants consisted of 100 children, and although all participants agreed to be part of the research, in the second phase, there was a mortality rate of 30%. In order to measure school learning and mental imagery processes four batteries of tests were used. The mental imagery battery evaluated mental generation, inspection and transformation processes. Data underlined that the different aspects in which mental imagery processes are articulated are differently implied in some skills that constitute school learning. These findings emphasize the potential usefulness of a screening for mental imagery ability for schoolchildren to adopt effective measures to increase their mental imagery abilities.