Psychometric Properties of the Sleep Locus of Control (SLOC) Scale in a Portuguese Sample.

Over the past few decades, research has suggested that cognitive variables play a key role in sleep disorders, particularly, in insomnia. The SLOC (Sleep Locus of Control Scale) evaluates the sleep locus of control, which is associated with the degree to which an individual attributes her/his experiences of sleep to chance or internal causes. The aim of this study was to develop the first translation and adaptation of the SLOC into the European Portuguese, as well as to analyze its psychometric properties. In this study, it was recruited a sample of 2029 Portuguese Higher Education students, aged ≥ 18 years, where approximately 75% of the sample were women and 25% men. The results showed that the SLOC had acceptable internal consistency value (α = .64), considering that it is a measure with a reduced number of items. As in the original study, a principal component analysis with varimax rotation identified two components. A parallel analysis was also conducted, identifying two factors. The correlation between the two subscales "internal sleep locus of control" and "chance sleep locus of control" was positive albeit of low magnitude (r = .15). Through the analysis carried out, it was also observed that individuals with "insomnia", relative to those without, had a more chance sleep locus of control. Overall, these findings show similarities with the original study. The SLOC seems to be a useful psychological assessment measure to be used in clinical and research settings.

Profiles of Subjective Daytime Sleepiness through Cluster Analysis.

Sleepiness propensity and sleepiness perception are two relevant dimensions of the general multidimensional sleepiness construct. In the current study, the aim was to identify eventual homogeneous subgroups when sleepiness propensity and sleepiness perception measures are combined. Data from 678 undergraduate students (aged 17 to 24 years) from a medical school were analyzed. A Two-Step Cluster Analysis was performed taken into consideration sleepiness propensity and sleepiness perception measures as clustering variables. Four different clusters were identified. Additionally, the two groups comprising higher levels of sleepiness perception (i.e., "high perception, low propensity" and "high subjective daytime sleepiness" clusters) had the most compromised results in some of the sleep-related variables examined - sleep needs, sleep latency, sleep quality, sleep sufficiency, self-reported insomnia, sleep reactivity to stress, and cognitive arousal - and in some of non-sleep related variables, such as neuroticism and affect. As to non-sleep variables, those groups reported higher scores in neuroticism, arousability, self-reported mental health and affective states. The identification of distinct groups concerning self-reported sleepiness may bring new avenues for research and understanding of the specific and differential role of sleepiness and its dimensions in sleep health and sleep disturbances, in particular, insomnia disorder.

Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS): psychometric study of a European Portuguese version.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Pre-sleep arousal constitutes one of the major features of insomnia. As such, it is imperative to have adequate instruments to measure this construct in both clinical and research settings. The Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) is the most well-known measure to evaluate pre-sleep arousal. The current study aimed to examine some of the psychometric properties of a European Portuguese version of the scale. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS: For this purpose, data from 691 undergraduate students from a medical school were analyzed. Internal consistency indices and factor analysis were performed. In addition, the association between the PSAS and its subscales with other measures was also examined. Finally, PSAS scores of self-reported insomniacs were compared with those of self-reported non-insomniacs. RESULTS: The results indicated that the PSAS comprises a cognitive scale and a somatic scale, both with adequate internal consistency indices (α = 0.82 and 0.79, respectively). However, a three-factor solution also seemed plausible, suggesting that the original somatic arousal subscale might be divided into two subscales. Significant associations between the PSAS total score and its subscales were found with other concurrent measures such as sleep reactivity to stress, arousability and neuroticism. Self-defined insomniacs presented higher levels of cognitive and somatic arousal than healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations of the PSAS are needed to refine its psychometric properties and explore its research and clinical utility in other populations.

Portuguese Version of the Arousal Predisposition Scale: Preliminary Evidence for a Two-Factor Structure in a Nonclinical Sample.

It is known that there is significant variability in arousal levels of the individuals. The Arousal Predisposition Scale (APS) is a questionnaire intended to measure individual differences in arousability. In the current work, our aim was to present the initial psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the APS. Three hundred forty-five undergraduate medical students from both genders were enrolled. All participants filled out a set of questionnaires-which contained the APS-at the end of their lectures and out of the evaluation period. The APS showed good internal consistency (α = .85) and discriminated individuals with extreme scores. Further, in general, the scale discriminated as well both genders pertaining to the individual items and total score. In terms of scale structure, two related factors were extracted (F1 = emotional reactivity and F2 = trait anxiety). Significant associations among APS and other sleep and psychological self-report variables were also observed. The APS seems to be a reliable and valid instrument to assess self-reported physiological arousability, at least in a sample of young adults. The two-factor composition will require more studies to be replicated in similar groups and, particularly, in clinical samples.

Assessing Stress-Induced Sleep Reactivity in College Students: The European Portuguese Version of the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST).

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Over the past few years, the comprehensive models of insomnia have exhibited impressive developments. However, there is scarce knowledge on predisposing or vulnerability factors for insomnia. One of the most promising constructs to aid in filling this gap is stress-induced sleep reactivity assessed through self-report. Our aim was to study the psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST). PARTICIPANTS: We recruited a large sample of students attending medical school (N = 699). METHODS: Several analyses were carried out such as internal consistency, construct validity, and discriminant groups' analysis. RESULTS: It was observed that FIRST-PT shows good internal consistency (Cronbach´s alpha = .81) and validity indicators. Interestingly, and contrary to what was observed in the previously published studies on psychometric properties of the FIRST, it was observed that a two-factor solution (Factor I = rumination, Factor II = worry) was the most adequate one to explain the correlation matrix, accounting for approximately 44% of the total variance. CONCLUSIONS: The FIRST-PT proved to be a useful and reliable tool to measure stress-induced sleep reactivity. However, these results should be replicated in other groups, particularly clinical samples, in order to verify the stability of its factorial dimension.

Circadian preferences in young adults: Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Portuguese version of the Preferences Scale (PS-6).

Morningness is a trait-like variable which has been extensively studied within chronobiology. Despite the number of existing measures to assess morningness, there is a need for brief instruments that are psychometrically sound to be used in applied settings. Accordingly, the modified version of the Preferences Scale (PS-6) comprises six items and was reported to have adequate reliability and satisfactory validity indicators. In this article, the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the PS-6 are reported. A total of 700 students attending medical school were recruited, and this sample was randomly divided into two groups. In the first group (n = 352), we assessed the internal consistency calculations and conducted a principal component analysis of the posited structure. In the second group (n = 348), we conducted a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using structural equation modeling. Overall, the results indicated that the PS-6 has adequate reliability (α = .75) and is constituted by two components: (I) preferred cognitive activities timings and (II) preferred sleeping-eating timings, respectively. In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the PS seems suitable for use in research and applied settings such as shift work schedules management. However, the applicability of the PS-6 in other samples and further validity indicators should be both investigated. The use of actigraphy and biological measures should also be collected to enhance the robustness of the PS-6.

Short forms of the postpartum depression screening scale: as accurate as the original form.

The aims of the present study were to develop three shorter forms of the Portuguese version of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) as adapted and translated in Portugal, to analyse their psychometrics and to determine their cut-off points and associated conditional probabilities to screen for perinatal depression according to DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria. In this study, 441 women in the third trimester of pregnancy and 453 in the third month of postpartum were interviewed for diagnostic purposes according to the Portuguese versions of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies and the Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Illness. DSM-IV and ICD-10 classifications of depression were our gold standards for caseness. Three different shorter forms of the original Portuguese version of the PDSS were developed on the basis of reliability and factorial analysis. PDSS short versions, composed of seven and 21 (postpartum)/24 (pregnancy) items, presented significant reliability and validity and showed satisfactory combinations of sensitivity and specificity (≅80 %). The short forms of the original Portuguese version of the PDSS are valid alternatives to the 35-item version, given their equally precise screening performances, more concise structures and ease of completion.

Portuguese validation of the children's eating attitudes test / Validação portuguesa do teste de atitudes alimentares para crianças

BACKGROUND: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) is the most widely used instrument for evaluating eating disorders in adults and adolescents in a variety of cultures and samples.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT).METHOD: Nine hundred and fifty-six Portuguese secondary students (565 girls and 391 boys) answered the ChEAT. The test-retest reliability was obtained with data from 206 participants from the total sample who re-answered the questionnaire after 4-6 weeks. Psychometric analyses were carried out for the total sample and separately for girls and boys.RESULTS: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were satisfactory. Principal components factorial analysis yielded four factors in the total sample, accounting for 42.35% of the total variance. Factor structure was similar in the total sample and in both genders. Factors were labelled: F1 "Fear of Getting Fat", F2 "Restrictive and Purgative Behaviours", F3 "Food Preoccupation" and F4 "Social Pressure to Eat". The concurrent validity, explored using the Contour Drawing Figure Rating Scale (CDRS) was high.DISCUSSION: The Portuguese version of the ChEAT is a valid and useful instrument for the evaluation of abnormal eating attitudes and behaviours among Portuguese adolescents.

CONTEXTO: O Teste de Atitudes Alimentares é o instrumento mais utilizado para avaliar distúrbios alimentares em adultos e adolescentes em uma variedade de culturas e amostras.OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala de Atitudes Alimentares para Crianças (ChEAT).MÉ;TODO: Novecentos e cinquenta e seis alunos do ensino secundário (565 moças e 391 moços) responderam ao ChEAT. O cálculo da fidelidade teste-reteste foi feito por meio das respostas de 206 participantes da amostra total que voltaram a responder ao questionário após quatro a seis semanas. As análises psicométricas foram realizadas para o total da amostra e para ambos os sexos separadamente.RESULTADOS: A consistência interna e a fidelidade teste-reteste foram satisfatórias. A análise fatorial em componentes na amostra total resultou em quatro fatores que explicam 42,35% da variância total. A composição dos fatores foi semelhante na amostra total e em ambos os sexos. Os fatores denominaram-se: F1 "Medo de Engordar"; F2 "Comportamentos Restritivos e Purgativos"; F3 "Preocupação com a Comida" e F4 "Pressão Social para Comer". A validade concorrente foi explorada com a Escala de Silhuetas Corporais (CDFRS) e foi elevada.CONCLUSÃO: A versão portuguesa do ChEAT é um instrumento útil e válido para a avaliação de atitudes e comportamentos alimentares em adolescentes portugueses.

The postpartum depression screening scale: is it valid to screen for antenatal depression?

The purpose of the study was to analyse for the first time the validity of a slightly modified version of the Portuguese Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), to be used as a screening instrument for antenatal depression. Specifically, the aims were to analyse its psychometric properties, to determine PDSS cutoff points and associated conditional probabilities to screen for depression according to DSM-IV and ICD-10 criteria and to compare its screening performance with that of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Five hundred and three pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy completed both questionnaires and were interviewed face-to-face with the Portuguese version of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. The Portuguese version of the Operational Criteria Checklist for Psychotic Illness was used to obtain DSM-IV and ICD-10 diagnoses of depression, our gold standards for caseness. PDSS reliability and validity were very good and comparable to those obtained in the postpartum validation studies developed in Portugal and in other countries, showing satisfactory sensitivity and specificity combinations (≅80%). Compared with BDI-II, it has the advantage of being more specific for the motherhood context. Although developed for postpartum depression, PDSS is accurate to screen for antenatal depression, and it could be very useful for clinical and epidemiologic purposes.

Atitudes e comportamentos alimentares em uma população adolescente portuguesa / Eating attitudes and behaviours in a Portuguese adolescent sample

Introdução: Os transtornos do comportamento alimentar (TCA) têm aumentado nas últimas décadas. Um dos principais motivos para esse aumento é a pressão sociocultural exercida sobre os adolescentes, que consideram a magreza como um sinal de perfeição e beleza. Devido a essa pressão, muitos jovens adquirem comportamentos alimentares inadequados, e um pequeno número de indivíduos desenvolve TCA. Objetivos: Identificar as atitudes e comportamentos alimentares em uma população de adolescentes, de duas localidades portuguesas (Coimbra - meio urbano e Cantanhede - meio rural), e verificar se existiam diferenças quanto à localização geográfica de residência dos jovens, ao sexo, à idade e ao índice de massa corporal (IMC). Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico, transversal, descritivo e de correlação. O instrumento utilizado foi a versão Portuguesa do Teste de Atitudes Alimentares-25 (TAA-25). Resultados: Obtivemos 997 inquéritos válidos. As idades situaram-se entre os 14 e os 20 anos (média = 16,38; desvio padrão (DP) = 1,19). Um total de 86,6% tinham IMC dentro dos valores normais para a idade. Encontramos atitudes e comportamentos alimentares mais inadequados no sexo feminino, na cidade maior, mas não no grupo de jovens com o IMC mais elevado. Conclusões: A prevalência de atitudes e comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais foi baixa (4%). Foram mais frequentes no sexo feminino e nos que vivem em ambiente urbano, mas não nos adolescentes com IMC mais elevado. Consideramos interessante este último resultado, que contrasta com a restante literatura quanto ao fato de que os comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais são mais frequentes nos adolescentes com IMC mais elevado.

Introduction: In the last decades, Eating disorders (ED) have been increasing. One of the main reasons for this increase is the sociocultural pressure into adolescents, who consider thinness a signal of perfection and beauty. In this context, many adolescents initiate dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours, and some of them develop ED. Objectives: To study the eating attitudes and behaviours in two Portuguese groups of adolescents (Coimbra – urban area and Cantanhede – rural area) of high school students of both genders and to investigate possible differences between them in terms of local of residence, gender, age and body mass index (BMI). Methods: Epidemiological, cross-sectional, correlation and descriptive study. Portuguese adolescents were asked to complete the Portuguese version of Eating Attitude Test-25. Results: A total of 997 valid questionnaires were obtained. The age of the adolescents was between 14-20 years (mean = 16.38; standard deviation (SD) = 1.19). A total of 86.6% had a normal BMI for age. Dysfunctional eating behaviours were significantly more frequent in the female adolescents who lived in the bigger city, but not in the group with higher BMI for age. Conclusions: The prevalence of dysfunctional eating attitudes was low (4%). In accordance with other studies from western societies, female adolescent living in an urban area had more dysfunctional eating attitudes. In contrast with other studies, adolescents with higher BMI did not have more dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours, and we consider this result interesting.

Perfectionism and sleep disturbance.

The main purpose of the present research was to explore gender-related associations between sleep disturbance and perfectionism dimensions in a large sample of undergraduate students. Perfectionism dimensions have been assessed using the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt and Flett, 1991 , J Pers Soc Psychol 60:456; Soares et al., 2003 , Rev Port Psicossom 5:46) and sleep disturbance with two items concerning difficulties initiating sleep and difficulties maintaining sleep. A total of 1163 undergraduate students of both genders between 17 and 25 years of age completed the scale. Results from correlational and categorial analyses indicated that socially prescribed perfectionism was the only dimension associated with sleep disturbance in undergraduate students of both genders. Males with the highest levels of socially prescribed perfectionism were approximately twice more likely to report sleep disturbances than those with less socially prescribed perfectionism. Similar results were found within the female sample. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Factor structure of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire in Portuguese children / Estrutura fatorial do Questionário de Rutter para Professores numa amostra de crianças portuguesas

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factor structure of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire in Portuguese primary school children. METHOD: The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire, a 26-item scale covering a variety of behavioral problems, was completed by teachers of 877 children, aged 6 to 11 years. Data were subjected to factor analysis using the principal components solution with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The factorial analysis in total sample revealed three factors explaining 38.88 percent of the total variance. The factors contained items representing hyperactivity/conduct (Factor 1), anxious/depressive (Factor 2) and truancy/stealing (Factor 3). The highest correlations between factors scores were for Factor 1 and Factor 3. These Factors scores were higher in boys than girls and correlated with lower social class. All three Factors scores correlated with school performance. The comparison between separate factorial structures for the samples of boys and girls revealed a considerable overlap. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of the items contained on Factor 1 appears to be related with the category of hyperkinetic conduct disorder used by the International Classification of Diseases-10. Results suggest that the Portuguese language version of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire possesses good psychometric properties and may be considered a useful instrument for measuring children's behavior problems.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a estrutura fatorial do Questionário de Rutter para Professores numa amostra de crianças portuguesas do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. MÉTODO: O questionário, constituído por 26 itens que avaliam problemas do comportamento, foi preenchido pelos professores de 877 crianças (6-11 anos). As respostas foram sujeitas a uma análise fatorial, por meio do método de componentes principais com rotação ortogonal varimax. RESULTADOS: Na amostra total, a estrutura fatorial resultou em três fatores que explicam 38,88 por cento da variância total e que foram denominados: problemas de hiperatividade/conduta (Fator 1), ansiedade/depressão (Fator 2) e vadiagem/furto (Fator 3). A correlação entre os fatores 1 e 3 foi a mais elevada. As pontuações fatoriais foram significativamente mais elevadas nos rapazes do que nas raparigas e apresentaram uma relação inversa com a classe social e com o rendimento escolar. As estruturas fatoriais realizadas separadamente para rapazes e raparigas revelaram grandes similitudes. CONCLUSÕES: Os itens do Factor 1 parecem relacionar-se com o distúrbio hipercinético da conduta proposto pela Classificação Internacional de Doenças-10. Os resultados sugerem que a versão portuguesa do Questionário de Rutter para Professores apresenta parâmetros psicométricos adequados, podendo ser útil na avaliação dos problemas de comportamento das crianças.

Factor structure of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire in Portuguese children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factor structure of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire in Portuguese primary school children. METHOD: The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire, a 26-item scale covering a variety of behavioral problems, was completed by teachers of 877 children, aged 6 to 11 years. Data were subjected to factor analysis using the principal components solution with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The factorial analysis in total sample revealed three factors explaining 38.88% of the total variance. The factors contained items representing hyperactivity/conduct (Factor 1), anxious/depressive (Factor 2) and truancy/stealing (Factor 3). The highest correlations between factors scores were for Factor 1 and Factor 3. These Factors scores were higher in boys than girls and correlated with lower social class. All three Factors scores correlated with school performance. The comparison between separate factorial structures for the samples of boys and girls revealed a considerable overlap. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of the items contained on Factor 1 appears to be related with the category of hyperkinetic conduct disorder used by the International Classification of Diseases-10. Results suggest that the Portuguese language version of the Rutter Teacher Questionnaire possesses good psychometric properties and may be considered a useful instrument for measuring children's behavior problems.