Spanish Validation of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale Among Mexican University Students.

Introduction: the rate of death by suicide has increased in Mexico, representing a significant public health problem. To prevent and treat this phenomenon, it is crucial to identify reliable suicide risk factors among Mexicans. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide has demonstrated empirical support for the role of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability in the development of suicidal desire and behaviors. The measure of the theory's constructs-the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS)-has also shown good psychometric qualities. Objective: translate, culturally adapt and validate these instruments. Method: 495 university students from Mexico City participated in two independent samples (n = 239; n = 256). For the INQ, the available version in Spanish was used. For the ACSS, the most current version in English was used. Based on the results from the first sample, items were modified, eliminated, or added for the second sample. Results: the INQ demonstrated good fit (RMSEA = .054, TLI = .97, IFI = .97, NFI = .95) with an internal consistency of .77 and .87 for thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, respectively. The ACSS obtained similar results (RMSEA = .011, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, IFI = .99, NFI = .91); the internal consistency was .77. Discussion and conclusions: the Spanish version of the instruments display good psychometric properties and can be used to measure the constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide. However, further replication is needed to support generalizability in other Spanish-speaking populations.

Introducción: la tasa de suicidios ha aumentado en México, esto representa un problema de salud pública. Para prevenir y tratar este fenómeno es crucial identificar predictores confiables del suicidio en mexicanos. La teoría interpersonal del suicidio ha demostrado sustento empírico acerca del papel de la pertenencia fallida, el percibirse como una carga y la capacidad adquirida en el desarrollo del deseo y conducta suicida. Los instrumentos que miden estos constructos­Cuestionario de Necesidades Interpersonales (INQ, por sus siglas en inglés) y Escala de Capacidad Adquirida para el Suicidio (ACSS, por sus siglas en inglés)­han mostrado buenas cualidades psicométricas. Objetivo: traducir, adaptar culturalmente y validar estos instrumentos. Método: 495 estudiantes universitarios de la Ciudad de México participaron en dos muestras independientes (n = 239; n = 256). Para el INQ se usó la versión disponible en español. Para la ACSS, se usó la versión más actualizada en inglés. Según los resultados de la primera aplicación, se modificó la redacción de algunos ítems, se eliminaron otros y se agregaron nuevos para la segunda aplicación. Resultados: el INQ alcanzó índices de buen ajuste (RMSEA = .054, TLI = .97, IFI = .97, NFI = 95) con consistencia interna de .77 y .87 para pertenencia fallida y percibirse como carga, respectivamente. La ACSS obtuvo resultados similares (RMSEA = .011, CFI = 99, TLI = .99, IFI = .99, NFI = .91); la consistencia interna fue .77. Discusión y conclusiones: las versiones en español de los instrumentos mostraron buenas propiedades psicométricas y pueden usarse para medir los constructos de la Teoría Interpersonal del Suicidio. Sin embargo, se requiere replicar el estudio para apoyar la generalización a otras poblaciones de habla hispana.

Distress tolerance dimensions and smoking behavior among Mexican daily smokers: A preliminary investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Distress intolerance has been implicated in various aspects of smoking maintenance and quit behavior, although past work has been conducted almost exclusively among European American samples. METHOD: The present study sought to extend past work by exploring distinct subdimensions of distress tolerance (Tolerance, Appraisal, Regulation, and Absorption) among a sample of 113 (53.1% female; Mage=22.81, SD=2.13) adult daily smokers from Mexico City, Mexico in regard to multiple indices of problematic smoking. RESULTS: Results indicated that the Appraisal dimension of distress intolerance was associated with smoking more cigarettes per day, a greater number of (lifetime) failed quit attempts, and an increased likelihood of early smoking relapse. These findings remained significant after controlling for negative affectivity, gender, alcohol usage as well as the variance accounted for by other distress tolerance dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Such results provide novel preliminary empirical evidence that lesser perceived ability to tolerate distress because it is appraised as 'unacceptable' may be a particularly important element of the construct in terms of better understanding multiple public health relevant indicators of smoking for Mexican smokers. Overall, the present findings uniquely contribute to a growing body of research related to distress intolerance and its implications for explicating the nature of the maintenance of smoking behavior among a highly understudied segment of the smoking population (Mexican smokers).

Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3.

Accumulating evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) plays an important role in many clinical conditions, particularly anxiety disorders. Research has increasingly focused on how the basic dimensions of anxiety sensitivity are related to various forms of psychopathology. Such work has been hampered because the original measure--the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)--was not designed to be multidimensional. Subsequently developed multidimensional measures have unstable factor structures or measure only a subset of the most widely replicated factors. Therefore, the authors developed, via factor analysis of responses from U.S. and Canadian nonclinical participants (n=2,361), an 18-item measure, the ASI-3, which assesses the 3 factors best replicated in previous research: Physical, Cognitive, and Social Concerns. Factorial validity of the ASI-3 was supported by confirmatory factor analyses of 6 replication samples, including nonclinical samples from the United States and Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain (n=4,494) and a clinical sample from the United States and Canada (n=390). The ASI-3 displayed generally good performance on other indices of reliability and validity, along with evidence of improved psychometric properties over the original ASI.

Anxiety sensitivity and early relapse to smoking: a test among Mexican daily, low-level smokers.

The aim of the present investigation was to extend previous work on anxiety sensitivity (AS) and early smoking relapse among a sample of 130 (74 females) young adult (M (age) = 22.5 years, SD = 2.1) daily low-level smokers (9.3 cigarettes/day, SD = 11.5) from Mexico City, Mexico. Results indicated that of the global-level and lower-order factors (i.e., physical, mental incapacitation, and social concerns) on the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, only the physical concerns factor was significantly related to early lifetime smoking relapse. This effect was observed above and beyond the effects of negative affectivity, cigarettes smoked per day, and alcohol consumption, as well as beyond the other AS mental and social concerns factors. Findings provide novel evidence that AS is an important explanatory construct in early smoking relapse.

Taxonicity of anxiety sensitivity: a multi-national analysis.

Taxometric coherent cut kinetic analyses were used to test the latent structure of anxiety sensitivity in samples from North America (Canada and United States of America), France, Mexico, Spain, and The Netherlands (total n = 2741). Anxiety sensitivity was indexed by the 36-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index--Revised (ASI-R; [J. Anxiety Disord. 12(5) (1998) 463]). Four manifest indicators of anxiety sensitivity were constructed using the ASI-R: fear of cardiovascular symptoms, fear of respiratory symptoms, fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions, and fear of mental incapacitation. Results from MAXCOV-HITMAX, internal consistency tests, analyses of simulated Monte Carlo data, and a MAMBAC external consistency test indicated that the latent structure of anxiety sensitivity was taxonic in each of the samples. The estimated base rate of the anxiety sensitivity taxon differed slightly between nations, ranging from 11.5 to 21.5%. In general, the four ASI-R based manifest indicators showed high levels of validity. Results are discussed in relation to the conceptual understanding of anxiety sensitivity, with specific emphasis on theoretical refinement of the construct.

Anxiety sensitivity in six countries.

In the present study, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASI-R; ) was administered to a large sample of persons (n=2786) from different cultures represented in six different countries: Canada, France, Mexico, The Netherlands, Spain, and the United States. We sought to (a) determine the factor structure and internal consistency of the ASI-R and (b) examine the correlations of the measure with psychiatric symptoms and personality dimensions in a single European non-English speaking country (The Netherlands). Partially consistent with the original hypothesis, the underlying structure of the anxiety sensitivity construct was generally similar across countries, tapping fear about the negative consequences of anxiety-related physical and social-cognitive sensations. Lower-order factors were moderately to strongly correlated with one another and showed good internal consistency. The observed lower-order ASI-R factors correlated with established psychiatric symptoms and with the personality trait of neuroticism. Partial correlations indicated that both factors are useful in accounting for variance in symptom measures. We discuss the results of this investigation in relation to the cross-cultural assessment of the anxiety sensitivity construct.