Psychometric Validation of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale in a Professional Teaching Context.

For the teaching profession, prosociality is a relevant skill. From this perspective, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale (APBS) in a professional setting of primary school Chilean teachers (n = 1404; mean age = 41.4; SD = 10.8; 77.4% women). ESEM and CFA were applied to evaluate its factor structure, internal consistency, factorial reliability, and invariance. The results supported a bifactor ESEM model in which prosociality was represented by a general latent factor and four specific factors (helping, sharing, caring, and empathy). A predominance of the unidimensional component of the APBS was observed (general factor, ECV = 0.938; ωh = 0.945), with adequate reliability (α = 0.932; ω of the factor general = 0.968) and invariance of the measurement in terms of gender. Its adequacy was confirmed by a good level of fit (RMSEA = 0.042 90%CI [0.036-0.049]; SRMR = 0.012; CFI = 0.995; TLI = 0.988). It is concluded that the APBS is a suitable instrument to measure prosociality in the professional setting studied. Its general and specific dimensions are relevant to the prosocial behaviors currently required of teachers. Future studies could contribute evidence of the transcultural validation of the APBS in other educational contexts in order to undertake comparative studies.

Validez preliminar del inventario de evaluación de riesgos criminogénicos YLS/CMI en adolescentes en Chile / Preliminary validity of the inventory of criminogenic risks evaluation YLS/CMI in adolescents in Chile / Validade preliminar do inventário de avaliação de riscos criminogênicos YLS/CMI em adolescentes no Chile

Resumen Antecedentes/objetivos: Los inventarios de evaluación de riesgos criminogénicos basados en evidencia resultan de gran apoyo para determinar los objetivos prioritarios en las intervenciones y prevenir la reincidencia en adolescentes infractores de ley. Esta investigación permite avanzar en la validación de instrumentos de evaluación de riesgos en adolescentes infractores en contexto latinoamericano. Se estudian las evidencias de validez para la versión adaptada a Chile, del Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory YLS/CMI. Método: Mediante un muestreo incidental se obtiene una muestra de 129 adolescentes varones (14 a 19 años), cumpliendo sanción por la ley de responsabilidad penal. Resultados y conclusiones: El YLS/CMI adaptado muestra adecuados niveles de confiabilidad y validez en la muestra estudiada. Solo el factor de educación y empleo no alcanza los alpha aceptables (Alpha: .51). Las evidencias de validez convergente y discriminante del YLS/CMI son satisfactorias, siendo el factor de tiempo libre el que menos discrimina entre reincidentes y no reincidentes mediante análisis retrospectivo. El estudio avanza en la disertación de la adaptación y validación del YLS/CMI para evaluar los riesgos criminogénicos en adolescentes chilenos infractores de ley.

Abstract Background and Objectives: The inventories of criminogenic risks evaluation based on evidence prove to be a big support to determine the priority objectives in the interventions and prevent the recidivism in adolescent law infringers. This investigation permits to advance in the validation of risks evaluation instruments in adolescent infringers in Latin-American context. The validity evidences are studied for the adapted version for Chile, of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory YLS/CMI. Ç Method: By means of an incidental sampling it is obtained a sample of 129 male adolescents (14 to 19 years old) serving a sanction by the criminal responsibility law. Results and conclusions: The adapted YLS/CMI shows adequate levels of reliability and validity in the studied sample. Only the factor of education and employment does not reach the acceptable alpha (Alpha: .51). The evidences of convergent and discriminant validity of the YLS/CMI are satisfactory, being the factor of free time which discriminates the least between recidivists and nonrecidivists by means of retrospective analysis. The study advance in the dissertation of the adaptation and validation of the YLS/CMI to evaluate the criminogenic risks in Chilean adolescent law infringers.

Resumo Antecedentes/objetivos: Os inventários de avaliação de riscos criminogênicos baseados em evidencia resultam de grande apoio para determinar os objetivos prioritários nas intervenções e prevenir a reincidência em adolescentes infratores de lei. Esta investigação permite avançar na validação de instrumentos de avaliação de riscos em adolescentes infratores em contexto latino-americano. Estudam-se as evidências de validade para a versão adaptada ao Chile, do Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory YLS/ CMI. Método: Através de uma amostragem incidental se obtém uma amostra de 129 adolescentes varões (14 a 19 anos) cumprindo sanção pela lei de responsabilidade penal. Resultados e conclusões: O YLS/CMI adaptado mostra adequados níveis de confiabilidade e validade na amostra estudada. Só o fator de educação e emprego não atinge os alpha aceitáveis (Alpha: .51). As evidências de validade convergente e discriminante do YLS/CMI são satisfatórias, sendo o fator de tempo libre o que menos discrimina entre reincidentes e não reincidentes através de análise retrospectiva. O estudo avança na dissertação da adaptação e validação do YLS/CMI para avaliar os riscos criminogênicos em adolescentes chilenos infratores de lei.

Detección y descripción de rasgos psicopáticos en adolescentes utilizando el MACI / Screening and describing psychopathic traits in adolescents using the MACI

Este estudio reporta las características psicométricas de las dos escalas de Psicopatía del MACI y evalúa su utilidad para pesquisar y describir a adolescentes con alta psicopatía. Cuatro grupos representantes del continuo adaptación-desadaptación social respondieron el MACI y un autorreporte de comportamiento social adolescente. El análisis factorial de las escalas determinó estructuras de dos y tres factores, respectivamente, que son respaldadas por los modelos de psicopatía de Hare y de Cookie y Michie. Un algoritmo desarrollado con las puntuaciones de estas escalas identificó y permitió caracterizar un grupo de 49 jóvenes (11.2 % de la muestra) con alta psicopatía. Se discuten las características psicométricas y la utilidad de estas escalas para identificar a adolescentes con perfiles psicopáticos.

This study reports psychometric characteristics for two Psychopathy scales developed with the MACI and assess their utility for screening and describing high psychopathic adolescents. Four groups representing the social adjustment and maladjustment continue answered the MACI and a self report about adolescent social behaviour. A factorial analysis of the psychopathy scales determined structures formed by two and three factors which are supported by the models of psychopathy presented by Hare and by Cookie and Michie. An algorithm developed with these scales-scores identified and allowed to characterize a group of 49 adolescents (11.2 % of the sample) with high psychopathy. Psychometric characteristics and the utility of these two scales for identifying adolescents with psychopathic profiles are discussed.