RESUMO
To examine the cultural limitations and implications in the applicability of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 8-items (DASS-8)-a shortened version of the DASS-21 recently introduced in an Arab sample-this study evaluated its psychometric properties, including measurement invariance, among healthy subjects from the United States, Australia, and Ghana. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed good fit of the DASS-8 relative to a 12-item version (DASS-12). Both the DASS-8 and the DASS-12 were invariant at all levels across genders, employment status, and students vs. non-students. The DASS-8/DASS-12 also expressed invariance at the configural and metric levels across all countries, albeit scalar invariance was not maintained due to misspecification of the factor loadings in the Ghanian sample. Mann-Whitney U test revealed significantly lower levels of mental symptomatology on the DASS measures among Ghanian students than in English-speaking respondents (both students and non-students). The DASS-8 expressed excellent internal consistency (coefficient alpha = 0.89), good convergent validity-noted by high values of item-total correlations (r = 0.87 to 0.88), good predictive validity-indicated by significantly strong correlation with the DASS-21 and its subscales (r = 0.95 to 0.80), and adequate discriminant validity-indicated by heterotrait-monotrait ratio of correlations <0.85. The DASS-8 correlated with the Internet Gaming Disorder-9, the Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Self-Report Scale, and the Individualism and Collectivism Scale/Culture Orientation Scale at the same level as the DASS-21 and the DASS-12, denoting its adequate criterion validity. The DASS-8 can be used as a brief alternative to the DASS-21 to screen for mental symptomatology in English-speaking and African cultures. However, the same scores on the DASS-8 and the DASS-12 may not always indicate the same level of symptom severity in subjects from different countries. Further inter-cultural evaluations of the DASS-8 are needed.
RESUMO
The prevalence of internet gaming disorders (IGD) is considerably high among youth, especially with the social isolation imposed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. IGD adversely affects mental health, quality of life, and academic performance. The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF) is designed to detect IGD according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. However, inconsistent results are reported on its capacity to diagnose IGD evenly across different cultures. To ensure the suitability of the IGDS9-SF as a global measure of IGD, this study examined the psychometric properties of the IGDS9-SF in a sample of Sri Lankan university students (N = 322, mean age = 17.2 ± 0.6, range = 16-18 years, 56.5% males) and evaluated its measurement invariance across samples from Sri Lanka, Turkey, Australia, and the USA. Among Sri Lankan students, a unidimensional structure expressed good fit, invariance across different groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, and income), adequate criterion validity (strong correlation with motives of internet gaming, daily gaming duration, and sleep quality), and good reliability (alpha = 0.81). Males and online multiplayers expressed higher IGD levels, greater time spent gaming, and more endorsement of gaming motives (e.g., Social and Coping) than females and offline players. Across countries, the IGDS9-SF was invariant at the configural, metric, and scalar levels, although strict invariance was not maintained. The lowest and highest IGD levels were reported among Turkish and American respondents, respectively. In conclusion, the IGDS9-SF can be reliably used to measure IGD among Sri Lankan youth. Because the scale holds scalar invariance across countries, its scores can be used to compare IGD levels in the studied countries.
RESUMO
Objetivo: conhecer os saberes e práticas de moradores da região urbana do noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, acerca do uso de plantas medicinais como forma terapêutica no cuidado à saúde. Método: pesquisa qualitativa do tipo exploratório descritivo, com coleta de dados baseada em entrevista semiestruturada e observação participante. Total de dez entrevistados, usuários de plantas medicinais, selecionados por meio da rede de relações sociais. A coleta ocorreu no período de julho a setembro de 2011. Resultados: na análise temática, emergiram os temas: tipos de plantas e suas indicações; e quem indicou o uso da planta. Considerações finais: as maiorias das indicações populares foram ao encontro da ciência, e os conhecimentos são passados de geração para geração. Sendo assim, sugere-se que o enfermeiro insira-se na comunidade para conhecer ou reconhecer as práticas populares, aproximando-as do saber científico, proporcionando um cuidado integral ao usuário, respeitando seus hábitos e costumes.
Aim: to know the knowledge and practices of inhabitants of the urban region of northwestern Rio Grande do Sul, which makes use of medicinal plants as a therapeutic way in health care. Method: qualitative research, an exploratory and descriptive study, with data collection based on semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Total of ten respondents, users of medicinal plants, selected through the network of social relations. The collection took place from July to September 2011. Results: From the thematic analysis, emerged the themes: types of plants and their indications; who indicated the use of the plant. Final Thoughts: most popular indications is compatible with science and knowledge is passed from generation to generation. Therefore, it is considered to be essential that the nurse inserts himself in the community to know or recognize the popular practices, approaching the scientific knowledge, providing complete care to users, respecting their habits and customs.
Objetivo: conocer las prácticas de residentes de la región urbana del noroccidental del estado del Rio Grande del Sur, sobre el uso de plantas medicinales como terapéutico en la atención a la salud. Método: investigación cualitativa exploratoria y descriptiva, con recolección de datos basada en entrevista semiestructurada y observación participante. Total de diez entrevistados, usuarios de plantas medicinales, seleccionados a través de la red de relaciones sociales. La colección ocurrió entre julio y septiembre de 2011. Resultados: en el análisis temático surgieron los temas: tipos de plantas y sus pormenores; y quién indicó el uso de la planta. Consideraciones finales: las indicaciones populares fueron al encuentro de la ciencia, y los conocimientos se transmiten de generación en generación. Es esencial la inserción de la enfermera en la comunidad para conocer/reconocer las prácticas populares, acercándola al conocimiento científico y proporcionando atención integral a los usuarios, respetando sus usos y costumbres.
