ABSTRACT
The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age (M = 41.8; SD = 16.6 years); while Ecuador has the lowest mean age (M = 24.6; SD = 7.8 years). Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion of women (>60%) than men (<40%). Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL (Meaning of existence, Freedom to make meaning in daily life and Will to find meaning in the face of future challenges) is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries.
ABSTRACT
The aim was to test the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL-SF in a sample of people from seven Latin American countries. Additionally, the characteristics of the PIL-SF items were evaluated and to assess the relationship between purpose in life, as measured by the PIL-SF, and fear of COVID-19. A total of 4306 people from seven Latin American countries participated in the study. The results indicated that the PIL-SF is invariant in the seven participating countries and, therefore, there is evidence that the items reflect the purpose of life in the same way in all countries. This allows comparisons of purpose in life between countries that are free of bias, reflecting the true differences in how countries respond to items. From IRT, the discrimination parameters are adequate and indicate that the items cover a wide range of the purpose in life construct. The difficulty parameters are adequate and increase monotonically. This indicates that people would need a higher level of purpose in life to respond to the higher response categories. Thus, the PIL-SF items would be useful in determining people with a relatively high degree of purpose in life. Identifying people with different levels of purpose in life would allow them to be part of intervention programs, either to support those with low levels or to maintain and reinforce their purpose in life. The evidence of cross-country measurement invariance of the PIL-SF provides a measure to be used in cross-cultural studies about the meaning of life.
ABSTRACT
The objective was to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in 7 Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). The participants were 2944 people, selected through non-probability sampling for convenience, where the majority were women. Data collection occurred between 12 June and 14 September 2020. The results indicated that the model with two related factors presents a better fit to the data and has partial scalar invariance among the 7 countries. Differences in emotional and physiological reactions were observed between the countries.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Fear , Female , Humans , Latin America , Male , MexicoABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the construct validity based on the internal structure, the relationship with other variables, and the internal consistency among items of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in a sample of 743 Ecuadorians. The findings confirm the presence of a bifactor structure, which includes a general factor and two specific factors: one emotional and the other physiological. The general factor, and the specific factors presented adequate levels of internal consistency. Finally, the FCV-19S showed a highly significant relationship with GAD-7 at the latent level. The scale has adequate psychometric properties for its application.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Ecuador , Fear/psychology , Humans , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted Latin America. A model was tested that evaluated the contribution of socio-demographic factors and fear of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression in samples of residents in seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and El Salvador). A total of 4,881 individuals, selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Moderate and severe levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety were identified, as well as a moderate average level of fear of COVID-19. In addition, it was observed that about a quarter of the participants presented symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and a major depressive episode. Fear of COVID-19 significantly and positively predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas the effects of socio-demographic variables are generally low [χ2(287) = 5936.96, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.064 [0.062, 0.065]; CFI = 0.947; and SRMR = 0.050]. This suggests the need for the implementation of preventive actions in the general population of these countries, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of depressive, anxious and fearful symptoms related to COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Se indaga sobre la predictibilidad de la Satisfacción con la vida y el Bienestar Psicológico y Social en la Salud Mental en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios del Ecuador a través de un análisis descriptivo de predicción, comparativo por sexo y universidad. Es un estudio de corte transversal en el que participaron 982 estudiantes de tres universidades de Cuenca y Ambato, en Ecuador. Se encontró que el bienestar subjetivo, psicológico y social predicen el 55.1% de explicación de la varianza de Salud Mental. Además, existen diferencias por género en la Satisfacción con la vida (t = -1.98; p < .05) y el Bienestar Social (t = -2.34; p < .05), en este último las mujeres puntúan más que los hombres. También hay diferencias por el tipo de universidad en la Satisfacción con la vida (t = -3.11; p < .01), el Bienestar Psicológico (t = -3.21; p < .01) y la Salud Mental (t = -2.22; p < .05) con mejores puntajes en la universidad cofinanciada. Con estos elementos, se concluye que los distintos indicadores del bienestar individual predicen considerablemente la salud mental.
Abstract The predictability of Satisfaction of the Life and the Psychological and Social well-being in Mental Health in a sample of university students from Ecuador is explored through a descriptive analysis of prediction, comparative by sex and university; and of cross section in which 982 students participated from three universities from Cuenca and Ambato in Ecuador. It was found that subjective, psychological and social well-being predict 55.1% of explination of the Mental Health variance. Further, there are differences by gender in Satisfaction with life (t = -1.98; p < .05) and Social Welfare (t = -2.34; p < .05) in which women score more than men; and by the type of university in the Satisfaction with the life (t = -3.11; p < .01), the Psychological Well-being (t = -3.21; p < .01) and the Mental Health (t = -2.22; p < .05) with better scores in the co-financed university. With these elements, it is concluded that the different indicators of individual well-being significantly predict mental health.
