Configural Invariance Research Articles

Factorial structure, measurement invariance and reliability of the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC) in a sample of Portuguese parents

Emotion regulation is important for socioemotional and mental health development, with lifelong implications. The Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC; Shields & Cicchetti, 1997) is a widely used tool to assess emotional regulation and dysregulation in children. Despite wide use and translate into several languages, inconsistent findings have been found in its factorial structure across studies. This study addresses this gap by examining the factorial structure, reliability, and measurement invariance of the ERC in a Portuguese sample. A sample of 789 parents (mostly mothers, 90.9%) with children between 3 to 12 years old (49.3% preschoolers and 50.7% School-age) completed the scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that the original two-factor model (Emotion Regulation and Lability/Negativity) reached an acceptable fit, however three items had to be removed, and two item residuals correlated. Full invariance was achieved regarding boys and girls. While, regarding age, only configural invariance was achieved, meaning that, different loadings should be expected between preschool and school-age children. Considering the final model the Cronbach’s alphas (α) was .66 for Emotion Regulation and .80 for Lability/Negativity. These findings provide some support for the use of the Portuguese parents’ version of the ERC with preschool and school-age children.

The Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9-Short Form: longitudinal measurement invariance across a three-year interval

ABSTRACT Objective Internet gaming disorder (IGD) refers to persistent, recurrent, and excessive involvement with computer or video games that cannot be controlled, despite associated problems. Given that it has been relatively stable for several years, questionnaires measuring IGD need to demonstrate measurement invariance (i.e. consistency in its measurement properties when administrated repeatedly over time), to ensure accurate measurement over time. This longitudinal study examined invariance of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9-Short Form (IGDS9-SF5), which measures Internet gaming disorder (IGD) symptoms, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria. Method Participants were recruited from English speaking countries (e.g. Australia, USA, UK and Canada). A total of 276 adults (mean age = 31.86 years; SD = 9.94; males = 71%) provided responses to an online survey (including demographic questions and the IGDS9-SF) at three time points one year apart (2020/21/22). Results When the chi-square difference (∆χ2) test was applied, the results supported configural invariance, full metric invariance, error variances, and invariance for all structural components (latent variances and covariances). However, scalar invariance was not observed for three item intercepts (tolerance, preoccupation, and giving up other activities). For all three items, the scores were higher at time 1 than time 2 and time 3. Conclusion The findings indicate that IGDS9-SF observed scores across yearly intervals are generally free from scaling and measurement biases, making them reliable for monitoring the progression of IGD symptoms and evaluating clinical treatment effects over time.

Dimensionality, Sensitivity and Specificity of Different Versions of the Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire/Measure in Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations.

The Shirom-Melamed Burnout Questionnaire/Measure (SMBQ/SMBM) is a self-report instrument frequently used for assessing degree of burnout and screening for stress-related exhaustion disorder. The aim of the present study was three-fold. First, to examine reliability and construct validity of different versions of SMBM with 6-22 items in a clinical context. Second, to examine the criterion validity by assessing sensitivity and specificity and determining clinical cut-offs for these versions of the SMBM, and third to examine the prevalence of burnout in a general population and primary care sample using the proposed cut-offs. Two Swedish samples were used for the first two purposes: a clinical sample of patients diagnosed with exhaustion disorder (n=149), and a matched sample of healthy controls (n=60). For the third purpose a sample from the general population (n=3406), and a primary care clinical sample (n=326) was used. The modified versions of the SMBM showed good internal consistency, construct validity, dimensionality and model fit on the clinical exhaustion disorder sample, as well as configural measurement invariance across clinical and non-clinical samples. The sensitivity (94.6%-95.3%) and specificity (93.3%-95.0%) in identifying cases with exhaustion disorder based on the cut-off of 4.0 for the 19-, 16- and 11-items versions, and on the cut-off of 3.75 for the 6-item version was high. The prevalence of burnout was 81.2% in the primary care sample and 16.6% in the general population sample. The findings indicate that the SMBM is a useful instrument for screening for exhaustion disorder and burnout.

First psychometric evaluation of the Mexican Spanish version of the 11-item BPFSC-11 and convergence with maladaptive self and interpersonal functioning.

The Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children (BPFSC-11) is a well-used, short, and easy-to-administer measure of borderline traits in young people. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mexican Spanish version of the BPFSC-11 in a large community-based sample of Mexican adolescents. In addition, we evaluated the convergence between the borderline construct as measured by the BPFSC-11 and general personality functioning consistent with more contemporary personality disorder formulations to assess the nomological net of the BPFSC-11 total score. A sample of 1212 adolescents (52.6% female, mean age = 15.11, SD = 1.74) were recruited from the community through schools in Mexico City and Michoacán area. Reliability of the BPFSC-11 was good (α = 0.805; ω = 0.806). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model testing the unidimensional factor structure of the 11 items of the BPFSC-11 provided good fit (X2[44] = 137.96, p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.04 [90% CI: 0.03, 0.05]; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.96; standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.03). Both configural and metric invariance for gender and age were demonstrated; however, only partial scalar invariance could be demonstrated with some items showing "bias" for gender and age. The Mexican Spanish BPFSC-11 also showed strong convergence with measures assessing contemporary conceptualization of general personality functioning. The Mexican Spanish BPFSC-11 appears to show similarly strong psychometric properties of other versions of the BPFSC-11; and the borderline construct as assessed with the BPFSC-11 shows good conversion with general personality functioning in adolescents.

Development and validation of countertransference feeling and behavior awareness measures in an Italian and American clinician sample

Objective Countertransference (CT) has been shown to interfere with therapy goals, and its management is crucial to desired treatment outcomes. As a first step, a clinician's awareness of their covert and overt CT reactions is critical to successfully managing CT. Research on CT awareness is scarce, however, mainly because of difficulties in empirically investigating and measuring this construct. In this study, we sought to develop and validate two instruments: one to measure CT feelings and one to measure CT behaviors. Method We developed the Countertransference Feelings Awareness Measure and the Countertransference Behavior Awareness Measure, both composed of 12 items comprising 3 dimensions: dominant, hostile and distant. A sample of 245 Italian and 110 American clinicians participated in the research. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify the factor structure of the measures. Reliability and invariance analyses were conducted for both measures and both samples. Results Factorial structure, reliability, and configural invariance across nationalities of both measures were confirmed. Conclusion These tools should prove useful for future research, supervision, theoretical advances, and clinical application, allowing a deeper understanding of how clinicians' awareness of different elements of their CT experience impacts the outcome of therapy..

Cross-cultural validity of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory for ICD-11 across nine countries and validation of a French translation.

This study aimed to assess measurement invariance for the Five-Factor Inventory for ICD-11 (Oltmanns & Widiger, 2020) across nine national samples from four continents (n = 6,342), and to validate a French translation in seven French-speaking national samples. All were convenience samples of adults. Exploratory factor analyses supported a four-factor structure in the French-speaking Western samples (Belgium, Canada, France, and Switzerland) while a three-factor structure was preferred in the French-speaking African samples (Burkina Faso and Togo), and no adequate structure was found in the Indian sample. Factor congruence with the original American sample was excellent for the Western samples but not for the non-Western samples. Exploratory bifactor analyses led to similar results, with the g-factor essentially reflecting one of the first-order factors observed in the exploratory factor analyses. Support for configural, metric, scalar (partial), and strict invariance was obtained across the six Western samples, as well as across the two African samples. Support for criterion validity of the Five-Factor Inventory for ICD-11 scales was also obtained, with relevant associations between scale scores and the presence of a mental health diagnosis and consulting a mental health professional, but validity was lower in the non-Western samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Conditional symmetries and conditional constants of motion for dynamical systems

Conditional symmetries were introduced by Levi and Winternitz in their 1989 seminal paper to deal with nonlinear PDEs. Here we discuss their application in the framework of ODEs, and more specifically Dynamical Systems; it turns out they are closely related to two established -- albeit maybe less widely known -- concepts, i.e. orbital symmetries and configurational invariants. The paper is devoted to studying the interplay of these notions, and their application in the study of Dynamical Systems, with special attention to invariant manifolds of these.

Factor structure and measurement invariance of the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI) across parents and teachers in Portuguese children

ABSTRACT The Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI) is a rating scale that evaluates everyday behaviors associated with executive functions in children. This study aimed to investigate the factor structure and the measurement invariance across parents and teachers of the CHEXI in a sample of 279 Portuguese typically developing children (6 to 12 years old, n = 160 girls and n = 119 boys). Most studies only analyzed the original two-factor model, and the few that investigated the four-factor model found a nearly identical fit between both factor structures. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test five competing factor models and the four-factor models (slightly better than the two-factor model) demonstrated the most adequate fit to the data for both parents and teachers. The CHEXI showed adequate reliability and convergent validity with the BRIEF2. The measurement invariance of the four-factor model across parents and teachers was fully supported (configural, metric, and scalar invariance). Overall, the CHEXI showed adequate psychometric properties, suggesting that is a useful instrument to assess executive functioning based on reports of behaviors observed by parents and teachers in Portuguese typically developing children.

Factor structure and longitudinal measurement invariance of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during the whole perinatal period: a multicenter cohort study in China

BackgroundPerinatal depression is common worldwide, which can cause many adverse effects on the physical and mental health of the mother and baby, as well as the whole family. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is an efficient and effective instrument for perinatal depression. However, few studies have examined its longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI) during the whole perinatal period, which is particularly important in longitudinal studies, such as exploring developmental trajectories of perinatal depression and evaluating the effects of certain interventions.Methods4139 pregnant women from 24 hospitals in 15 provinces of China were measured using EPDS in the first, second, third trimesters and 6 weeks postpartum. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to explore the factor structure of EPDS at each time point. Multi-group analyses were performed to examine LMI of EPDS.ResultsA three-factor model was optimal at all time points, showing the clearest factor structure and best model fit: Anhedonia (Items 1–2), Anxiety (Items 3–6), Depression (Items 7–10). Internal reliability of EPDS was good at all time points (e.g., Cronbach’s α > 0.80). A series of multi-group analyses further indicated that the EPDS held strict LMI (configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance) during the perinatal period.ConclusionThe findings further confirmed three-factor structure and good reliability of the EPDS when used in Chinese pregnant and postpartum women. The LMI justified comparisons of EPDS scores among different measurement time points.

Italian adaptation and psychometric analysis of the moral foundations questionnaire 2

Abstract Within the framework of Moral Foundations Theory (MFT; Haidt &amp; Graham, Social Justice Research, 20(1), 98–116, 2007; Haidt &amp; Joseph, Daedalus, 133(4), 55–66, 2004), the aim of the present study is to adapt and discuss the psychometric features of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire 2 (MFQ-2; Atari et al., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2023) in the Italian context. Utilizing a sample of 947 Italian adults, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted, which confirmed the six-factor solution initially proposed for the MFQ-2. Each moral foundation demonstrated acceptable reliability, underscoring the robustness of the questionnaire’s internal consistency. Correlation analyses between the MFQ-2 and MFQ-1 dimensions indicate a significant consistency across the dimensions of both versions, affirming the convergent validity of the MFQ-2. Additionally, Multi-Group Confirmatory Analyses (MGCFAs) indicated that the MFQ-2 exhibits configural invariance across genders. Despite several limitations, this study provides precious insights into the adaptation process of the MFQ-2 for the Italian cultural context, contributing to a broader understanding of the MFT in Italy.

Psychometric properties of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) in adult Mexican cancer patients with chronic pain.

Pain is a frequent symptom in cancer patients (CP), and its multidimensional assessment is essential for a comprehensive approach and to establish clinical prognoses. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) is an internationally recognized tool for the multidimensional assessment of pain, both in clinical and research settings. However, no studies have been reported in Latin America that determine its psychometric properties in CP and chronic pain. To determine the psychometric properties of the SF-MPQ in adult Mexican cancer patients with chronic pain. An instrumental design was used with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 cancer patients treated at the pain clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Analyses were conducted to evaluate factorial structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]), reliability (internal consistency), measurement invariance, and criterion validity (concurrent and divergent). CFA verified a 9-item structure divided into 2 factors: (1) Affective-Nociceptive and (2) Neuropathic. A global Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .82 and a global McDonald's Omega index of .82 were identified. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance (ΔCFI ≤ .01; ΔRMSEA ≤ .015) were confirmed regarding the sex variable. Finally, the SF-MPQ showed a positive correlation with the Numerical Rating Scale (rho = .436, p< .01) and a negative correlation with the EORTC-QLQ C30 (rho = -.396, p< .01). The Mexican version of the SF-MPQ presented adequate psychometric properties and fit indices, making it a valid and reliable instrument for use in clinical and research settings in Mexico. Its use is recommended for the comprehensive assessment of pain in oncology in Mexico, as it allows for the understanding of pain characteristics beyond intensity, guiding the establishment of clinical prognoses.

Validation of an observational tool for assessing mother-child and father-child interactions in Mara, Tanzania.

A strong body of evidence has underscored the cross-cultural importance of nurturing parent-child relationships for promoting early child development outcomes. However, most research on parenting has predominantly relied on self-reported measures collected from mothers. Observational tools for assessing parent-child interactions from not only mothers but also fathers remains limited, especially in Majority World contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of an observational tool for assessing mother-child and father-child dyadic interactions in rural Mara, Tanzania. Specifically, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine the dimensionality of the measure, tested measurement invariance by parental gender, and assessed its predictive validity with early child development outcomes. We analyzed data from 1,690 parent-child dyads (927 mother-child dyads and 763 father-child dyads) with children under 2 years of age. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor model with good model fit and acceptable internal consistency and interrater reliability between trained coders. While the measure demonstrated configural invariance by parental gender, it did not meet the criteria for metric or scalar invariance, indicating that maternal and paternal scores cannot be directly compared. Nonetheless, regression analyses showed positive associations between mother-child and father-child interaction scores and children's later development. Our findings establish the reliability and predictive validity of this observational tool for assessing early parent-child interactions in rural Tanzania. Future research directions and methodological considerations for using this observational tool with both mothers and fathers in Majority World countries are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychometric proprieties analyses of psychological vulnerability scale for secondary school students.

The concept of psychological vulnerability is associated with the individual's maladaptive cognitive beliefs, such as self-criticism, perfectionism, and the need for external validation and approval, reducing the individual's ability to cope with negative life experiences. This study aimed to explore psychometric proprieties of the Psychological Vulnerability Scale in secondary school students. A psychometric study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of 1,875 secondary school students (55.5% female) aged 15 to over 18 years. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire that included demographic information, the Psychological Vulnerability Scale, and a Positive Mental Health questionnaire. Analysis revealed acceptable skewness values (between -0.557 and 0.6385) and kurtosis (ranging from -1.29 to -0.704). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated excellent global fit indices, confirming the original structure. Invariance testing between genders demonstrated that the Psychological Vulnerability Scale was consistent for boys and girls (configural invariance) and that each item contributed similarly to the construct (metric invariance). The Psychological Vulnerability Scale showed good internal consistency, with an ordinal Cronbach's alfa above 0.70. Reliability estimates, including inter-item reliability or MacDonald's Omega, indicated mean item-inter correlations falling within the recommended range of 0.15-0.50. The Psychological Vulnerability Scale is a reliable tool that allows health professionals to assess the psychological vulnerability of individuals in both clinical (e.g., hospitals, health centers) and non-clinical (e.g., schools, universities) contexts throughout the life cycle (e.g., young people, adults, and older adults).

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.

The structure and correlates of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire among U.S. racial/ethnic groups.

Research on externalizing psychopathology has relied heavily on White samples to generate core knowledge, with few studies examining variability in its components, including grandiose narcissism, across racial/ethnic groups. This preregistered (https://osf.io/n4s3f/) study addressed the following research questions: (1) Is there evidence for measurement invariance of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ) across racial/ethnic groups?; (2) Are there racial/ethnic group differences in (a) mean levels of the two NARQ subscales: admiration and rivalry, and (b) correlations between NARQ subscales and self-esteem?; (3) Do variations in ethnic identity commitment account for any observed group differences in the mean levels and correlations? The sample consisted of 1,248 U.S. adults between ages 18 and 30, evenly divided among those self-identifying as Black, Latine, and White. Both Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling indicated the intended two-factor structure across groups demonstrated configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance. Group mean differences were most pronounced for the admiration subscale, with Black adults scoring higher than White (d = 0.63) and Latine adults (d = 0.46-0.47). Black-White mean differences in admiration were reduced by half when accounting for group differences in ethnic identity commitment. As admiration captures assertive self-promotion, participants identifying strongly as Black may endorse greater agency as an adaptive response to marginalization. Black-Latine mean differences were unaffected by group differences in ethnic identity commitment. This article highlights the importance of, and provides a framework for, psychometric examinations before interpreting group mean differences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Appropriateness of Using Numeric Rating Scales to Assess Risk Perceptions for Individuals with Limited Health Numeracy

ObjectiveNumeric rating scales (NRSs) could be inappropriate for assessing constructs such as risk perception if individuals with limited health numeracy (LHN) have difficulty expressing their perceptions on such scales. This paper compares the psychometric functioning of numerical risk perception ratings for an e-cigarette obtained from LHN individuals, comparing them to those from individuals with adequate health numeracy (AHN). MethodsIn a randomized trial of a risk-related message (not evaluated here), participants (N=12,557) used NRSs to rate their perception of (1) overall risk of harm (from 0%-100% harmful to health), and (2) likelihood (0-100%) of suffering four tobacco-related diseases from using e-cigarettes; and used a 4-point adjectival scale (‘not at all harmful’ to ‘very harmful’) to rate the harm of using e-cigarettes. Based on the Newest Vital Sign (NVS), 29% of participants were classified as LHN. ResultsNumeric ratings of e-cigarette harm in LHN and AHN groups showed a nearly identical and equally strong relationship to verbal perceived risk ratings. Analyses of disease-specific ratings as a unidimensional scale demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance between ratings from LHN and AHN individuals. ConclusionLHN individuals are able to make meaningful ratings using numeric scales, comparable to those from AHN individuals.

Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity-Revised (PIOS-R) Across Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Groups

The revised Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS-R) is widely used. Support for its factor structure is mixed across either a two-factor or a bifactor model. Normed on a primarily Christian sample, researchers use the PIOS-R to examine scrupulosity across religious groups. This study’s primary aims were to clarify the PIOS-R’s factor structure in a religiously diverse sample and determine whether the PIOS-R shows measurement invariance across religious groups. A secondary aim was to evaluate psychometric properties. U.S. participants (N = 718) who self-reported as Christian, Jewish, or Muslim were recruited using MTurk. Multiple group CFA indicated that a two-factor solution comprised of Fear of God (FOG) and Fear of Sin (FOS) provided the best-fitting model. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance held across religious groups. Internal consistency was strong for the full scale (ωt = .96) and both FOS (ωt = .95) and FOG (ωt = .92) subscales. The PIOS-R was more strongly correlated with DOCS Scrupulosity (r = .71) than with DASS-21 Depression (r = .58), DASS-21 Anxiety (r = .66), or a measure of religiosity (SCSRFQ; r = .36), supporting relative discriminant validity. The PIOS-R appears appropriate for assessing scrupulosity within and among these religious groups.

Measurement invariance of the PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5 across eight countries and samples with diverse trauma experiences

AbstractThe PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5 (PCL‐5) is a well‐known tool for measuring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Although the tool has been translated into many different languages, only one study, conducted in European countries, has examined measurement invariance (MI) across these versions. The present study aimed to verify PCL‐5 MI in eight countries: Argentina, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Poland, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. All samples included at least 200 participants. Regarding trauma type, the highest number of individuals reported experiencing a traffic accident (n = 3,128) and/or physical assault (n = 2,609), and the fewest reported captivity (n = 575) and/or contributing to someone else's harm, injury, or death (n = 559). A symptom structure model based on DSM‐5 criteria showed a satisfactory fit to the data, χ2(164, N = 4,064) = 2,571.18, p &lt; .001, robust CFI = .931, robust RMSEA = .078, 90% CI [.075, .081], robust TLI = .920, SRMR = .037. Data fit and invariance were obtained with regard to identical structure and factor loadings (configural and metric invariance) as well as for the partial scalar invariance (equal intercepts). In all samples, PTSD symptoms were strongly or moderately positively correlated with levels of depressive, anxiety, and stress‐related symptoms and moderately or weakly positively correlated with COVID‐19–related stressors, emotional stability/neuroticism, and emotional reactivity. The results indicate that the PCL‐5 is a generally effective measure of universal indicators of PTSD across different countries.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the 11-item ostracism experience scale for adolescents (OES-A) in community adolescents

ABSTRACT We aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Ostracism Experience Scale (OES) for adolescents. A total of 505 high school students participated in this study (mean age = 16.66 ± 1.10 years, 52.7% females). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided support to the two-factor model originally proposed. All indices suggested that the configural, metric, and scalar invariance were supported across gender. Composite reliability of scores was adequate in the total sample for the total scale (ω = .89/α = .89), as well as the ignored (ω = .89/α = .89) and excluded (ω = .91/α = .91) subscales. Ostracism total scores were associated with more physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility, as well as lower self-esteem. The findings of this study give credence to the use of the Arabic version of the OES-A short form among Arabic-speaking adolescent boys and girls and support its use as a self-report screening tool for ostracism.

Eating Pathology and Interoceptive Sensibility Using the Brief Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-2: Can There be Too Much of a Good Thing?

This study evaluated the factorial structure and invariance of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-v2 (MAIA-2). We also investigated incremental validity of the MAIA-2 factors for predicting eating pathology beyond appetite-based interoception. US-based online respondents (N = 1294; M age=48.7 ± 18.4; 63% cis women; 78% White) were sampled. We conducted hierarchical stepwise regressions, dominance analysis, and multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses across age, gender, and eating disorder symptoms. An 8-factor, 24-item Brief MAIA-2 (BMAIA-2) model showed optimal fit. Using strict criteria ( Δ CFI > 0.002), configural, metric, and scalar invariance were supported. After controlling for appetite-based interoception, higher scores on body listening, noticing, and emotional awareness unexpectedly predicted worse eating pathology, while higher scores on not worrying, not distracting, and trusting predicted less eating pathology, as hypothesized. Dominance analysis showed no subscales contributed >2% unique variance to global disordered eating beyond appetite-based interoception. For loss of control eating, however, not worrying was the dominant BMAIA-2 predictor, explaining 5% unique variance beyond appetite-based interoception. Research supported the relevance of multiple interoceptive sensibility dimensions captured by the BMAIA-2 to understanding eating-based pathology. Future studies should consider assessing its incremental validity using behavioral tasks and autonomic biomarkers of interoception to better understand the complex interplay among interoceptive skills and eating behavior.