Occupational depression in a Spanish-speaking sample: associations with cognitive performance and work-life characteristics / Depresión ocupacional en una muestra hispanohablante: asociaciones con el rendimiento cognitivo y características de la vida laboral

This 386-participant study investigated the structural and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI). Exploratory structural equation modeling bifactor analysis revealed that the ODI meets the requirements for essential unidimensionality. Measurement invariance held across our sample and the English- and French-speaking samples used in the ODI's initial validation study. Mokken scale analysis indicated that (a) the scalability of the instrument was strong, (b) no violations of monotonicity or local independence were present, and (c) invariant item ordering was sufficiently accurate. The ODI's reliability was optimal. The ODI exhibited both convergent validity and discriminant validity vis-à-vis a job-unrelated measure of depression. Furthermore, occupational depression correlated substantially, and in the expected direction, with objective cognitive performance and 10 widely studied work-life characteristics. This study suggests that the ODI's Spanish version has excellent structural and psychometric properties and can be confidently employed by occupational health specialists.(AU)

El presente estudio, realizado con 386 participantes, ha indagado en las propiedades estructurales y psicométricas de la versión española del Inventario de Depresión Ocupacional (ODI, según sus siglas en inglés). Un análisis bifactorial de un modelo exploratorio de ecuaciones estructurales mostró que el ODI reúne los requisitos de unidimensionalidad esencial. La invarianza de la medida se mantuvo en nuestra muestra y en las muestras anglo y francoparlantes utilizadas en el estudio de validación inicial. Un análisis Mokken de la escala indica que: a) el instrumento tenía un fuerte carácter escalar, b) no hubo violación de la monotonicidad o independencia local y c) el orden invariante de los ítems fue lo suficientemente preciso. La fiabilidad ha sido óptima. El ODI presentó tanto validez convergente como discriminante en relación con una medida de depresión no relacionada con el trabajo. Además, la depresión laboral correlacionó en gran medida, en la dirección esperada, con el desempeño cognitivo objetivo y 10 características muy estudiadas de la vida laboral. El estudio destaca que la versión española del ODI tiene unas propiedades estructurales y psicométricas excelentes, por lo que puede utilizarse con toda confianza por los especialistas en salud ocupacional.(AU)

Distorted maternal mental representations and atypical behavior in a clinical sample of violence-exposed mothers and their toddlers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternal violence-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reflective functioning (RF), and/or quality of mental representations of her child predict maternal behavior within a referred sample of interpersonal violence-exposed mothers and their children (ages 8-50 months). METHOD: Forty-one dyads completed two videotaped visits including measures of maternal mental representations and behavior. RESULTS: Negative and distorted maternal mental representations predicted atypical behavior (Cohen's d>1.0). While maternal PTSD and RF impacted mental representations, no significant relationships were found between PTSD, RF, and overall atypical caregiving behavior. Severity of maternal PTSD was however positively correlated with the avoidant caregiving behavior subscale. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal mental representations of her child are useful risk-indicators that mark dysregulation of trauma-associated emotions in the caregiver.

Bullying, depression, and suicidality in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between bullying behavior and depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents. METHOD: A self-report survey was completed by 9th- through 12th-grade students (n = 2342) in six New York State high schools from 2002 through 2004. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between being victimized and bullying others with depression, ideation, and attempts. RESULTS: Approximately 9% of the sample reported being victimized frequently, and 13% reported bullying others frequently. Frequent exposure to victimization or bullying others was related to high risks of depression, ideation, and suicide attempts compared with adolescents not involved in bullying behavior. Infrequent involvement in bullying behavior also was related to increased risk of depression and suicidality, particularly among girls. The findings indicate that both victims and bullies are at high risk and that the most troubled adolescents are those who are both victims and bullies. Psychopathology was associated with bullying behavior both in and away from school. CONCLUSIONS: Victimization and bullying are potential risk factors for adolescent depression and suicidality. In evaluations of students involved in bullying behavior, it is important to assess depression and suicidality.