Psychometric properties of the online Satisfaction with Life Scale in university students from a low-income region

Purpose: To test the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in an online format in university students from a low-income region. Methods: This was a psychometric study, involving a study of reliability (n = 117) and validity (n = 195) in university students from a region with a Gini index of 0.56. The scale was applied at two time points with an interval of 2 weeks. This scale measures satisfaction with life based on five statements and responses ranging from 1 to 7 (strongly disagree to strongly agree). We conducted the reliability assessment using temporal stability and internal consistency and construct validity assessment by internal structure solution. Results: All SWLS items showed acceptable (rho > 0.30) and significant (p < 0.05) temporal stability and acceptable internal consistency (alpha > 0.70). In construct validity (internal structure), we identified a factor with an explained variance of 59.0% in the exploratory factor analysis. Additionally, in the confirmatory factor analysis, we identified a one-factor structure solution for SWLS with an acceptable model fitting (chi-square/degrees of freedom [X2/df] = 6.53; Tucker-Lewis Index [TLI] = 0.991; Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 0.996; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.040; standardized root mean-squared residual [SRMR] = 0.026). Conclusion: The Satisfaction with Life Scale, in the online format, is a reliable and valid tool for university students in a low-income context.

Abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents, are we aware of their relevance?

Obesity prevalence has increased worldwide over the last decades and has reached alarming rates in low middle-income countries. Childhood has been affected by this epidemic, leading to premature dramatic health problems. Adipose tissue is currently considered as an endocrine organ modulating an inflammatory state and important metabolic processes (insulin resistance, hypertension, glucose intolerance) leading to consequences of the cardiovascular system. This situation may be worst if the excess of body fat distribution such as abdominal obesity (AO) is involved because it is associated with a more atherogenic risk profile determining the cardiometabolic risks mainly in children and adolescents. Hence, the knowledge regarding the association between AO and cardiometabolic factors aims to prevent and treat the obesity in this young population, avoiding early harmful consequences of adulthood health.