Validity Evidence of the Spanish Version of the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale Using the Rasch Measurement Model.

The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) is the most cited instrument to measure dispositional mindfulness. However, some aspects of its validity are still under debate. We aimed to assess different sources of validity evidence (i.e., response processes, content, internal structure, reliability, and relations with external variables) of the MAAS scores in a sample of Spanish-speaking participants (N = 812) applying Rasch modeling. The items formed an essentially unidimensional structure, the item hierarchy was similar to that of previous comparable studies, the items were well targeted, and the ordering of persons along the construct was adequate. Moreover, measures were invariant across four age groups and three groups based on meditation practice, and correlated as expected with a variety of well-being variables. In sum, our findings supported the interpretation of MAAS scores as a measure of mindfulness in our sample of Spanish-speaking participants. Any other specific inference should be tested.

Eficacia de la exposición y la reestructuración cognitiva en jóvenes adultos con trastorno de ansiedad social / Effectiveness of exposure and cognitive restructuring in young adults with social anxiety disorder

A través de esta investigación analizamos la eficacia de los componentes psicológicos de exposición y de reestructuración cognitiva, empleados, tanto como únicos componentes, como en función de distintas combinaciones sobre las variables de ansiedad social “ miedo a la evaluación negativa “ (FNE; Watson Y Friend, 1969) y “ansiedad y evitación social” (SAD; Watson y Friend, 1969). La muestra se compuso de 85 sujetos diagnosticados de fobia social (APA 1994) asignados aleatoriamente a tres modalidades de intervención: a) tratamiento mediante exposición y reestructuración cognitiva empleados de forma combinada (10 sesiones9 b) tratamiento mediante el bloque de exposición (5 sesiones) seguido del bloque de reestructuración cognitiva (5 sesiones) y c) grupo control evaluado a los tres meses que posteriormente fue adscrito al tratamiento mediante el bloque de reestructuración cognitiva (5 sesiones) seguido del bloque de exposición (5 sesiones). Los resultados demuestran que las modalidades de tratamiento fueron muy eficaces en los principales momentos de evaluación, no existiendo diferencias significativas entre ellas: los componentes psicológicos empleados y sus distintas combinaciones mostraron un grado de eficacia similar en el modo en el que fueron empleados

The purpose of this research is to analyse the efficacy of the psychological components, exposure and cognitive restructuring, used as single techniques and depending on their different combinations on social anxiety variables: the “fear of negative evaluation” (FNE; Watson y Friend, 1969) and the “social avoidance and distress” (SAD; Watson y Friend, 1969). The sample was made up of 85 patients diagnosed with social phobia (APA, 1994),who were randomly assigned to three different treatments: a) exposure and cognitive restructuring components, both integrated in every session (10 sessions); b) exposure block (5 sessions) followed y cognitive restructuring block (5 sessions); c) a control group that after three months was assigned to the treatment cognitive restructuring block 85 sessions) followed by exposure block (5 sessions). Results show that these different experimental groups were very effective in the main evaluations, without significant differences between them; the psychological components used and their different combinations showed a similar level of efficacy in the way and modality in which they were used