ABSTRACT
Currently, the gold standard measure to assess loneliness is the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness scale version 3 (UCLA v3). Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of UCLA v3 for the European Portuguese population. Method: A sample of 282 participants was surveyed in Portugal. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a model portraying a global loneliness bifactor solution for positive and negative wording items, which achieved optimal fitness. Multi-group CFA indicates scalar and metric invariance across gender. Loneliness test scores (global score, positive items and negative items) correlated with well-established mental health indicators such as psychological stress, depressive and anxiety symptomatology, or psychological inflexibility. Internal consistency of the loneliness test scores was optimal for the global measure (α =.91;ω =.91) as well as for the positive (α =.87;ω =.87) and the negative factors (α =.86;ω =.88). Conclusions: Results support UCLA v3 as a reliable and valid measure of loneliness for future research studies interested in examining the prevalence of loneliness and impact in health in the context of Covid-19 in the Portuguese population and as a health indicator in health promotion and clinical interventions. © 2023 Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Ansiedad y el Estrés - SEAS. Colegio de la Psicología de Madrid. Todos los derechos reservados.
ABSTRACT
The goal of the present study was to measure COVID-19 social representation and to characterize attitudes and knowledge about the virus SARS-CoV-2. With an exploratory nature, it used a non-probabilistic sample of 297 Portuguese adults. To measure COVID-19 social representation, we used a free evocation task;attitudes were assessed by 20-item questionnaires divided into cognitive, affective and behavioural dimensions;knowledge was assessed by a true or false test based upon general information made available by DGS [Portuguese health general directorate]. Results suggest participants have little belief that they could be infected, have the disease or even be preoccupied about it. Concerning social representation, results suggest the existence of two different groups of participants, one with a more favourable attitude towards COVID-19 and another with a less favourable attitude. The study raises questions to be developed in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) El objetivo de este estudio era medir la representacion social de la COVID-19 y caracterizar las actitudes y los conocimientos de los participantes sobre el virus SARS-CoV-2. Bajo un enfoque exploratorio, se recluto una muestra de 297 adultos portugueses. Para medir la representacion social de la COVID-19 se diseno una tarea de evocacion libre de palabras. Para medir las actitudes se utilizo un cuestionario de 20 items correspondientes a dimensiones cognitivas, afectivas y conductuales, mientras que para medir los conocimientos, se utilizo una prueba de tipo verdadero/falso basada en la informacion general publicada por la Direccion General de Salud de Portugal (DGS). Los resultados sugieren que, en general, los participantes no se sienten vulnerables frente a la infeccion o a la enfermedad, ni siquiera se muestran preocupados por ello. Por lo que respecta a la representacion social de la enfermedad, los resultados sugieren dos grupos distintos de poblacion: un grupo que muestra una actitud mas favourable o positiva hacia la COVID-19, mientras que el otro muestra una actitud menos favourable o mas negativa. El estudio plantea algunas cuestiones que deberian ser abordadas por futuras investigaciones. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)