Interval and Ratio Scaling of Spectral Audio Descriptors.

Two experiments were conducted for the derivation of psychophysical scales of the following audio descriptors: spectral centroid, spectral spread, spectral skewness, odd-to-even harmonic ratio, spectral deviation, and spectral slope. The stimulus sets of each audio descriptor were synthesized and (wherever possible) independently controlled through appropriate synthesis techniques. Partition scaling methods were used in both experiments, and the scales were constructed by fitting well-behaving functions to the listeners' ratings. In the first experiment, the listeners' task was the estimation of the relative differences between successive levels of a particular audio descriptor. The median values of listeners' ratings increased with increasing feature values, which confirmed listeners' abilities to estimate intervals. However, there was a large variability in the reliability of the derived interval scales depending on the stimulus spacing in each trial. In the second experiment, listeners had control over the stimulus values and were asked to divide the presented range of values into perceptually equal intervals, which provides a ratio scale. For every descriptor, the reliability of the derived ratio scales was excellent. The unit of a particular ratio scale was assigned empirically so as to facilitate qualitative comparisons between the scales of all audio descriptors. The construction of psychophysical scales based on univariate stimuli allowed for the establishment of cause-and-effect relations between audio descriptors and perceptual dimensions, contrary to past research that has relied on multivariate stimuli and has only examined the correlations between the two. Most importantly, this study provides an understanding of the ways in which the sensation magnitudes of several audio descriptors are apprehended.

Response tendencies due to item wording using eye-tracking methodology accounting for individual differences and item characteristics.

The discrepancy of the scores on responses to negatively and positively worded items has led to hypotheses of inattention, confusion, difficulty, and differential processing of negatively worded items. The present study, utilizing eye-tracking methodology, aimed to fill an explanatory gap regarding response behavior, providing observations on the item-level response process. It experimentally examined characteristics of the items (wording type, self-relevance) and characteristics of the respondents (neuroticism, verbal abilities, and mood) for their impact on response outcomes. A sample of 87 university students completed a computerized version of a questionnaire with items presented in four alternative wording types: positive, negative, negated positive, and negated negative; half of the items referred to attitudes toward the self and the other half to attitudes toward others. Participants' eye movements during item completion were recorded with the Gazepoint-GP3-HD desk-mounted eye tracker. In linear mixed effects models, wording type and self-relevance were found to relate to response time, time of viewing and revisits to the body of the items and the response options, indicating that there were effects at the stages of comprehension and selection of response. Neuroticism was associated with differential item responses, suggesting a role in later levels of the response process, the retrieval, judgment, and response selection stages. Eye-tracking measures can enhance the examination of response tendencies with regards to item content, item wording, and person characteristics.

Comparing the Psychometric Properties of Two Japanese-Translated Scales of the Free Will and Determinism-Plus Scale.

The free will and determinism-plus scale (FAD-Plus) is one of the most widely used scales to assess the lay belief of people in the existence of free will and deterministic world views. Past research has translated FAD-Plus into various languages for non-English speaking populations, and there exist two Japanese translations of FAD-Plus: the FAD+ and the FAD-J. This study aimed to compare the psychometric properties of FAD+ and FAD-J. Results revealed that while both FAD+ and FAD-J consist of the same four subscales as the original FAD-Plus, some differences exist in the item-level psychometric characteristics. In general, as for the construct validity, although results supported that both scales can assess almost the same construct in terms of the functionalities, FAD-J tends to be slightly more likely to replicate the correlations obtained in the previous research.

Personalized Nutrition Advice: Preferred Ways of Receiving Information Related to Psychological Characteristics.

The primary goal of this study is to be able to discern specific types of consumers in terms of their psychosocial characteristics who may need different ways of receiving dietary advice. Knowing these types will enable a better fit of advice to consumers' psychosocial characteristics, hereby stimulating healthy eating as the probability of compliance to the advice can potentially increase. The study draws upon several psychological theories to distinguish unique underlying factors that can subsequently be used to personalize nutrition information for consumers. A number of general psychological scales (self-regulation, action and coping self-efficacy, social comparison, intrinsic motivation, health info processing, need for cognition and for affect, and regulatory focus) are filled out by 988 respondents, including their preferences for receiving personalized forms of nutrition advice. The set of joint items from various psychological constructs is analyzed using a Principal Component Analysis to find underlying psychological characteristics. The PCA produces four components (explaining 51% of variation), that could be interpreted as 'intrinsic interest and capabilities for healthy eating,' 'perceived difficulty to eat healthily,' 'self-worth insecurity,' and 'seeking positive challenges,' respectively. By means of a Logistic Regression these components are able to predict preferences for different forms of receiving nutrition advice. This first component shows that a mind set for maintaining a healthy diet goes together with an interest in receiving an advice on what do to and on how that will affect one's health. The second component predicts a preference for a fixed moment to receive information/advice. This may be a strategy of those that perceive difficulties to eat healthily, to help them control their healthy food intake. The insecurity that the third component models seems to lead to a wish for receiving specific advice about their health situation at fixed moments in time. The fourth component is a small component, therefore its prediction of a wish for an advice focussing on prevention of negative consequences is probably not a strong result. The study does point out that there appear different psychosocial types of consumers, that may benefit by being addressed according to their preference for receiving nutrition advice on specific moments, of a specific level of detail or pointing at the type of consequences the advice has. A better fit of the advice to the psychosocial characteristics of the recipient, captured in the identified components in the current study, may lead to an increase in compliance, although that will have to be further investigated in subsequent work.

Association Between Adolescent Internet Gaming and Adult Problematic Web-Based Board Gaming.

Introduction: The results of studies comparing the characteristics of Internet gaming with those of Internet gambling have been controversial. We hypothesized that problematic web-based board gaming behaviors are associated with psychological and social interaction factors. We also hypothesized that non-problematic adolescent Internet gaming is a protective factor against problematic web-based board gaming and that problematic Internet gaming is a predictive factor for problematic web-based board gaming. Methods: We recruited 104 adults who reported engaging in web-based gaming. All participants were asked to complete the Problematic Web Board Gameplay Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (K-AADHD), Family Environmental Scale (FES), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), and questionnaires on their web-based board gaming patterns and Internet gaming history. Results: Problematic web-based board gamers showed a lower history of adolescent Internet gaming but a greater rate of problematic Internet gaming compared with healthy web-based board gamers. Moreover, problematic web-based board gamers showed an increase in CES-D, STAI, K-AADHD, and SADS scores but decreased FES scores compared with healthy web-based board gamers. Joblessness; less experience as an Internet gamer; a history of problematic Internet gaming; higher CES-D, STAI, and K-AADHD scores; and lower FES scores were significant predictors of problematic web-based board gaming. Discussion: Psychological, social, and environmental factors can positively influence problematic Web-based board gaming. Healthy Internet gaming during adolescence may play a preventive role in adult problematic web-based board gaming. However, because adolescent problematic Internet gaming tends to lead to problematic web-based board gaming, measures should be taken to prevent it.

Genetic Testing in Prion Disease: Psychological Consequences of the Decisions to Know or Not to Know.

Purpose: Presymptomatic testing for susceptibility to genetic prion diseases is often delivered in difficult circumstances, as the index case is often dying when a genetic diagnosis is obtained. Since test requests in these diseases are very rare, the factors underlying decisions of relatives to be tested or not and the long-term psychological consequences are not reported. Methods: We contacted subjects who had consulted between 2004 and 2017 because a relative carried a pathological PRNP variant. Standardized psychological scales and semistructured interviews were proposed. Results: We did contact 19 of the 30 subjects who had consulted: 6 of 10 who did not undergo testing, 10 of 12 noncarriers, and 3 of 8 mutation carriers. Anxiety rates were high and similar between noncarriers and untested subjects. Conclusions: Living in a family with inherited prion disease produced psychological burden, regardless of the decision to undergo testing and its results. Decisions in favor of being testing did not allow relief of anxiety about the family disease. The dilemmatic decision not to know remained a burden to be coped with. Genetic counseling procedures should take into account all these situations, even that of noncarriers and that of untested.

Escala ENRICH de satisfação conjugal: adaptação e evidências psicométricas iniciais no Brasil / ENRICH scale for conjugal satisfaction: adaptation and initial psychometricevidence in Brazil

Um relacionamento conjugal satisfatório traz diversos benefícios ao indivíduo, como qualidade de vida e saúde emocional. Este trabalho objetivou adaptar e apresentar evidências de validade de um importante instrumento para avaliação do fenômeno, a escala ENRICH de satisfação conjugal. O estudo apresentou uma amostra de 355 adultos envolvidos em relacionamento conjugal que responderam à versão adaptada para o português da medida. Os resultados a partir de procedimentos fatoriais confirmatórios apontaram uma ferramenta composta por 10 itens com bons indicadores de validade e precisão (coeficientes ômega e alfa de Cronbach de 0,80 e 0,78, respectivamente). Os resultados indicaram ainda a relação negativa entre satisfação conjugal e estresse, bem como a redução da satisfação conjugal em casais com filhos e em coabitação.

A satisfying marriage relationship brings a number of benefits to the individual, such as life satisfaction and emotional health. This work aimed to adapt and present evidence of validity of an important instrument for evaluation of the phenomenon, the ENRICH scale of conjugal satisfaction. The study presented a sample of 355 adults involved in a marital relationship, who answered the adapted version of the measure. The results from confirmatory factorial procedures indicated a tool composed of ten items with good indicators of validity and precision (Omega and Cronbach's coefficients of 0.80 and 0.78, respectively). The results also pointed out the negative relationship between marital satisfaction and stress and indicated a reduction in marital satisfaction in couples with children and in cohabitation.

Determinants for Meaningful Clinical Improvement of Pain and Health-Related Quality of Life After Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Intractable Pain.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies demonstrated significant improvement in mean pain scores and quality of life (QOL) scales in patients with chronic pain who underwent spinal cord stimulation (SCS). However, the number of individuals who experience relevant improvements in QOL, termed the meaningful clinical improvement (MCI), is not known. The present study investigated changes in pain measurements based on MCI after SCS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with chronic intractable pain completed scales of pain (visual analogue scale [VAS]), QOL (SF-36), and psychological dimensions during a 22-month follow-up period (mean). Patient-centered MCI of the VAS and SF-36 domain scores were determined based on the MacNab criteria of surgical global effectiveness. Independent presurgical predictors for MCI in the VAS and SF-36 domains were analyzed using multiple binary logistic regression. RESULTS: There was significant improvement of pain and QOL after the SCS (p < 0.00001). Twenty-three patients (67.6%) reached an MCI of pain, and 16 (47.7%)-23 (67.7%) reported an MCI of QOL. Predictors of MCI included ≥80% paresthesia coverage of the painful area, lower levels of anxiety and catastrophizing symptoms, shorter pain duration, female gender and no use of opioids before surgery. MCI of pain and QOL was observed in 50%-70% of patients with chronic pain after SCS. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of determinants for MCI is a challenge to improve the accuracy of prognostic models in SCS for patients with chronic pain. Our results, if confirmed in other populations with a larger sample size, have implications for patients with chronic pain who are candidates for SCS treatment.

Planejamento da aposentadoria: adaptação brasileira da PRePS e influência de estilos de tomada de decisão / Retirement planning: brazilian adaptation of PRePS and the influence of decision-making styles / Planificación de la jubilación: la adaptación brasileña de la PRePS e influencia de los estilos

A temática do planejamento da aposentadoria tem crescido em importância com o aumento da expectativa de vida e a previsão de déficit previdenciário no Brasil. A fim de fornecer instrumentos que possibilitem a avaliação de aspectos preparatórios para a aposentadoria, este artigo teve como objetivos: (a) adaptar a Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS) para o português brasileiro e (b) verificar a influência de estilos de tomada de decisão no planejamento da aposentadoria. Participaram do estudo 1.290 trabalhadores com idades entre 18 e 69 anos (M=37,06; DP=10,5), sendo a maioria homens (N=944; 73,3%). A versão brasileira da PRePS foi chamada de Escala de Processo de Planejamento da Aposentadoria (EPPlA), e os resultados mostraram que o estilo de tomada de decisão racional influencia positiva e significativamente os quatro âmbitos do planejamento da aposentadoria: saúde, finanças, estilo de vida e psicossocial. Os estilos dependente, intuitivo, espontâneo e evitativo também se mostraram preditores significativos em diferentes dimensões.

Retirement planning has grown in importance with the rising life expectancy and the forecasted social security deficit in Brazil. In order to provide instruments to evaluate aspects of preparation for retirement, this article aimed to: (a) adapt the Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS) to Brazilian Portuguese, and (b) verify the influence of decision-making styles on retirement planning. Participants were 1,290 workers between 18 and 69 years of age (M=37.06; SD=10.5) mostly men (N=944; 73.3%). The Brazilian version of PRePS received the name Escala de Processo de Planejamento da Aposentadoria (EPPlA), and the results of this study showed that rational decision-making style positively and significantly influences all 4 retirement planning spheres: health, finances, life style, and psychosocial. dependent, intuitive, spontaneous, and avoidant styles also proved to be significant predictors in different dimensions.

El tema de la planificación de la jubilación ha crecido en con el aumento de la expectativa de vida y el prognóstico de déficit en las pensiones de jubilación en Brasil. Con el fin de proporcionar herramientas que permitan la evaluación de los aspectos de preparación para la jubilación, este artículo pretende: (a) adaptar la Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS) para portugués brasileño y, (b) investigar la influencia de los estilos de toma de decisiones en la planificación de la jubilación. Participaron del estudio 1290 trabajadores con edades entre 18 y 69 años (M = 37,06; SD = 10,5), la mayoría hombres (N = 944; 73,3%). La versión brasileña de PREPS fue llamada Escala de Processo de Planejamento da Aposentadoria (EPPlA), y los resultados mostraron que el estilo de toma de decisiones racional influencia positiva y significativamente los 4 áreas de planificación de la jubilación: salud, finanzas, estilo de vida y psicosocial. Estilos dependientes, intuitivos, espontáneos y de evitación también fueron predictores significativos en diferentes dimensiones.

Characterizing psychological dimensions in non-pathological subjects through autonomic nervous system dynamics.

The objective assessment of psychological traits of healthy subjects and psychiatric patients has been growing interest in clinical and bioengineering research fields during the last decade. Several experimental evidences strongly suggest that a link between Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) dynamics and specific dimensions such as anxiety, social phobia, stress, and emotional regulation might exist. Nevertheless, an extensive investigation on a wide range of psycho-cognitive scales and ANS non-invasive markers gathered from standard and non-linear analysis still needs to be addressed. In this study, we analyzed the discerning and correlation capabilities of a comprehensive set of ANS features and psycho-cognitive scales in 29 non-pathological subjects monitored during resting conditions. In particular, the state of the art of standard and non-linear analysis was performed on Heart Rate Variability, InterBreath Interval series, and InterBeat Respiration series, which were considered as monovariate and multivariate measurements. Experimental results show that each ANS feature is linked to specific psychological traits. Moreover, non-linear analysis outperforms the psychological assessment with respect to standard analysis. Considering that the current clinical practice relies only on subjective scores from interviews and questionnaires, this study provides objective tools for the assessment of psychological dimensions.

Quantitative research of perception of tongue color in traditional Chinese medicine / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To quantify the changes of tongue color with the development of the disease according to the characteristics of human vision.Methods Psychological scales of tongue color perception were obtained from thc psychophysical experiments.Polynomial regression and support vector regression (SVR) were used to establish the mathematical model between the physical values and the psychological scales of tongue color.Results The psychological scales exported from the model could correspond to the visual perception of tongue color change, and SVR has higher accuracy.Conclusions The psychological scale, can not only quantitatively evaluate the tongue color in the development of the disease, but also quantify the degree of disease, to assist the doctors for disease diagnosis and treatment.

Configurações e consequências de investimento afetivo em relacionamentos românticos / Configuration and affective consequences of investing in romantic relationships

O presente estudo busca compreender como diferentes configurações de investimento afetivo nos relacionamentos românticos associam-se com aspectos de qualidade conjugal eoutros construtos psicossocias, tais como crenças e habilidades sociais. Participaram, no total, 650 pessoas, sendo 310 (47,3%) do sexo masculino. A média de idade dos participantes foi de23,6 anos (DP = 6,9 anos). Entre os participantes do estudo, 283 (43,5%) declararam estarem envolvidos num relacionamento romântico no momento da pesquisa e 367 (56,5%) não estarmais envolvido com o parceiro(a) de relacionamento. Os resultados do estudo demonstram que níveis mais elevados de investimento afetivo associam-se a qualidade no relacionamento, a intimidade, a paixão, ao compromisso e a crenças de amor racionais e amistosas. Estes dados lançam luz sobre aspectos importantes do relacionamento romântico.

The present study aims to understand how different configurations of affectiveinvestment in romantic relationships are associated with aspects of marital quality and other psychosocial constructs, such as beliefs and social skills. Participated in the study 650 people, 310 (47.3%) were male participants. The average age of participants was 23.6 years (SD = 6.9 years). Among the participants, 283 (43.5%) reported being involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the survey and 367 (56.5%) reported being no longer involved in romantic relationship. The study results show that higher levels of affective investment are associated with maritalquality, intimacy, passion, commitment and beliefs of rational and friendly love. These data shed light on important aspects of romantic relationship.

Configurações e consequências de investimento afetivo em relacionamentos românticos / Configuration and affective consequences of investing in romantic relationships

O presente estudo busca compreender como diferentes configurações de investimento afetivo nos relacionamentos românticos associam-se com aspectos de qualidade conjugal eoutros construtos psicossocias, tais como crenças e habilidades sociais. Participaram, no total, 650 pessoas, sendo 310 (47,3%) do sexo masculino. A média de idade dos participantes foi de23,6 anos (DP = 6,9 anos). Entre os participantes do estudo, 283 (43,5%) declararam estarem envolvidos num relacionamento romântico no momento da pesquisa e 367 (56,5%) não estarmais envolvido com o parceiro(a) de relacionamento. Os resultados do estudo demonstram que níveis mais elevados de investimento afetivo associam-se a qualidade no relacionamento, a intimidade, a paixão, ao compromisso e a crenças de amor racionais e amistosas. Estes dados lançam luz sobre aspectos importantes do relacionamento romântico. (AU)

The present study aims to understand how different configurations of affectiveinvestment in romantic relationships are associated with aspects of marital quality and other psychosocial constructs, such as beliefs and social skills. Participated in the study 650 people, 310 (47.3%) were male participants. The average age of participants was 23.6 years (SD = 6.9 years). Among the participants, 283 (43.5%) reported being involved in a romantic relationship at the time of the survey and 367 (56.5%) reported being no longer involved in romantic relationship. The study results show that higher levels of affective investment are associated with maritalquality, intimacy, passion, commitment and beliefs of rational and friendly love. These data shed light on important aspects of romantic relationship. (AU)

Qualidade de vida no trabalho: construção e validação de um instrumento de medida para enfermeiras / Quality of life at work: construction and validation of a measurement instrument for nurses

Trata-se de um estudo de desenvolvimento metodológico que teve por objetivo construir e validar um instrumento para medir a QVT de enfermeiras. A metodologia utilizada foi baseada nos procedimentos teóricos, empíricos e analíticos propostos por Pasquali para a elaboração de instrumentos psicométricos. Os procedimentos teóricos visaram a explicitação do construto que o instrumento se propõe a medir, bem como a sua operacionalização em ítens. esta etapa optou-se por adotar o modelo proposto por Eda Conte Fernandes, como ponto de partida; os indicadores de QVT, específicos para as enfermeiras, foram obtidos por uma pesquisa qualitativa, junto a 70 enfermeiras, utilizando-se a análise de conteúdo segundo Bardin. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a construção de um instrumento, que foi submetido à análise da adequação semântica e conceitual dos ítens, por um painel de 8 peritos. O pré-teste deste instrumento foi realizado com uma amostra de 50 enfermeiras. Os procedimentos empíricos compreenderam a etapa quantitativa para avaliação da confiabilidade e validade do instrumento resultante, mediante aplicação do mesmo a uma amostra de 348 enfermeiras. Ambas as etapas foram realizadas em 4 hospitais da cidade de São Paulo (2 governamentais e 2 da rede privada). Os procedimentos analíticos compreenderam a análise da validade do instrumento (de construto, convergente, discriminante e concorrente) e da confiabilidade (alfa de Cronbach). Este estudo resultou na criação de um instrumento composto por 65 itens e 13 domínios, com índices de confiabilidade altamente satisfatórios (Alfa total de 0,93 e nos domínios, variando de 0,92 a 0,93.

The objective of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for measuring the quality of working life of nurses. This is a methodological study using the theoretical, empirical and analytical procedures recommended by Luis Pasquali, for psychological scale construction. Theoretical procedures included the literature review on the subject and the adoption of the model proposed by Eda Conte Fernandes, as a starting point. In this phase, a qualitative research with a sample of 70 nurses was performed to identify speficic elements of the construct for nurses. Bardin's method of content analysis were used. A instrument was obtained which was submitted to a panel of the eight judges for semantic and conceptual analysis of the items. Then, the instrument was pre-tested in a sample of 50 nurses. Empirical procedures included a quantitative research gathering empirical evidence of the psychological qualities of the instrument, which were explored using data from 348 nurses. both studies (qualitative and quantitative) were performed in four hospitals in São Paulo city - two public and two private. Analyticak procedures included the statistical analysis to test the instrument validity (construct, convergent, discriminant and concurrent) and reliability (Cronbach' Alpha). This study allowed the constuction of an instrument composed by 65 items and 13 domains, achieving highly satisfactory relisbility (Alpnha of 0,93, for the total items and domains' Alpha between 0,92 and 0,93.