Naive skepticism scale: development and validation tests applied to the chilean population.

BACKGROUND: Skepticism has traditionally been associated with critical thinking. However, philosophy has proposed a particular type of skepticism, termed naive skepticism, which may increase susceptibility to misinformation, especially when contrasting information from official sources. While some scales propose to measure skepticism, they are scarce and only measure specific topics; thus, new instruments are needed to assess this construct. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a scale to measure naive skepticism in the adult population. METHOD: The study involved 446 individuals from the adult population. Subjects were randomly selected for either the pilot study (phase 2; n = 126) or the validity-testing study (phase 3; n = 320). Parallel analyses and exploratory structural equation modelling were conducted to assess the internal structure of the test. Scale reliability was estimated using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients Finally, a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess invariance, and a Set- Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling was applied to estimate evidence of validity based on associations with other variables. RESULTS: The naive skepticism scale provided adequate levels of reliability (ω > 0.8), evidence of validity based on the internal structure of the test (CFI = 0.966; TLI = 0.951; RMSEA = 0.079), gender invariance, and a moderate inverse effect on attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed naive skepticism scale showed acceptable psychometric properties in an adult population, thus enabling the assessment of naive skepticism in similar demographics. This paper discusses the implications for the theoretical construct and possible limitations of the scale.

Academic psychological capital questionnaire 12 (APCQ-12): psychometric validity and measurement invariance in a Chilean sample of high school students.

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Academic Psychological Capital Questionnaire 12 (APCQ-12) in a sample of 2,196 Chilean high school students (51% girls) aged 12 to 17 years (mean 14.83 years). Results showed that: (1) the APCQ-12 produces adequate scores in terms of reliability, (2) the internal structure of the questionnaire obtains adequate fit indices, for a second order model, which is consistent with previous research, and (3) the APCQ-12 proved to be sex and age invariant. Overall, the APCQ-12 proved to be an adequate questionnaire for measuring academic psychological capital in Chilean high school students, producing valid and reliable scores.

Salud mental y bienestar psicológico: variaciones durante la pandemia de COVID 19 en estudiantes de una facultad universitaria chilena

Antecedentes: Existe un aumento sostenido de la prevalencia de trastornos mentales en estudiantes universitarios, situación agudizada por la pandemia por COVID-19. Objetivo: Caracterizar la sintomatología de salud mental y el bienestar psicológico en un grupo de universitarios chilenos y explorar cambios en su situación durante el año académico en pandemia. Metodología: Diseño longitudinal, con dos mediciones utilizando un conjunto de instrumentos validados incluidos en un sistema de seguimiento del bienestar psicológico estudiantil (SIS-BP) disponible en una plataforma en línea. La muestra, de 1176 estudiantes, no probabilística, fue obtenida por participación voluntaria. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias entre las administraciones, mostrando que, junto con producirse deterioro de la salud mental y el bienestar psicológico, también se desarrollan procesos de fortalecimiento de capacidades. Conclusión: Se destaca la importancia de acciones institucionales oportunas para sostener la trayectoria estudiantil frente al impacto de situaciones de emergencia en la salud mental de esta población.

Background: There is a sustained increase in the prevalence of mental disorders in college students, a situation exacerbated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives. To characterize the symptoms of mental health and psychological well-being in Chilean college students and to explore changes in the situation of students throughout the academic year during the pandemic. Methodology: A longitudinal survey design was used, with two measurements using a set of validated instruments included in a student psychological well-being monitoring system (SIS-BP), available on an online platform. The non-probabilistic sample of 1176 students were obtained by voluntary participation. Results: Differences were found between the administrations, showing that, along with the deterioration of mental health and psychological well-being, capacity building processes are also developed. Conclusion: The importance of timely institutional actions to sustain the trajectory of its students in the face of the impact of emergency situations on the mental health of this population is highlighted.

Development of a Scale to Measure Healthy Behaviors in Spanish-Speaking University Students.

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a public health problem that affect the quality of life and well-being of people, especially the youth, who have been identified as a high-risk population. Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for NCDs, and an unhealthy diet is a significant driver of NCDs. On the other hand, physical exercise and healthy habits are effective methods of prevention. Although there are scales that measure different behaviors related to NCDs, most of them have been developed in another language (e.g., English) or only focus on one aspect of NCDs. The present study aimed to develop a scale to assess healthy behaviors (i.e., healthy eating and physical exercise) in Spanish-speaking university students, using an instrumental design, with a sample of 369 Chilean university students between 18 and 25 years of age. The results presented show evidence of validity through an exploratory structural equation model (ESEM), reliability estimation through McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha, evidence of invariance by sex, and evidence of validity in relation to other variables with an SEM model. It is concluded that the Healthy Behavior Scale, consisting of nine items to measure healthy eating and physical exercise, is a brief instrument with evidence of reliability and validity (CFI = 0.998; TLI = 0.995; and RMSEA = 0.063) for application in a Spanish-speaking university population, offering potential applications in research instruments, screening studies, and the development of new studies for other contexts.

Internalized homophobia and sexual risk behavior in men who have sex with men: The mediational role of sexual self-concept.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the populations most likely to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worldwide. Sexual risk behaviors (SRB) are the main route of HIV transmission. Among the factors associated with SRB, internalized homophobia (rejection of one's sexuality) is a risk factor unique for MSM. However, how this factor influences SRB is not clear. Therefore, the present study attempts to clarify the mechanism of action of the relationship between internalized homophobia on SRB based on the mediating effects of sexual self-concept. A study was conducted with 124 MSM living in Chile over 18 years of age (M = 24.4 and SD = 4.19). Through path analysis, it was observed that internalized homophobia has slight inverse effects on SRBs (multiple sexual partners and sexual activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs) when the sexual self-efficacy dimension acts as a mediating variable. These findings suggest that developing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns focused on MSM must highlight the development of a healthy sexual self-concept and address self-stigma.

Psychological Factors and Sexual Risk Behaviors: A Multidimensional Model Based on the Chilean Population.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global health problem, with sexual risk behaviors (SRB) being the main routes of spreading the virus. Evidence indicates that different psychological factors influence SRB (e.g., attitude towards condoms, sexual self-concept, sexual sensation seeking, knowledge of sexual risk behaviors, risk perception). This study proposes an explanatory model of sexual risk behaviors in young people and adults. The sample consisted of 992 young people and adults aged between 18 and 35 years. The model presented good levels of fit (X2 = 3311.433, df = 1471, CFI = 0.964, TLI = 0.959, RMSEA = 0.036), explaining 56% of the variance of sexual activity with multiple partners, 77% of the inadequate use of protective barriers, and 58.8% of sexual activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs from a set of psychological factors in self-report measures. The details of the results offer novel contextual evidence for the prioritization of prevention-oriented psychosocial interventions.

Flourishing Scale: Adaptation and Evidence of Validity in a Chilean High School Context.

This study aimed to adapt the Flourishing Scale to a Chilean high school context and provide evidence of its validity. Data were collected from 1,348 students (52% girls) from three different Chilean schools. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a one-factor solution, multiple-group CFA supported gender invariance, and structural equation model indicated that the FS is related to positive and negative academic feelings. Overall, the evidence indicates that the Flourishing Scale adapted to the high school context is an instrument that produces valid and reliable scores in our high school Chilean sample.

Development and Evidence of the Validity of the Condom Use Attitudes Scale for Youth and Adults in a Chilean Context.

Condom use is the most effective preventive behavior against HIV transmission, and its inadequate use is a public health problem that occurs mostly among youth and young adults. Although there are scales that measure condom use, those that exist correspond to English-speaking developments or do not have psychometric evidence to support them, so it is possible that the available adaptations of instruments do not adequately reflect the phenomenon in the Chilean population. Thus, the study aims to develop a scale to assess attitudes toward condom use in Chilean youth and young adults. Initially, a sample of students between 18 and 39 years (n = 520) was used for debugging the instrument. Then, a second sample was taken from the general population aged 18 to 40 (n = 992) to confirm the factor structure of the proposed model. The final scale has 10 items and 3 attitudinal dimensions (affective, cognitive, and behavioral). The results show that the identified structure provides adequate levels (ω > 0.7) or at least sufficient of reliability (ω > 0.6) and presents evidence of validity, based on the internal structure of the test, through ESEM (CFI = 0.993; TLI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.056). In addition, evidence of validity was obtained based on the relationship with other variables and strong invariance between the scores of men and women. It is concluded that the scale developed has adequate psychometric properties to assess, in brief form, condom use attitudes in equal samples for research and screening purposes.

Desarrollo y evidencia de validez de una escala multidimensional de riesgo de suicidio y factores protectores en un contexto chileno / Development and evidence of validity of a multidimensional scale of suicide risk and protective factors in a Chilean context

Resumen: El Suicidio es un grave problema de salud pública, por lo que evaluar su riesgo es fundamental para su prevención. Si bien existen múltiples factores relacionados, se cuentan con pocos instrumentos psicométricos para la medición conjunta de factores protectores y de riesgo, dificultando una comprensión multidimensional del comportamiento suicida. Sobre esta base, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo desarrollar una propuesta de evaluación multidimensional, de rápida aplicación, que permita evaluar tanto factores de riesgo como protectores. Se utilizó un diseño transversal, de tipo instrumental, junto a un muestreo no probabilístico, por disponibilidad, con dos muestras, de adultos jóvenes mayores de 18 años (n= 405 y n=117). El instrumento final se compone de 25 ítems y 5 dimensiones (i.e. ideación suicida, estrategias de afrontamiento enfocadas en la emoción, autoestima, apoyo social percibido y expectativas hacia el futuro). Los resultados indican buen ajuste del modelo, utilizando ESEM , adecuados niveles de fiabilidad (ω> .8) (α > 0.7). Además, se contó con evidencia de validez basada en la relación con otras variables e invarianza métrica entre hombres y mujeres. Los resultados obtenidos, sugieren que las puntuaciones son fiables y presentan evidencias de validez para su interpretación en población equivalente.

Abstract: Suicide is a major public health concern, making risk assessment essential for its prevention. Although there are multiple related factors, there are few psychometric tools for the joint measurement of both protective and risk factors, making a multidimensional understanding of suicidal behaviour difficult. On this basis, the present study aims to develop a quickly applicable, multidimensional assessment approach to evaluate both risk and protective factors. A cross-sectional, instrumental design was used, together with a non-probabilistic, availability sampling, with two samples of young adults over 18 years of age (n=405 and n=117). The final measure is composed by 25 items and 5 dimensions (i.e. suicidal ideation, emotion-focused coping strategies, self-esteem, perceived social support and expectations towards the future). Results show good model fit, using ESEM, adequate levels of reliability (ω> .8) (α > 0.7). In addition, there was evidence of validity based on the relationship with other variables and metric invariance between men and women. Results suggest that the scores are reliable and present evidence of validity for their interpretation in equivalent populations.

School Burnout Inventory: Factorial Validity, Reliability, and Measurement Invariance in a Chilean Sample of High School Students.

This brief report assessed the psychometric validity and gender invariance of the School Burnout Inventory (SBI) -a measure of students' exhaustion, cynicism, and inadequacy- in a convenience sample of 972 high school Chilean students ranging between 12 and 18 years old. The results showed that: (1) the SBI produces adequate scores in terms of reliability; (2) two models (one solution of three related factors and one of second-order and three first-order factors) fitted adequately fit to our sample and was invariant across gender; and (3) the SBI scores were significantly related to other related constructs (i.e., study-related emotions, academic psychological capital, and academic engagement). Overall, the SBI was found to be a reliable and valid inventory to assess school burnout in Chilean high school students.

Correction: Development and evidence of validity of the HIV risk perception scale for young adults in a Hispanic-American context.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231558.].

Development and evidence of validity of the HIV risk perception scale for young adults in a Hispanic-American context.

HIV/AIDS is a public health problem that is transmitted through risky sexual behavior. The literature suggests that the perception of HIV risk is a motivator for the prevention of risky sexual behaviors. There is no culturally adapted scale to assess HIV risk perception in the Hispanic-American population. The aim of this research was to develop a scale to assess HIV risk perception in Hispanic-American young adults. A cross-sectional instrumental design was used, with a sample of students from the Chilean city with the highest HIV rates. Participants (n = 524) were between 18 and 33 years old, of whom 51% were women, 84.4% said they were heterosexual and 43.7% said they had not been tested for HIV/AIDS. The final scale has 9 items and 2 dimensions: (1) perceived risk susceptibility and (2) perceived risk severity. The results showed that the identified structure provided adequate levels of reliability (ω > .8) and presented evidence of validity, based on the internal structure of the test (i.e., using ESEM) and on the relationship with other variables (i.e., the sexual risk behaviors scale). In addition, the results showed strong invariance between the scores for men and women. It is concluded that the HIV risk perception scale has adequate psychometric properties to assess HIV risk perception in equivalent samples.

Development and validity evidence of the multidimensional scale of sexual self-concept in a Spanish-speaking context.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: STIs and HIV/AIDS are an important public health problem, transmitted by risky sex behaviours. In this context, it is necessary to identify protective factors, of those behaviours, as sexual self-concept. Sexual self-concept is a multidimensional trait (i.e. sexual self-esteem; sexual self-efficacy; and sexual assertiveness), but, in an extensive review, we did not find any measure to assess this multidimensional construct in a Spanish-speaking context. The objective of this research is development a scale to assess sexual self-concept in young people and adults. METHOD: Time-space sampling with a total size of 792 participants, coming from the two Chilean cities (i.e. Arica and Iquique) with the highest HIV rates, aged between 17 and 53 years old (ME = 23.42; SD = 6.33), with 66.2% women (N = 500), 33.6% men (N = 258). RESULTS: Final scale has 16 items and 4 dimensions: sexual self-esteem, sexual self-efficacy, assertive sexual communication, and assertive sexual behaviour. The identified structure provides satisfactory levels of reliability (ω > .8) and presents robust evidence of validity, based on the internal structure of the test, using ESEM (RMSEA = .060; CFI = .99; TLI = .98), evidence of validity based on relationship to other variables (i.e. risky sexual behaviour) and measurement invariance between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The multidimensional scale of sexual self-concept has adequate psychometric properties to assess sexual self-concept in equivalent samples.

Development and validity evidence of the multidimensional scale of sexual selfconcept in a Spanish-speaking context

Abstract Background/objective: STIs and HIV/AIDS are an important public health problem, transmitted by risky sex behaviours. In this context, it is necessary to identify protective factors, of those behaviours, as sexual self-concept. Sexual self-concept is a multidimensional trait (i.e. sexual self-esteem; sexual self-efficacy; and sexual assertiveness), but, in an extensive review, we did not find any measure to assess this multidimensional construct in a Spanish-speaking context. The objective of this research is development a scale to assess sexual self-concept in young people and adults. Method: Time-space sampling with a total size of 792 participants, coming from the two Chilean cities (i.e. Arica and Iquique) with the highest HIV rates, aged between 17 and 53 years old (ME = 23.42; SD = 6.33), with 66.2% women (N = 500), 33.6% men (N = 258). Results: Final scale has 16 items and 4 dimensions: sexual self-esteem, sexual self-efficacy, assertive sexual communication, and assertive sexual behaviour. The identified structure provides satisfactory levels of reliability (ω > .8) and presents robust evidence of validity, based on the internal structure of the test, using ESEM (RMSEA = .060; CFI = .99; TLI = .98), evidence of validity based on relationship to other variables (i.e. risky sexual behaviour) and measurement invariance between men and women. Conclusions: The multidimensional scale of sexual self-concept has adequate psychometric properties to assess sexual selfconcept in equivalent samples.