Spanish Validation of the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale: Which Dimension of Meaning in Life Is More Associated With Psychopathology in People With Mental Disorders?

BACKGROUND: To assess three dimensions of Meaning in Life (comprehension, purpose, and mattering) the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS) was developed, however, the MEMS's factorial structure has not yet been confirmed in a Spanish-speaking sample. A question that remains unanswered is which of the three dimensions of MiL are associated with psychopathology in clinical samples. AIMS: (1) to analyze the psychometric properties of the MEMS in a Spanish non-clinical population, and (2) to identify which of the three dimensions of MiL shows the strongest relationship with depression, anxiety and positive affect in a clinical population. METHOD: The non-clinical sample, consisted of N = 1106 Spanish adults, and the clinical sample consisted of 88 adults diagnosed with mental disorders. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and regression analysis were carried out. RESULTS: The three-factor model for the MEMS showed an acceptable fit, and full invariance across gender groups. In the clinical sample, the mattering dimension had the highest association with depression and anxiety, and purpose with positive affect. CONCLUSION: The MEMS is an adequate instrument to assess the three dimensions of meaning in Spanish-speaking participants. These results support the importance of evaluating the MiL construct from a multidimensional perspective in clinical samples.

Is Cybervictimization Associated with Body Dissatisfaction, Depression, and Eating Disorder Psychopathology?

Studies carried out in nonclinical samples have found an association between cyberbullying victimization and eating disorder (ED) psychopathology (negative emotions, low self-esteem, unhealthy eating behaviors, and body dissatisfaction); however, these previous studies were carried out with participants without an ED diagnosis. To extend the knowledge in this area of research, we aim to confirm these associations in two different samples: on the one hand, a sample composed of participants with ED diagnoses and, on the other hand, a sample composed of participants at high risk of ED. In study 1, the sample was composed of 80 participants diagnosed with EDs: 41.2 percent, n = 33, matched bulimia nervosa criteria; 33.8 percent, n = 27, matched anorexia nervosa restrictive criteria; and 25 percent, n = 20, matched eating disorder not otherwise specified. In study 2, the sample was composed of 156 participants at high risk of ED (elite athletes, both men and women). In both samples, the results indicated that cyberbullying victimization was positively correlated with ED psychopathology and depression. The model consisting of gender, body mass index, appearance evaluation, depression, and cyberbullying victimization was a significant predictor of ED psychopathology. This study suggests that cyberbullying victimization is a predictor of eating behaviors, attitudes, and symptoms associated with ED.