Psychometric properties of a short form of the adolescent stress questionnaire (asq-14) / Propiedades psicométricas de la versión abreviada del Cuestionario de estrés para adolescentes (ASQ-14)

BACKGROUND: Exposure to minor stressors is related to a range of emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to develop a screening instrument for assessing adolescent stressors. METHOD: The Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-14) was tested on a sample of 561 adolescents aged between 12 and 18. We report validity evidence based on its internal structure (confirmatory factor analysis) and on relationships between ASQ-14 scores and other variables (correlational analysis), as well as an estimation of score reliability and differences by sex and stage of adolescence. RESULTS: CFA indicated a one-factor structure with a total score representing a measure of cumulative minor stressors. This structure showed an adequate fit across all age groups (early, middle, and late adolescence). Values of internal consistency (.85) and test-retest reliability (.81) were also satisfactory. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables showed positive relations with stress manifestations, anxiety, depression, and emotional and behavioral problems, and a negative association with life satisfaction. Finally, girls scored higher than boys, and stress scores increased across stages of adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the psychometric adequacy of the ASQ-14 and its use as a time-efficient tool in educational, clinical, and research studies

ANTECEDENTES: la exposición a estresores menores en la adolescencia se vincula a diversos problemas emocionales y conductuales. El propósito del estudio fue desarrollar un instrumento de screening para evaluar los estresores en adolescentes. MÉTODO: se presentan evidencias de validez basadas en la estructura interna mediante AFC, estimación de la fiabilidad, evidencias de validez basadas en las relaciones con otras variables mediante correlaciones y diferencias por sexo y etapa de la adolescencia del Cuestionario de Estrés para Adolescentes (ASQ-14) en una muestra de 561 adolescentes de 12 a 18 años. RESULTADOS: el AFC detectó una estructura unifactorial que ofrece una puntuación total de estresores. Esta estructura también se ajustó en la adolescencia temprana, media y tardía. Los valores de consistencia interna (.85) y fiabilidad test-retest (.81) fueron satisfactorios. Las evidencias de validez basadas en la relación con otras variables mostraron relaciones positivas con manifestaciones de estrés, ansiedad, depresión y problemas emocionales y de comportamiento, y una asociación negativa con satisfacción vital. Finalmente, las chicas presentaron mayor puntuación en estrés y este aumentó según la etapa de adolescencia. CONCLUSIONES: estos resultados apoyan las propiedades psicométricas del ASQ-14 y su uso como una herramienta eficiente en estudios educativos, clínicos y de investigación

Psychometric properties of a short form of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-14).

BACKGROUND: Exposure to minor stressors is related to a range of emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to develop a screening instrument for assessing adolescent stressors. METHOD: The Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-14) was tested on a sample of 561 adolescents aged between 12 and 18. We report validity evidence based on its internal structure (confirmatory factor analysis) and on relationships between ASQ-14 scores and other variables (correlational analysis), as well as an estimation of score reliability and differences by sex and stage of adolescence. RESULTS: CFA indicated a one-factor structure with a total score representing a measure of cumulative minor stressors. This structure showed an adequate fit across all age groups (early, middle, and late adolescence). Values of internal consistency (.85) and test-retest reliability (.81) were also satisfactory. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables showed positive relations with stress manifestations, anxiety, depression, and emotional and behavioral problems, and a negative association with life satisfaction. Finally, girls scored higher than boys, and stress scores increased across stages of adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the psychometric adequacy of the ASQ-14 and its use as a time-efficient tool in educational, clinical, and research studies.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-S).

The aim of this study was to develop a Spanish version of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire and to examine its psychometric properties: factor structure, measurement invariance across samples, reliability, and concurrent validity. Participants consisted of 1,560 Spanish students between 12 and 18 years of age. The results support a structure based on 10 first-order factors (corresponding to stressors on the dimensions Home Life, School Performance, School Attendance, Romantic Relationships, Peer Pressure, Teacher Interaction, Future Uncertainty, School/Leisure Conflict, Financial Pressure, and Emerging Adult Responsibility) and 1 second-order factor that subsumes the first-order factors. This model was selected for measurement invariance testing because it showed good fit indexes and was more parsimonious than the first-order factor model. This structure was replicated across 2 independent samples from the same population, as well as across 3 age groups (early, middle, and late adolescence), showing acceptable fit for all groups. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were adequate. Evidence of concurrent validity was provided by positive associations with measures of stress manifestations, anxiety, and depression, and by a negative association with life satisfaction. The results indicate that the Spanish version of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire is a suitable tool for assessing stressors in Spanish adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record

Daily stressors in school-age children: a multilevel approach.

This study uses hierarchical or multilevel modeling to identify variables that contribute to daily stressors in a population of schoolchildren. Four hierarchical levels with several predictive variables were considered: student (age, sex, social adaptation of the student, number of life events and chronic stressors experienced, and educational level of the father and mother), class (number of students per class), school (type of school), and province (number of inhabitants per province). Participants were 6,078 students from primary years 3-6 in the region of Andalusia (Spain). After conducting a multilevel regression analysis, the final fitted model was a random intercept and random slope model (at the school level) for the variable age, with the fixed factors being the variables social adaptation, life events and chronic stressors, and the educational level of the father and mother. This model yielded a specific profile of daily stressors in childhood: children with the highest levels of daily stressors are younger, present aggressive or inhibited behavior, have experienced more life events and chronic stressors, and have parents who did not complete their primary education. The results provide relevant information for the design of psychoeducational interventions in relation to children's daily stressors.

Escala de Afrontamiento para Niños (EAN): propiedades psicométricas / Children’s Coping Scale: psychometric properties

El estudio del afrontamiento en escolares es un tema de interés, ya que poseer habilidades de afrontamiento es garantía de vida saludable. El objetivo del presente estudio es la construcción y validación de una escala de afrontamiento, cuya finalidad es valorar el tipo de estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas por escolares de educación primaria en relación con cuatro tipos de estresores cotidianos. Los participantes fueron 402 niños y niñas con edades comprendidas entre 9 y 12 años. Se presentan análisis factorial confirmatorio y evidencias de fiabilidad y validez. El instrumento consta de 35 ítems en formato de autoinforme que evalúan nueve estrategias de afrontamiento diferentes, distinguiendo entre afrontamiento centrado en el problema y afrontamiento improductivo. Los resultados muestran que esta escala presenta adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para la evaluación de estrategias de afrontamiento en población infantil (AU)

It is important to study coping among school-age children, as having coping skills is a key aspect of a healthy life. The aim of the present study was to construct and validate a coping scale for assessing the types of coping strategies used by primary school children in relation to four kinds of stressors. Participants were 402 boys and girls aged between 9 and 12 years. The paper reports the results of a confirmatory factor analysis and evidence of reliability and validity. The instrument comprises 35 self-report items that assess nine different coping strategies, distinguishing between problem-focused and non-productive coping. The results show that the scale has adequate psychometric properties for the assessment of children’s coping strategies (AU)

Baja aceptación de los iguales e inadaptación emocio-nal/conductual en escolares: Efectos del estrés cotidiano, afrontamiento y sexo / Low peer acceptance and emotional/behavioural maladjustment in schoolchildren: Effects of daily stress, coping and sex

El presente estudio examina la relación entre la baja aceptación de los iguales e inadaptación emocional/conductual, teniendo en cuenta el efecto de variables como el estrés cotidiano, los estilos de afrontamiento y el sexo. La muestra se compone de 392 escolares (187 niñas y 205 niños) de 9 a 12 años. Se administró un procedimiento de evaluación de iguales mediante una escala de calificación, y medidas de autoinforme relativas a estrés cotidiano, estilos de afrontamiento e inadaptación emocional/conductual. Los análisis de regresión indican que el estrés cotidiano, el afrontamiento y el sexo son predictores significativos de inadaptación emocional/conductual, controlando la aceptación de los iguales. Los resultados obtenidos aportan información sobre factores subyacentes que posibilitan una mejor comprensión del desarrollo de problemas emociona-les/conductuales en escolares con baja aceptación en su grupo de referencia (AU)

This study examines the relationship between low peer acceptance and emotional/behavioural maladjustment, taking into account the effects of daily stress, coping styles and sex. The sample comprised 392 schoolchildren (187 females and 205 males) aged 9 to 12, to whom a peer rating scale was administered. Self-report measures of perceived daily stress, coping and emotional/behavioural maladjustment were also applied. Regression analysis indicated that daily stress, coping and sex were significant predictors of emotional/behavioural maladjustment, after controlling for peer acceptance. These results provide evidence about underlying factors that could help in understanding the development of emotional/behavioural problems in children with low peer acceptance (AU)

Relaciones entre Aceptación Sociométrica Escolar e Inadaptación Socioemocional, Estrés Cotidiano y Afrontamiento / Relationships between School Peer Acceptance and Socioemotional Maladjustment, Daily Stress, and Coping

Este estudio analiza la asociación de la variable aceptación sociométrica con diversos índices de inadaptación socioemocional, estrés cotidiano y estilos de afrontamiento en escolares, atendiendo a diferencias de género y edad. La muestra se compone de 392 escolares de 9 a 12 años. Los resultados muestran correlaciones significativas negativas de la variable aceptación sociométrica con los índices de inadaptación socioemocional y el estrés cotidiano. Asimismo, se obtiene una correlación significativa positiva con el estilo de afrontamiento "en relación con los demás". Los resultados arrojan diferencias de género y edad, siendo la relación entre la aceptación sociométrica y las diversas variables medidas más fuerte en la submuestra de niñas y en los grupos de edad de 10 y 12 años. Finalmente, se expone la necesidad de utilizar los resultados obtenidos como punto de partida para el desarrollo de intervenciones psicopedagógicas con el objeto de prevenir el desarrollo de patrones de inadaptación emocional en la infancia.

This study examines the association of peer acceptance with different indexes of socio-emotional maladjustment, daily stress, and coping styles in school students, including gender and age differences. The sample consists of 392 schoolchildren aged from 9 to 12. Results show significant negative correlations of peer acceptance with emotional maladjustment indexes and daily stress. In addition, it shows a significant positive correlation with reference-toothers coping style. Results also indicate gender and age differences, specifically the relationships between peer acceptance and the different self-assessed measures, which are more significant among the girls' subgroup, and among the 10 and 12 year old subgroups. Finally, we emphasize the need to apply these results as a baseline for educational psychology interventions to prevent development of emotional maladjustment in childhood.

Salivary cortisol response to a psychosocial stressor on children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: differences between diagnostic subtypes.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the reactivity of the HPA-axis in children diagnosed with different subtypes of ADHD against a healthy control group. This study included a total of 66 children: 33 children with ADHD diagnoses (10 with prevalent inattentive symptoms, 9 with prevalent hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and 14 with the combined subtype) and 33 healthy controls. The Trier Stress Social Test for Children (TSST-C) was employed as stressor. This test included two main stressors: first, completing a story initiated by an interviewer, and second, executing a timed cognitive task. Saliva samples were then obtained at -1, and +1, +10, +20 and +30 minutes with respect to the stress-inducing task. While the repeated-measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant time effect, the expected cortisol stress-response was not observed in any group. A difference was observed in the response from the hyperactive-impulsive group that was also observed in the AUC(G) comparisons with the subgroups. The ADHD group with prevalent hyperactivity-impulsive symptoms showed more significantly reduced cortisol levels than the control group and other experimental subgroup with prevalent inattentive symptoms.

Salivary Cortisol Response to a Psychosocial Stressor on Children Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: differences Between Diagnostic Subtypes

The purpose of the present study was to compare the reactivity of the HPA-axis in children diagnosed with different subtypes of ADHD against a healthy control group. This study included a total of 66 children: 33 children with ADHD diagnoses (10 with prevalent inattentive symptoms, 9 with prevalent hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and 14 with the combined subtype) and 33 healthy controls. The Trier Stress Social Test for Children (TSST-C) was employed as stressor. This test included two main stressors: first, completing a story initiated by an interviewer, and second, executing a timed cognitive task.Saliva samples were then obtained at -1, and +1, +10, +20 and +30 minutes with respect to the stress inducing task. While the repeated-measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant time effect, the expected cortisol stress-response was not observed in any group. A difference was observed in the response from the hyperactive-impulsive group that was also observed in the AUCG comparisons with the subgroups. The ADHD group with prevalent hyperactivity-impulsive symptoms showed more significantly reduced cortisol levels than the control group and other experimental subgroup with prevalent inattentive symptoms (AU)

El objetivo del presente estudio fue comparar la reactividad del eje HPA de niños diagnosticados con distintos subtipos de TDAH en comparación con un grupo de control sano. En el estudio fueron incluidos 66 niños: 33 con TDAH (10 con predominio inatento, 9 con predominio hiperactivo-impulsivo, y 14 con sintomatología combinada) y 33 controles sanos. Como estresor se utilizó el Test de Estrés Social de Trier versión infantil (TSST-C). Este test incluye dos estresores: primero, tras una fase de preparación, los niños deben concluir la narración de un cuento previamente iniciada por uno de los dos entrevistadores; y en segundo lugar, tienen que realizar una tarea cognitiva bajo presión de tiempo ante los entrevistadores. Las muestras de saliva fueron obtenidas a -1 y a +1, +10, +20 y +30 minutos después de la inducción de estrés. El ANOVA de medidas repetidas arrojó un efecto tiempo estadísticamente significativo aunque no se observó la respuesta de cortisol esperada en ninguno de los grupos. Se observó una diferencia en la respuesta del grupo de niños con subtipo hiperactivo-impulsivo que también se constató cuando se comparó su AUCG con la del resto de los grupos. El grupo TDAH con predominio hiperactivo-impulsivo mostró niveles significativamente más bajos de cortisol que el grupo control y el resto de los grupos experimentales al enfrentarse al TSST-C (AU)