A psychometric analysis of the Daily Drinking Questionnaire in a nationally representative sample of young adults from a Mediterranean drinking culture.

Aims: To examine psychometric properties of the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ) in a Mediterranean "wet" drinking culture.Methods: Three studies were conducted using random samples drawn from a representative sample of Italian young adults (N = 5,955; females = 62%; mean age = 27): Study 1 explored the factorial structure of weekly alcohol consumption; in Study 2 multi-group confirmatory factor analysis tested measurement invariance across gender; Study 3 applied item response theory analysis to: a) assess how each item discriminated between different alcohol consumption levels; and b) determine if drink propensity on a given day of the week varied according to individual characteristics.Results: In Study 1, a one-factor solution with no clear differentiation between weekdays and weekend alcohol use was found. Study 2 confirmed measurement invariance of the one-factor solution across gender. Results of Study 3 indicated that alcohol use on weekdays (Monday to Thursday) provided more information on overall alcohol consumption than alcohol use on weekends (Friday to Sunday).Discussion: Cultural differences of alcohol use are reflected in relatively simple alcohol measures, such as the DDQ. In contrast with peers from "dry" drinking cultures, Italian young women and men do not clearly differentiate between weekdays and weekend drinking. In Italy, the DDQ best captures participants' average alcohol consumption levels rather than light or heavy, and should be used in national epidemiological research accordingly.

Trajectories of depression, anxiety and stress among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Switzerland: the Corona Immunitas Ticino cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Using longitudinal data from Southern Switzerland we assessed ten-month temporal trajectories of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress among adults after the first pandemic wave and explored differences between sociodemographic and health status groups. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based prospective cohort study. METHODS: Participants were 732 (60% women) adults aged 20-64 years who completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale on a monthly base since August 2020 until May 2021, as part of the Corona Immunitas Ticino study based on a probability sample of non-institutionalized residents in Ticino, Southern Switzerland. RESULTS: Prevalence of moderate to severe depression increased from 7.5% in August 2020 to 12.5% in May 2021, anxiety increased from 4.8% to 8.1% and stress increased from 5.5% to 8.8%. A steeper increase in poor mental health was observed between October 2020 and February 2021. Men had a lower risk for anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.95) and stress (OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.44-0.95) than women. Suffering from a chronic disease increased the risk for depression (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.12-2.96), anxiety (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.44-3.92) and stress (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.14-3.08). The differences between these groups did not vary over time. CONCLUSIONS: In a representative Swiss adult sample, prevalence of moderate to severe depression, anxiety and stress almost doubled in the course of ten months following the end of the first pandemic wave in spring 2020. Women and participants with pre-existing chronic conditions were at a higher risk of poor mental health.

Pathways to performance in undergraduate medical students: role of conscientiousness and the perceived educational environment.

This study examined conscientiousness and the perceived educational environment as independent and interactive predictors of medical students' performance within Biggs' theoretical model of learning. Conscientiousness, the perceived educational environment, and learning approaches were assessed at the beginning of the third year in 268 medical students at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Performance was examined at the end of the third year via a computer-based assessment (CBA) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Path analysis was used to test the proposed model, whereby conscientiousness and the perceived educational environment predicted performance directly and indirectly via students' learning approaches. A second model included interaction effects. The proposed model provided the best fit and explained 45% of the variance in CBA performance, and 23% of the variance in OSCE performance. Conscientiousness positively predicted CBA performance directly (ß = 0.19, p < 0.001) and indirectly via a deep learning approach (ß = 0.05, p = 0.012). The perceived educational environment positively predicted CBA performance indirectly only (ß = 0.02, p = 0.011). Neither conscientiousness nor the perceived educational environment predicted OSCE performance. Model 2 had acceptable, but less optimal fit. In this model, there was a significant cross-over interaction effect (ß = 0.16, p < 0.01): conscientiousness positively predicted OSCE performance when perceptions of the educational environment were the most positive, but negatively predicted performance when perceptions were the least positive. The findings suggest that both conscientiousness and perceptions of the educational environment predict CBA performance. Research should further examine interactions between personality traits and the medical school environment to inform strategies aimed at improving OSCE performance.