Development and validity evidence on the scale of perceived social support for university students (EPSSEU) during the period of social restrictions.

AIM: This study aims to validate a Perceived Social Support Scale for University Students (EPSSEU) during periods of social restrictions, by focusing on family and university support. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with undergraduate students from a public higher education institution. The college students who participated in the study-1353 at baseline and 378 after 6 months-answered a virtual questionnaire containing questions on: sociodemographic and lifestyle data, items proposed for the EPSSEU, Satisfaction with Social Support Scale (ESSS), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis, as well as discriminant, convergent, and known-group validations were performed. RESULTS: The results showed two factors support from: i) the university and ii) friends and family- which explained 61.82% of the variance in the data. The EPSSEU showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.796) as well as validity, with higher scores among individuals without depression, anxiety, or stress. CONCLUSION: The EPSSEU shows adequate psychometric qualities and may be a useful instrument for assessing university students' social support in pandemics, social distancing, and remote teaching contexts.

Seasonal studies of aquatic humic substances from Amazon rivers: characterization and interaction with Cu (II), Fe (II), and Al (III) using EEM-PARAFAC and 2D FTIR correlation analyses.

Aquatic humic substances (AHS) are defined as an important components of organic matter, being composed as small molecules in a supramolecular structure and can interact with metallic ions, thereby altering the bioavailability of these species. To better understand this behavior, AHS were extracted and characterized from Negro River, located near Manaus city and Carú River, that is situated in Itacoatiara city, an area experiencing increasing anthropogenic actions; both were characterized as blackwater rivers. The AHS were characterized by 13C nuclear magnetic ressonance and thermochemolysis GC-MS to obtain structural characteristics. Interaction studies with Cu (II), Al (III), and Fe (III) were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy applied to parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2D-COS FTIR). The AHS from dry season had more aromatic fractions not derived from lignin and had higher content of alkyls moities from microbial sources and vegetal tissues of autochthonous origin, while AHS isolated in the rainy season showed more metals in its molecular architecture, lignin units, and polysacharide structures. The study showed that AHS composition from rainy season were able to interact with Al (III), Fe (III), and Cu (II). Two fluorescent components were identified as responsible for interaction: C1 (blue-shifted) and C2 (red-shifted). C1 showed higher complexation capacities but with lower complexation stability constants (KML ranged from 0.3 to 7.9 × 105) than C2 (KML ranged from 3.1 to 10.0 × 105). 2D-COS FTIR showed that the COO- and C-O in phenolic were the most important functional groups for interaction with studied metallic ions.

Factor analysis of lifetime psychopathology and its brain morphometric and genetic correlates in a transdiagnostic sample.

There is a lack of knowledge regarding the relationship between proneness to dimensional psychopathological syndromes and the underlying pathogenesis across major psychiatric disorders, i.e., Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), Schizoaffective Disorder (SZA), and Schizophrenia (SZ). Lifetime psychopathology was assessed using the OPerational CRITeria (OPCRIT) system in 1,038 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD, BD, SZ, or SZA. The cohort was split into two samples for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. All patients were scanned with 3-T MRI, and data was analyzed with the CAT-12 toolbox in SPM12. Psychopathological factor scores were correlated with gray matter volume (GMV) and cortical thickness (CT). Finally, factor scores were used for exploratory genetic analyses including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk score (PRS) association analyses. Three factors (paranoid-hallucinatory syndrome, PHS; mania, MA; depression, DEP) were identified and cross-validated. PHS was negatively correlated with four GMV clusters comprising parts of the hippocampus, amygdala, angular, middle occipital, and middle frontal gyri. PHS was also negatively associated with the bilateral superior temporal, left parietal operculum, and right angular gyrus CT. No significant brain correlates were observed for the two other psychopathological factors. We identified genome-wide significant associations for MA and DEP. PRS for MDD and SZ showed a positive effect on PHS, while PRS for BD showed a positive effect on all three factors. This study investigated the relationship of lifetime psychopathological factors and brain morphometric and genetic markers. Results highlight the need for dimensional approaches, overcoming the limitations of the current psychiatric nosology.

Measuring intangible cultural heritage image: A scale development.

Although an increasing number of studies have examined issues relating to the preservation and development of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), there has been limited research on how tourists perceive ICH. Moreover, UNESCO asserts that the concept of "authenticity" is not applicable to ICH, and so far, no valid instrument for measuring tourists' subjective perceptions of ICH has been developed, even though their perceptions play a very important role in the preservation and development of ICH. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a measurement scale for ICH image, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Participant observation, semi-structured in-depth interviews, secondary data collection, and a literature review were conducted to generate the initial scale items, and then the main surveys were conducted to collect data for the model tests. Four dimensions were extracted by exploratory factor analysis: transmission, localization, vitality, and association. The reliability and validity of the measurement model were demonstrated through confirmatory factor analysis. We further determined that the transmission, vitality, and association of ICH image have a positive impact on tourists' revisit intention. The paper highlights the crucial role of ICH image in sustainable tourism development. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study are discussed, followed by suggestions for future research.

When income meets faith: the development and application of the Chinese generation Z unconventional religious orientation scale.

This study seeks to analyze the psychological construction of Unconventional Religious Orientations and their association with individual income level satisfaction within Generation Z. Generation Z, individuals born between 1995 and 2010, grew up in a socio-cultural context marked by digitization and globalization. This study identifies three key dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientations: religious spiritual dependence, religious instrumental tendencies, and religious uniqueness identity. By combining rootedness theory, semi-structured interviews, and literature review, we constructed and refined a set of relevant scales. Using exploratory and validation factor analyses (EFA and CFA), we verified the structural validity of the scale. The results of the analyses revealed significant negative correlations between satisfaction with income level and all dimensions of Unconventional Religious Orientation for Generation Z, suggesting that Unconventional Religious Orientation tends to diminish as income satisfaction increases. In addition, the significant positive correlations between these dimensions of religious inclination imply that they may share certain underlying factors in their psychological structure. This study not only successfully developed a set of psychometric instruments for Unconventional Religious Orientations, but also provided a new psychological perspective for understanding the dynamic interaction between economic satisfaction and religious psychological attitudes in Generation Z.

The significant others' responses to trauma scale (SORTS): applying factor analysis and item response theory to a measure of PTSD symptom accommodation.

Background: Symptom accommodation by family members (FMs) of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) includes FMs' participation in patients' avoidance/safety behaviours and constraining self-expression to minimise conflict, potentially maintaining patients' symptoms. The Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS) is the only existing measure of accommodation in PTSD but has not been rigorously psychometrically tested.Objective: We aimed to conduct further psychometric analyses to determine the factor structure and overall performance of the SORTS. Method: We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using a sample of N = 715 FMs (85.7% female, 62.1% White, 86.7% romantic partners of individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms).Results: After dropping cross-loading items, results indicated good fit for a higher-order model of accommodation with two factors: an anger-related accommodation factor encompassed items related largely to minimising conflict, and an anxiety-related accommodation factor encompassed items related primarily to changes to the FM's activities. Accommodation was positively related to PTSD severity and negatively related to relationship satisfaction, although the factors showed somewhat distinct associations. Item Response Theory analyses indicated that the scale provided good information and robust coverage of different accommodation levels.Conclusions: SORTS data should be analysed as both a single score as well as two factors to explore the factors' potential differential performance across treatment and relationship outcomes.

We examined the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), a measure of symptom accommodation in PTSD, among a large sample of family members.As measured by the SORTS, accommodation in PTSD could be broken down into two aspects: anger-related accommodation and anxiety-related accommodation.Accommodation was positively related to PTSD severity and negatively related to relationship satisfaction.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Information Security Attitude Questionnaire for nurses.

AIM: Nurses play a crucial role within medical institutions, maintaining direct interaction with patient data. Despite this, there is a scarcity of tools for evaluating nurses' perspectives on patient information security. This study aimed to translate the Information Security Attitude Questionnaire into Chinese and validate its reliability and validity among clinical nurses. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. METHODS: A total of 728 clinical nurses from three hospitals in China participated in this study. The Information Security Attitude Questionnaire (ISA-Q) was translated into Chinese utilizing the Brislin two-way translation method. The reliability was assessed through internal consistency coefficient and test-retest reliability. The validity was determined through the Delphi expert consultation method and factor analysis. RESULTS: The Chinese version of ISA-Q consists of 30 items. Cronbach's α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.930, and Cronbach's α coefficient of the six dimensions ranged from 0.781 to 0.938. The split-half reliability and test-retest reliability were 0.797 and 0.848, respectively. The content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.962. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 6-factor structure supported by eigenvalues, total variance interpretation, and scree plots, accounting for a cumulative variance contribution rate of 69.436%. Confirmatory factor analysis further validated the 6-factor structure, demonstrating an appropriate model fit. CONCLUSION: The robust reliability and validity exhibited by the Chinese version of ISA-Q establish it as a dependable tool for evaluating the information security attitudes of clinical nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The Chinese iteration of the ISA-Q questionnaire offers a profound insight into the information security attitudes held by clinical nurses. This understanding serves as a foundation for nursing managers to develop targeted intervention strategies aimed at fortifying nurses' information security attitudes, thereby enhancing patient safety.

Validation and assessment of psychometric properties of the Greek Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (GR-EBA-O).

INTRODUCTION: With increasing morbidity and risk of death, obesity has become a serious health problem largely attributable to difficulties in finding proper treatments for related diseases. Many studies show how detecting abnormal eating behaviors could be useful in developing effective clinical treatments. This study aims at validating the Greek version of the Eating Behaviors Assessment for Obesity (EBA-O). METHOD: After a double English/Greek forward/backward translation of the EBA-O, 294 participants completed the Greek version (GR-EBA-O), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Binge Eating Scale, and the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and construct validity were calculated, and Two-way MANOVA was computed with the factors of GR-EBA-O controlling for sex and BMI categories. RESULTS: CFA confirmed the second-order five factors (i.e., food addiction, night eating, binge eating, sweet eating, and prandial hyperphagia) structure of the original EBA-O with excellent fit indices. GR-EBA-O factors were highly correlated. The GR-EBA-O subscales were also significantly correlated with the remaining measures, demonstrating good concurrent validity. CONCLUSION: The Greek version of the EBA-O has demonstrated sound psychometric properties and appears a reliable and user-friendly tool to identify pathological eating behaviors in obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, descriptive research.

Psychometric properties of the experiences of maternity care scale among Iranian women.

BACKGROUND: Assessing women's perceptions of the care they receive is crucial for evaluating the quality of maternity care. Women's perceptions are influenced by the care received during pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postpartum period, each of which with unique conditions, expectations, and requirements. In England, three Experience of Maternity Care (EMC) scales - Pregnancy, Labour and Birth, and Postnatal - have been developed to assess women's experiences from pregnancy through the postpartum period. This study aimed to validate these scales within the Iranian context. METHODS: A methodological cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to August 2023 at selected health centers in Tabriz, Iran. A panel of 16 experts assessed the qualitative and quantitative content validity of the scales and 10 women assessed the face validity. A total of 540 eligible women, 1-6 months postpartum, participated in the study, with data from 216 women being used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and 324 women for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and other analyses. The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2 was employed to assess the convergent validity of the Labour and Birth Scale, whereas women's age was used to assess the divergent validity of the scales. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were also examined. RESULTS: All items obtained an impact score above 1.5, with Content Validity Ratio and Content Validity Index exceeding 0.8. EFA demonstrated an excellent fit with the data (all Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measures > 0.80, and all Bartlett's p < 0.001). The Pregnancy Scale exhibited a five-factor structure, the Labour and Birth Scale a two-factor structure, and the Postnatal Scale a three-factor structure, explaining 66%, 57%, and 62% of the cumulative variance, respectively, for each scale. CFA indicated an acceptable fit with RMSEA ≤ 0.08, CFI ≥ 0.92, and NNFI ≥ 0.90. A significant correlation was observed between the Labour and Birth scale and the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire-2 (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the scales and women's age. All three scales demonstrated good internal consistency (all Cronbach's alpha values > 0.9) and test-retest reliability (all interclass correlation coefficient values > 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: The Persian versions of all three EMC scales exhibit robust psychometric properties for evaluating maternity care experiences among urban Iranian women. These scales can be utilized to assess the quality of current care, investigate the impact of different care models in various studies, and contribute to maternal health promotion programs and policies.

Validation of the Polish version of the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale-a confirmatory factor analysis.

The Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale (JHLES) was developed by Robert B. Shochet, Jorie M. Colbert and Scott M. Wright of the Johns hopkins university school of medicine and consists of 28 items used to evaluate perception of the academic environment. The objective was to translate and adapt the JHLES to Polish cultural conditions and to validate the Polish version of the tool. The JHLES questionnaire was completed by students of all years (first-fifth) of the faculties of dental medicine at the Medical University of Lublin and the Medical University of Gdansk. The total surveyed population consisted of 597 students. The overall reliability of the tool was excellent. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed in order to confirm structural consistency with the original JHLES tool. Consequently, all indices had acceptable values (close to 1 or 0, depending on the case), and there was consistency in the results, which shows that the JHLES model is supported by the data. In the present study, the JHLES has been validated in a sample of dental students for the first time in Poland and Europe. Our study provided good evidence for the reliability and validity of the Polish version of the JHLES. In conclusion, the Polish-language version of the JHLES questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for analysing the learning environment for students, and its factor structure is supported by the data.

The Chronic Time Pressure Inventory: further assessment of factorial structure and validity.

Background: Chronic time pressure represents a prevalent concern within modern society, and effective measurement is crucial for research advancement. The Chronic Time Pressure Inventory (CTPI) has thus far demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. However, only two studies have examined the measure and evidence of its validity is limited. Accordingly, the current investigation, via two independent studies, assessed the factorial composition and validity (convergent/discriminant) of the CTPI. Methods: Study 1 (N = 398) examined competing factorial models and validity in relation to the Big Five personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness). Study 2 (N = 358) replicated the analysis of factor structure and assessed validity in comparison with five time perspectives (Past Negative, Present Fatalistic, Future, Past Positive, Present Hedonistic). Participants across both studies completed standardized self-report measures capturing the variables. Results: Comparison of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) factor solutions indicated that an ESEM bifactor model provided the strongest data-model fit. This included a general chronic time pressure component alongside specific subfactors of Feeling Harried and Cognitive Awareness of Time Shortage. All scale items reflected the general factor; however, some items loaded weakly on the intended specific factor. The CTPI is thus a robust indicator of chronic time pressure but needs refinement as a measure of the specific factors. Convergent/discriminant validity analyses inferred that the CTPI captured chronic time pressure as a related, but distinct, construct to perceived stress, and evidenced a relationship with theoretically associated constructs (Big Five personality traits and time perspective). Overall, the CTPI is a sound measure of chronic time pressure and has the potential to further cohesive research efforts on the contribution of this construct to various life domains.

Evaluating lumbar disc degeneration by MRI quantitative metabolic indicators: the perspective of factor analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate an early diagnostic method for lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) and improve its diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Quantitative biomarkers of the lumbar body (LB) and lumbar discs (LDs) were obtained using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detection technology. The diagnostic weights of each biological metabolism indicator were screened using the factor analysis method. RESULTS: Through factor analysis, common factors such as the LB fat fraction, fat content, and T2* value of LDs were identified as covariates for the diagnostic model for the evaluation of LDD. This model can optimize the accuracy and reliability of LDD diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The application of biomarker quantification methods based on NMR detection technology combined with factor analysis provides an effective means for the early diagnosis of LDD, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and reliability.

Pediatric psychoSocial Risk Index: Factor Analysis and Item Reduction Study.

OBJECTIVES: The Pediatric psychoSocial Risk Index (PSRI) is psychosocial risk screening instrument for health practitioners. The objective of this study was to confirm validity evidence of a truncated version of PSRI. METHODS: PSRI was completed initially by 100 parents of children aged 0 to 18 years admitted to a tertiary hospital; 50 parents repeated the PSRI 3 days later. Analysis includes principal component analysis (PCA) to include the least number of items that explain the most variance in a shortened version of PSRI as well as confirming test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the shortened instrument. RESULTS: PSRI originally had 86 items, 85 close-ended items were analyzed. Three items were excluded because of missing test-retest data. Item reduction resulted in truncation of 16 items; 66 items remained. A Kaiser-Mayer-Orkin test of sampling adequacy resulted in reduction of 14 items; 52 items remained. Initial PCA led to reduction of 26 items. The PCA was rerun on remaining items, resulting in reduction of 6 further items; 18 items remained. Two items with >10% missingness were removed leaving 16 items in the final PSRI. Test-retest reliability was 0.98 and mean within-person across-item reliability was 0.95. Cronbach α was 0.9. Remaining items represented 9 social risk themes: food insecurity, medical complexity, home environment, behavioral issues, financial insecurity, parenting confidence, parental mental health, social support, and unmet medical needs. CONCLUSIONS: PSRI was reduced from 86 to 16 items with high internal consistency and reliability. PSRI demonstrates adequate validity supporting practitioners to screen families about their psychosocial risk.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Quality of Life in School (QoLS) Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.

The school is fundamental for the development of societies and caring for the student is part of the educational process. Reflections on collective health allowed the expansion of the vision of the concept of quality of life considering different social spaces and indicators. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess of some psychometric Properties of the Quality of Life in School instrument into Brazilian Portuguese (QoLS-BR) among elementary school students. The processes of translation, content evaluation, focus group and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were carried out. Reproducibility analysis was performed by administering QoLS-BR to 30 students. The sample used for Internal Consistency and CFA comprised 434 students with a mean age of 12.31 years. High indices of language clarity, practical relevance, theoretical relevance, internal consistency, and reproducibility were obtained. In the AFC, adjustments were not necessary in the QoLS-BR model with four factors (RMSEA=0.065; TLI=0.959; CFI=0.962; SRMR=0.080) indicating that the indices were adequate when investigating all four domains. QoLS-BR has adequate psychometric indicators for investigating the quality of life in school.

Evaluating the factor structure, reliability and validity of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (CBI-SS) among faculty of arts students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

The Copenhagen burnout inventory-student survey (CBI-SS) has shown promising psychometric properties in diverse student populations. This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Nigerian version of the CBI-SS. This was a cross-sectional study of 635 students from Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was utilized to assess the CBI-SS validity. The reliability score of the CBI-SS was 0.957, ranging from 0.862 to 0.914 for the subscales. Correlation coefficients among the four CBI-SS factors ranged from 0.507 to 0.713. The CFA indicated an adequate goodness-of-fit for the four-factor model of the CBI-SS with the sample data. However, Item 10 was removed due to unacceptably low Average Variance Extracted score. The four factors demonstrated a negative correlation with both General Academic Self-Efficacy Scale and Cumulative Grade Point Average. Furthermore, both self-reported burnout and perceived course stress showed associations with the CBI-SS, where lower levels of burnout corresponded with lower median scores on the CBI-SS scales. This study underscores the significance of the CBI-SS in evaluating student burnout within our student population. The findings indicate that the CBI-SS is a highly reliable and valid instrument for assessing student burnout, suggesting its potential for effective utilization in the Nigerian academic context.

Development and initial testing of a brief, generic self-reported disability questionnaire: The Universal Disability Index.

BACKGROUND: Disability is an important multifaceted construct. A brief, generic self-reported disability questionnaire that promises a broader and more comparable measure of disability than disease-specific instruments does not currently exist. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate such a questionnaire: the Universal Disability Index (UDI). METHODS: An online survey was used to collect general population data. Data were randomly divided into training and validation subsets. The dimensionality and structure of eight UDI questionnaire items were evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA, training subset) followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA, validation subset). To assess concurrent validity, the UDI summed score from the full dataset was compared to the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (GARS) and the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) disability scores. Internal consistency and discriminant validity were also assessed. Bootstrapping was used to evaluate model stability and generalisability. RESULTS: 403 participants enrolled; 364 completed at least one UDI item. Three single-factor versions of the UDI were assessed (8-item, 7-item, and 6-item). All versions performed well during EFA and CFA (182 cases assigned to each), but none met the RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) criterion (≤ 0.08). All versions of the UDI had high internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.90), were strongly correlated (Pearson's r > 0.7) with both GARS and GCPS disability scores, indicating concurrent validity, and could accurately discriminate between upper and lower quartiles of these comparators. Confidence intervals of estimates were narrow, suggesting model stability and generalisability. CONCLUSIONS: A brief, generic self-reported disability questionnaire was found to be valid and to possess good psychometric properties. The UDI has a single factor structure and either a 6-item, 7-item or 8-item version can be used to measure disability. For brevity and parsimony, the 6-item UDI is recommended, but further testing of all versions is warranted.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire using data from patients seeking help for tinnitus alone or tinnitus combined with hyperacusis.

A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire (TIQ) was performed. In contrast to commonly used tinnitus questionnaires, the TIQ is intended solely to assess the impact of tinnitus by not including items related to hearing loss or tinnitus loudness. This was a psychometric study based on a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of clinical data. Data were available for 155 new patients who had attended a tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic in the UK within a five-month period and had completed the TIQ. The mean age was 54 years (standard deviation = 14 years). The TIQ demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach's α = 0.84 and McDonald's ω = 0.89. CFA showed that two items of the TIQ had low factor loadings for both one-factor and two-factor models and their scores showed low correlations with scores for other items. Bi-factor analysis gave a better fit, indicated by a relative chi-square (χ2) of 18.5, a Root-Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.103, a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) of 0.97, a Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.92, and a Standardized Root-Mean Residual (SPMR) of 0.038. Total TIQ scores were moderately correlated with scores for the Visual Analogue Scale of effect of tinnitus on life and the Screening for Anxiety and Depression-Tinnitus questionnaire, supporting the convergent validity of the TIQ. The TIQ score was not correlated with the pure-tone average hearing threshold, indicating discriminant validity. A multiple-causes multiple-indicator (MIMIC) model showed no influences of age, gender or hearing status on TIQ item scores. The TIQ is an internally consistent tool. CFA suggests a bi-factor model with sufficient unidimensionality to support the use of the overall TIQ score for assessing the impact of tinnitus. TIQ scores are distinct from the impact of hearing impairment among patients who have tinnitus combined with hearing loss.

Design and psychometric evaluation of the collaborative coping with infertility questionnaire in candidate of assisted reproductive techniques.

Evaluating couples' coping with infertility and its impact on their mental health is valuable in designing supportive programs. Since infertility is a shared problem in married life, coping with it requires collaborative coping strategies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to design and psychometrically evaluate the collaborative coping with infertility questionnaire (CCIQ) in candidates of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The exploratory factor analysis of a 27-item questionnaire designed based on the Likert scale in the Persian language was evaluated through the principal component analysis method in a cross-sectional study conducted on 200 couples who volunteered for ART. The cut-off point of factor loadings was considered 0.4. Furthermore, the criterion validity of the questionnaire was evaluated using a 12-item revised Fertility Adjustment Scale (R-FAS) and its relationship with the score of the CCIQ. Moreover, the internal consistency of the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficient. In the exploratory factor analysis, 20 items with a factor loading above 0.4 were extracted under three factors. The three extracted factors with a value above one explained 43.78% of the variance of CCIQ. The factor loading of the accepted items ranged between 0.402 and 0.691. External reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.98. The relationship between CCIQ and R-FAS score was significant (p < 0.0001). The results of the study showed that the 20-item CCIQ enjoyed acceptable validity and reliability in the three dimensions of 'dynamic interaction,' 'reorganizing married life goals,' and 'perception about infertility,' which can be used to evaluate collaborative coping with infertility questionnaire in ART candidates.

Exploratory factor analysis yields grouping of brain injury biomarkers significantly associated with outcomes in neonatal and pediatric ECMO.

In this two-center prospective cohort study of children on ECMO, we assessed a panel of plasma brain injury biomarkers using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to evaluate their interplay and association with outcomes. Biomarker concentrations were measured daily for the first 3 days of ECMO support in 95 participants. Unfavorable composite outcome was defined as in-hospital mortality or discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category > 2 with decline ≥ 1 point from baseline. EFA grouped 11 biomarkers into three factors. Factor 1 comprised markers of cellular brain injury (NSE, BDNF, GFAP, S100ß, MCP1, VILIP-1, neurogranin); Factor 2 comprised markers related to vascular processes (vWF, PDGFRß, NPTX1); and Factor 3 comprised the BDNF/MMP-9 cellular pathway. Multivariable logistic models demonstrated that higher Factor 1 and 2 scores were associated with higher odds of unfavorable outcome (adjusted OR 2.88 [1.61, 5.66] and 1.89 [1.12, 3.43], respectively). Conversely, higher Factor 3 scores were associated with lower odds of unfavorable outcome (adjusted OR 0.54 [0.31, 0.88]), which is biologically plausible given the role of BDNF in neuroplasticity. Application of EFA on plasma brain injury biomarkers in children on ECMO yielded grouping of biomarkers into three factors that were significantly associated with unfavorable outcome, suggesting future potential as prognostic instruments.

Examining the validity and factor structure of the ICD-11 trait domains.

The International Classification of Diseases, 11th Edition (ICD-11) includes a new personality disorder (PD) severity diagnosis that may be further characterized using up to five trait domain specifiers. Most of the previous studies have investigated the ICD-11 trait domains using self-report measures. The present study aimed to validate ICD-11 PD trait domains using a multimethod design in a community mental health sample (n = 336). We conducted two confirmatory factor analyses to examine the factor structure of the ICD-11 PD trait model, utilizing clinician-rating, self-report, and informant-report measures. Finally, we examined associations between clinician-rated, self-reported, and informant-reported ICD-11 trait domains with external criteria, specifically traditional PD symptoms and the five-factor model of normal personality. All clinician-rated, self-reported, and informant-reported domain scores loaded meaningfully on their expected factors when controlling for nontrivial method factors. Generally, the trait domains exhibited meaningful associations with conceptually relevant external criteria, although the anankastia domain exhibited more variability in its pattern of correlations across methods. Overall, the ICD-11 trait domain model shows promising reliability and validity, indicating good progress within the field of PD assessment toward a more useful PD operationalization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).