Executive functions and clinical symptoms in children exposed to maltreatment.

There is evidence of an association between childhood maltreatment and lifelong cognitive impairment. Few studies investigate cognitive functioning in maltreated children. The objective of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in executive processing between maltreated and nonmaltreated children. Additionally, clinical symptoms were compared between groups and possible associations between clinical symptoms, and deficits in executive functions were investigated. The sample consisted of 55 children (8-12 years), 30 with a history of maltreatment and 25 with no history of maltreatment. An interview was conducted with the child's legal guardian and instruments were administered: Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). The following clinical instruments were administered to the children: JVQ, Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). Children underwent neuropsychological assessment. Data were analyzed by comparing the groups for clinical and cognitive variables. Differences were found between the groups in all executive functions. Most clinical symptomatology scales showed differences between the groups. Few associations were found between clinical and executive impairment profiles. Cognitive stimulation interventions, focused on inhibitory control, should be proposed in combination with psychotherapy.

Validation of the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI) in Brazilian Portuguese / Validação do Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI) em português do Brasil

Abstract Introduction Experiencing trauma may entail psychopathological consequences, but also changes considered to be positive (i.e., posttraumatic growth). For positive change to occur, an impact on the beliefs of individuals is required, which may be measured through the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI). The objective of this study was to validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CBI. Methods A total of 248 university students (65.7% female) answered the following assessment instruments: sociodemographic data sheet, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Posttraumatic Symptoms Checklist - Clinician Version (PCL-5) and the CBI. Psychometric properties of the CBI were assessed by conducting an exploratory factor analysis through a principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and convergent validity (Pearson correlation between instruments) were also investigated. Results The total scale showed adequate internal consistency (α = 0.83). A single factor solution explained 42.63% of the variance of the CBI. Significant correlations were found between CBI and PTGI, and between CBI and PCL-5. Conclusion The psychometric properties indicated adequate internal consistency and construct validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CBI.

Resumo Introdução Experimentar um trauma pode levar a consequências psicopatológicas, mas também a alterações consideradas positivas (ou seja, crescimento pós-traumático). Para que mudanças positivas ocorram é necessário um impacto nas crenças dos indivíduos, o que pode ser medido através do Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI). O objetivo deste estudo foi validar a versão em português do Brasil do CBI. Métodos Um total de 248 universitários (65,7% mulheres) responderam aos seguintes instrumentos de avaliação: ficha sociodemográfica, Inventário de Crescimento Pós-Traumático (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory - PTGI), Lista de Verificação de Sintomas Pós-Traumáticos - Versão Clínica (Posttraumatic Symptoms Checklist - Clinician Version - PCL-5) e CBI. As propriedades psicométricas do CBI foram avaliadas a partir de análise fatorial exploratória através de análise de componentes principais com rotação varimax. A consistência interna (α de Cronbach) e a validade convergente (correlação de Pearson entre os instrumentos) também foram investigadas. Resultados A escala total apresentou consistência interna adequada (α = 0,83). Uma solução de fator único explicou 42,63% da variação do CBI. Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre CBI e PTGI e entre CBI e PCL-5. Conclusão As propriedades psicométricas indicaram consistência interna adequada e validade de construto da versão em português do Brasil do CBI.

Validation of the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI) in Brazilian Portuguese.

INTRODUCTION: Experiencing trauma may entail psychopathological consequences, but also changes considered to be positive (i.e., posttraumatic growth). For positive change to occur, an impact on the beliefs of individuals is required, which may be measured through the Core Beliefs Inventory (CBI). The objective of this study was to validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CBI. METHODS: A total of 248 university students (65.7% female) answered the following assessment instruments: sociodemographic data sheet, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Posttraumatic Symptoms Checklist - Clinician Version (PCL-5) and the CBI. Psychometric properties of the CBI were assessed by conducting an exploratory factor analysis through a principal component analysis with varimax rotation. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and convergent validity (Pearson correlation between instruments) were also investigated. RESULTS: The total scale showed adequate internal consistency (α = 0.83). A single factor solution explained 42.63% of the variance of the CBI. Significant correlations were found between CBI and PTGI, and between CBI and PCL-5. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties indicated adequate internal consistency and construct validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the CBI.

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) was developed to measure nine cognitive strategies referring to what someone thinks after the experience of threatening or stressful events. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Brazilian version of the CERQ. METHODS: The adaptation process included translation, backtranslation, expert committee evaluation, and test on 30 participants from the target population. A sample of 445 university students completed the Portuguese version of the CERQ, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) on an on-line research platform. Validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis of two models - a nine-factor model and a second-order model. Internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach's alpha analysis and correlations with affective variables measured by the PANAS. RESULTS: The analyses showed that the nine-factor model of the CERQ has good factorial validity and high reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging between 0.71 and 0.88. The second-order model did not have a good fit to the data. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study are similar to the ones found previously, indicating that the Brazilian version of the CERQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing cognitive emotion regulation strategies, but that grouping them according to their adaptability is not recommended.

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire / Propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira do Questionário de Regulação Emocional Cognitiva

Abstract Introduction: The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) was developed to measure nine cognitive strategies referring to what someone thinks after the experience of threatening or stressful events. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Brazilian version of the CERQ. Methods: The adaptation process included translation, backtranslation, expert committee evaluation, and test on 30 participants from the target population. A sample of 445 university students completed the Portuguese version of the CERQ, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) on an on-line research platform. Validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis of two models - a nine-factor model and a second-order model. Internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach's alpha analysis and correlations with affective variables measured by the PANAS. Results: The analyses showed that the nine-factor model of the CERQ has good factorial validity and high reliability, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging between 0.71 and 0.88. The second-order model did not have a good fit to the data. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study are similar to the ones found previously, indicating that the Brazilian version of the CERQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing cognitive emotion regulation strategies, but that grouping them according to their adaptability is not recommended.

Resumo Introdução: O Questionário de Regulação Emocional Cognitiva (Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire [CERQ]) foi desenvolvido para medir nove estratégias cognitivas que se referem à forma como as pessoas pensam sobre a experiência de eventos ameaçadores ou estressantes. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi desenvolver e avaliar a validade da versão brasileira do CERQ. Métodos: O processo de adaptação incluiu tradução, retrotradução, avaliação de comitê de especialistas e teste em 30 participantes da população-alvo. Uma amostra de 445 universitários completou a versão em português do CERQ, um questionário sociodemográfico, a Lista de Verificação de Eventos de Vida (Life Events Checklist [LEC-5]) e a Escala de Afeto Positivo e Negativo (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS]) em uma plataforma de pesquisa online. A validade do instrumento foi avaliada através da análise fatorial confirmatória de dois modelos: um modelo de nove fatores e um modelo de segunda ordem. A consistência interna foi avaliada por meio da análise de alfa de Cronbach e correlações com variáveis afetivas medidas pela PANAS. Resultados: As análises mostraram que o modelo de nove fatores do CERQ possui boa validade fatorial e alta confiabilidade, com valores de alfa de Cronbach variando entre 0,71 e 0,88. O modelo de segunda ordem não se ajustou bem aos dados. Conclusão: Os resultados obtidos neste estudo são semelhantes aos encontrados em estudos anteriores, indicando que o CERQ é uma ferramenta válida e confiável para avaliar as estratégias de regulação cognitiva das emoções, mas que agrupá-las de acordo com sua adaptabilidade não é recomendado.