The hierarchical structure of fear of personal death: from the general factor to specific forms

Abstract Purpose In the present study, we aimed to integrate unidimensional and multidimensional perspectives of the construct of the fear of personal death (FOPD). It has been assumed that (a) there is one general factor of FOPD, reflecting the unidimensional perspective and that (b) FOPD assumes a hierarchical structure reflecting the multidimensional perspective. Methods We administered the Death and Dying Anxiety Inventory (FVTS, Ochsmann, 1993) to 1217 Polish participants (602 women and 615 men) aged between 18 and 89 ( M Age = 31.13; SD Age = 12.65). Results The results of the bi-factor model of the confirmatory factor analysis proved the existence of a FOPD general factor. Using the bass-ackwards approach, we provided evidence on the hierarchical structure of FOPD, which stresses that specific types of FOPD distinguished in the FVTS, which, on a higher level, make up the factors of threats to self-fulfilling existence, threats to well-being and threats of physical destruction, which in turn depend on the subject's perspective: the physical self and/or the symbolic self. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that unidimensional and multidimensional approaches to FOPD do not necessarily exclude one another. The unidimensional approach to FOPD seems to be most appropriate for studying the intensity of FOPD, while the multidimensional approach seems to be more suitable for studying the individual differences in how people give meaning to FOPD.

Depressão e bem-estar subjetivo em crianças e adolescentes: teste de modelos teóricos / Depression and subject well-being in children and adolescents: testing theoretical models / La depressión y el bienestar subjetivo de los niños y adolescentes: la prueba de modelos teóricos

Embora sintomas de depressão e indicadores de bem-estar sejam tidos como teoricamente ortogonais, evidências sugerem, em contraste, uma correlação negativa entre eles. O presente estudo buscou testar diferentes modelos confirmatórios para explicar a relação entre sintomas depressivos e bem-estar subjetivo em crianças e adolescentes. Participaram 331 estudantes (M = 12,42 anos; DP = 1), que responderam ao Inventário de Depressão Infantil (CDI), à Escala Baptista de Depressão - versão infanto-juvenil (EBADEP-IJ) e à Escala de Bem-Estar Subjetivo (EBES). O melhor ajuste ocorreu para um modelo bifator, em que indicadores relacionados à depressão carregaram positivamente em um fator geral, enquanto indicadores de bem-estar subjetivo carregaram negativamente, além de se conectarem positivamente a um fator específico de aspectos positivos. Os achados integram as perspectivas aparentemente excludentes de que a depressão e o bem-estar subjetivo são ou polos opostos de um contínuo, ou entidades independentes.

Despite symptoms of depression and indicators of subjective well-being are theoretically orthogonal entities, available evidence suggests a negative correlation between them. The present study sought to test concurrent confirmatory models with the purpose of explaining the complex relationship between indicators of depression and subjective well-being among children and adolescents. Participants were 331 students with ages from 10 to 16 years old (M = 12.42, SD = 1.00). Participants answered the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Baptista's Depression Inventory-Youth Version (EBADEP-IJ), and the Subjective Well-Being Scale (EBES). A bifactor model yielded the best fit to the data, with indicators of depression and subjective well-being loading differently (positive and negative, respectively) on a general factor, besides subjective well-being loaded as well on a separate specific positive factor. Findings shed light on the apparent controversy surrounding depression and subjective well-being as opposite poles of a same continuum or as unrelated entities.

Aunque los síntomas de la depresión y los indicadores de bienestar se toman como teóricamente ortogonal, la evidencia sugiere, por el contrario, una correlación negativa entre ellos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo probar diferentes modelos confirmatorios para explicar la relación entre los síntomas depresivos y el bienestar subjetivo en los niños y adolescentes. Participado 331 estudiantes (M = 12,42 años, SD = 1), que contestaron el Inventario de Depresión Infantil (CDI), la Escala de Depresión Baptista - versión juvenil (EBADEP-IJ) y el Bienestar Subjetivo Escala (EBE).El mejor ajuste para el modelo era bifator, en el que los indicadores relacionados con la depresión cargaran positivamente en un factor general mientras indicadores de bienestar subjetivo cargaran negativamente, y se conectan de manera positiva a un factor específico de positivos. Los resultados representan una posible integración de las perspectivas aparentemente excluyentes que la depresión y el bienestar subjetivo son o polos opuestos de un continuo, o entidades independientes.