Negative symptoms of schizophrenia demonstrate measurement bias across sociodemographic variables.

Although borderline personality disorder (BPD) is more frequently diagnosed among sexual minority individuals than heterosexual individuals, it is unclear the degree to which this disparity reflects differences in symptom expression, diagnostic bias, or some combination of the two. Among treatment-seeking adults with BPD (N = 121, Mage = 28.4; 76% female, 89% White, and 57% sexual minority), we examined differential item functioning (DIF) and group differences in symptom severity using self-reported and clinician-administered BPD measures (Zanarini Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder-Self-Rated, Zanarini Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder-Clinician-Rated, Structural Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth edition-Personality Disorders). Although there was no evidence of DIF for any self-reported item, sexual minority participants endorsed self-injurious behaviors (B = 0.63, p = .01), stress-related paranoia or dissociation (B = 0.62, p = .01), efforts to avoid abandonment (B = 0.53, p = .02), and unstable relationships (B = 0.54, p = .03) more often than heterosexual participants on average, contributing to greater past-week total symptomatology (B = 3.88, p < .01). Clinician-administered items assessing self-injurious behaviors exhibited uniform DIF and were "easier" to endorse for sexual minority participants. Furthermore, assessors rated self-injurious behaviors for sexual minority participants more often over the past week (B = 0.51, p < .01) and past 2 years (odds ratio = 3.58, p < .01) than heterosexual participants, and affective instability over the past 2 years (odds ratio = 4.00, p < .05). These results suggest that patients and assessors interpreted most BPD items similarly, while emphasizing the need for nuanced examination of symptomatology and cultural competence in clinical practice to ensure accurate evaluation of BPD across diverse groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Do somatic symptoms bias depression screening? Reliability and equivalence of PHQ-8 in those with and without chronic pain: A nationally representative study of U.S. adults.

The Color-Blind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS; Neville et al., 2000) is a widely used measure of color-blind racial ideology, a belief system that minimizes the significance of race and race-based systemic inequities. Despite its widespread use and promise, questions remain regarding the CoBRAS's dimensionality and the validity of its scores across race and gender. This preregistered study evaluated the CoBRAS's psychometric properties using full-information factor analysis within an item response theory framework. Measurement invariance across race and gender was evaluated at both the scale and item level using multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis and differential item functioning tests. Data were drawn from four cross-sectional samples (Ntotal = 4,010). Participants who identified as Asian, Black, or White and cisgender were included in the main analyses to optimize sample size for comparisons. Factor analytic results supported a bifactor structure comprising a general dimension of color-blind racial attitudes with three specific dimensions. A reduced 18-item set excluding two misfitting items performed comparably to the full-scale overall, with modest fit gains in race-group models. Configural invariance was supported across race and gender. However, metric and scalar invariance were not supported across racial groups, suggesting that individuals from different racial backgrounds may interpret and respond to CoBRAS items differently. Across gender, the 20-item scale demonstrated configural and metric invariance but not scalar invariance, whereas the reduced item set demonstrated full configural, metric, and scalar invariance. The findings highlight the value of advanced psychometric methods in enhancing the precision of measures of sociocultural phenomena across diverse populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Robust measurement of gender-related beliefs and attitudes is essential for understanding how gender norms operate in higher-education settings. However, little is known about how these constructs are structured among Ghanaian university students or whether widely used instruments retain validity in this context. This study examined the factor structure, reliability, and measurement invariance of adapted versions of the Gender Norm Attitudes Scale (GNAS) and Gender Equitable Men (GEM) Scale among Sociology and Social Work students in Ghana. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 631 students (98.3% response rate) from two public universities, split for Explorative Factor Analysis (EFA) (n = 339) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) (n = 364). EFA used principal axis factoring with oblique rotation on polychoric correlation matrices; parallel analysis guided factor retention. CFA was estimated under maximum likelihood and WLSMV estimators. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Measurement invariance was tested across sex, university, programme, and year level using the standard nested sequence of configural, metric, and scalar models, and was evaluated by changes in fit indices (ΔCFI, ΔRMSEA, ΔTLI, and ΔSRMR); differential item functioning (DIF) was assessed using ordinal logistic regression. Data were managed and described using SPSS Version 32; all factor-analytic, reliability, invariance, and DIF analyses were conducted in R (psych and lavaan packages). The GNAS yielded a two-factor, 11-item structure reflecting beliefs supporting men's privileges (α = 0.824, ω = 0.868) and equity for girls and women (α = 0.830, ω = 0.898), with strong fit (CFI = 0.960; TLI = 0.949; RMSEA = 0.057). Polychoric EFA confirmed this, indicating ordinal estimation did not alter the solution. After empirically driven item reduction, the adapted GEM Scale emerged as a modified version of the original instrument, with narrower domain coverage and near-complete loss of the Reproductive Health and Disease Prevention domain; the retained 16-item, four-factor structure covered violence, domestic chores and daily life, sexual relationships, and household authority and obedience, explaining 52.6% of variance with acceptable fit (CFI = 0.888; TLI = 0.865; RMSEA = 0.058), though the Household Authority and Obedience factor rested on only two items and the subscales showing weak Cronbach's alpha values. The students generally rejected inequitable norms, though attitudes toward household authority and domestic roles were more variable. For the GNAS, configural and metric invariance held across sex and university (ΔCFI ≤ 0.005); scalar invariance held across university (ΔCFI = 0.006) and was only partial across sex (ΔCFI = 0.022). For the adapted GEM Scale, metric invariance held across university (ΔCFI = 0.006) but not sex (ΔCFI = 0.016), and scalar invariance was not supported in either grouping. Although preliminary, the adapted GNAS shows acceptable structural validity, adequate-to-strong reliability, and metric invariance across sex and university and scalar invariance across university. In contrast, the adapted GEM Scale should be interpreted cautiously as a substantially modified measure with reduced domain coverage and less stable invariance properties, for which scalar invariance is not yet established. Further validation, confirmation of these invariance results using ordinal (WLSMV) estimators, and exploration of 5- or 7-point response formats are needed before either adapted scale is used confidently in broader research or programme evaluation.

Differential test functioning (DTF) evaluates whether a test exhibits group differences beyond those attributable to latent trait differences. Its magnitude is often most interpretable on the raw-score scale. However, most existing DTF effect size measures rely on item response theory (IRT) modeling. Building on the renewed practical value of sum scores, this study proposes a simple observed-score-based approach to estimate the DTF magnitude directly in raw-score points. The proposed Index S stratifies examinees by an anchor-based sum score composed of items not flagged for differential item functioning (DIF), summarizes the within-stratum mean differences in total test scores, and aggregates these conditional differences using weights based on the observed distribution of the matching variable. To stabilize the estimation when score strata are sparse, adjacent strata are merged to satisfy a minimum per-group sample size requirement, and Index S_std provides a standardized version. We evaluated the indices using two-parameter logistic (2PL) simulation studies by varying the sample size, test length, DIF type, DIF proportion, DIF direction, and focal group latent trait distribution. The utility was assessed in terms of estimation accuracy, including Bias and root mean square error (RMSE), and correlation with established IRT-based DTF indices. An empirical application to TIMSS 2023 Grade 8 mathematics (Japan vs. the United States) illustrates how the proposed indices provide an accessible raw-score interpretation of the DTF magnitude for both psychometric and non-psychometric stakeholders.

Standardized trauma assessment frameworks often fail to account for the unique experiences and symptom presentations of minoritized populations, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, leading to methodological inequity. This paper addresses critical gaps in trauma assessment research practices by examining the limitations of DSM-centric definitions, which exclude systemic, structural, and identity-based trauma exposure and culturally relevant trauma-related distress. We then explore how behaviorally specific language impacts trauma disclosure and reporting discrepancies, noting that traditional labels may lead to the underreporting of sexual violence experiences in SGM and BIPOC communities. Next, we discuss the integration of community-engaged research and intersectional frameworks in developing culturally relevant assessment tools, such as the SGM Adverse Childhood Experiences (SGM‑ACEs) scale. Psychometrically, we then highlight the necessity of establishing measurement invariance to mitigate differential item functioning and measurement bias, ensuring that observed differences in posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity reflect true clinical variation rather than instrument artifacts. The paper concludes with clinical and policy recommendations, emphasizing cultural humility, the use of validated tools for specific populations, and institutional shifts toward methodological equity to prevent iatrogenic harm and improve outcomes for minoritized individuals.

Psychometric validation of the French version of the five-dimensional altered states of consciousness questionnaire (5D-ASC) and associated 11 OAV subscales.

To evaluate validity, reliability, and targeting of the Norwegian 7-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-7) in adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Inpatient and outpatient acute care and postacute rehabilitation facilities. Ninety-four patients with intracranial injury, 20% women, with a mean age of 45.8 years (SD = 13.6), provided 185 complete FSS-7 responses at 6 months (n = 94) and 12 months (n = 91) post-TBI. Secondary analysis of data from a longitudinal observational study using the Rasch model and graphical log-linear Rasch models (GLLRM). The FSS-7 is a self-report fatigue measure derived from the original FSS by omitting items 1 and 2. Differential item functioning (DIF) was examined for sex, age, education, and sleep disturbances (Epworth sleepiness scale and insomnia severity index). The FSS-7 did not fit the Rasch model due to poor fit of item 4 and local dependence between items 5 and 6. A 6-item version (FSS-6), excluding item 4, provided good fit to a GLLRM accounting for the local dependence between items 5 and 6. No DIF or item parameter drift over time was detected. The FSS-6 demonstrated excellent reliability (r = 0.936), while targeting was less than optimal, as on average, only 57% of the maximum obtainable test information was reached. The FSS-6, excluding item 4, provides a valid measure of fatigue with excellent reliability for adults at 6 and 12 months post-TBI. The total raw score is invariant across sex, age, educational level, and sleep disturbances with no item parameter drift from 6 to 12 months postinjury. The FSS-6 may be useful for screening and monitoring fatigue in TBI rehabilitation and research, although a reassessment of targeting is recommended for future research on a larger and broader sample of patients.

A cancer diagnosis can impose a financial burden on patients and their families, defined as socio-economic impact (SEI) within a framework of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). The Socio-Economic Consequences of Cancer (SEC) study assessed SEI in 25 European countries using the Canadian Financial Index of Toxicity (FIT) instrument, showing substantial variation and supporting the need for a validated Europe-specific instrument. We examined the FIT instrument's validity and reliability in a secondary analysis of the SEC study, exploring whether the SEI framework supported its validation. Factor analyses were performed on the largest subgroup sharing cancer type, language, and country. The aim was to test whether the Canadian model could be replicated or a SEI-based model fit better. Reliability and construct validity were analyzed, followed by configural invariance and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis for cross-country comparability. We used data from Bulgaria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain. The original FIT-instrument failed to replicate in the Spanish sample, leading to an SEI-based model with better fit (CFI = 0.975, RMSEA (90% CI) = 0.104 (0-0.278), χ2 = 18, p = .60). The instrument was reliable. Construct validity was partly confirmed. Configural invariance testing suggested that the SEI-based model's factor structure fits better in Europe, while DIF was identified, implying that direct score comparisons across countries should be done with care. In conclusion, the original FIT-instrument could not be fully validated in Europe whereas the SEI-framework improved score interpretation, supporting its use in developing a validated instrument tailored to the European context.

The Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Computer Adaptive Test was developed using Rasch methods and computer adaptive testing technologies to assess burn recovery among children aged 1-5 years. To enhance accessibility in settings without advanced computer technology, this study developed Short Forms. Calibration data from the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation item bank were used for short-form item selection. Items were iteratively added to maximize test information function, with reliability constrained to ≥0.8. Differential item functioning was evaluated, and Cronbach's alpha and score correlations were used to assess internal consistency and validity. Data were obtained from 500 parents of burn survivors (mean ± SD age = 3.0 ± 1.4 years; 55.2% male; mean total body surface area burned = 4.2%; mean time since burn = 1.1 years). Three 10-item short forms were developed for Communication and Language, Physical Functioning, and Emotional Well-being. Differential item functioning analyses indicated the need for age-specific Communication and Language forms (>3 years and ≤3 years). Across all short forms, ceiling effects were ≤15% and floor effects <1%. Marginal reliability ranged from 0.74 to 0.90, Cronbach's alpha from 0.86 to 0.90, and correlations with the full item bank from 0.97 to 0.98. The short forms demonstrated strong psychometric properties and minimal measurement bias. The short forms approximate the computer adaptive test score for each scale and are a part of the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Profile, offering a practical and valid assessment of recovery outcomes in preschool-aged children with burn injuries.

ABSTRACT The Sports Interests Inventory (SPIT) measures adolescents’ and emerging adults’ interest in sporting activities. While previous analyses showed promising psychometric properties, revisions to some scales and greater test efficiency were recommended. This study further developed and validated the SPIT. First, additional items were generated to reduce construct-irrelevant multidimensionality and better capture domains of interest, then refined by an expert panel. Second, samples of 245 secondary school and 192 university students were analyzed using classical test theory and item response theory, yielding the 36-item SPIT (SPIT-36). Third, psychometric quality was reexamined in 474 university students. Construct validity was supported by correlations with three validated measures. Gender, age, and several sports-related characteristics were considered in evaluating differential item functioning and criterion validity. Results indicate that the SPIT-36 is a psychometrically sound, efficient instrument suitable for individual and group diagnostics with adolescents and emerging adults.

ABSTRACT Sense of belonging is a critical construct that impacts postsecondary students’ development and well-being. Despite its influence on student engagement, retention, and overall academic success in higher education, existing instruments measuring this construct are not specifically designed for postsecondary students. A brief, unidimensional instrument specifically validated for postsecondary students requires robust psychometric analyses to ensure crucial, fair, and accurate assessment. The present study proposes the Simple University Belonging Scale (SUBS) for use across different student demographics, including gender, underrepresented minority status, on-campus residency, degree level, and participation in living-learning programs (LLPs). Data were collected from a sample of 4,851 students at a predominantly White institution. The sample comprised majority undergraduate students (53%) and females (65%), with 15% identifying as part of an underrepresented minority group, with 36% participants were on-campus residents, and 24% in LLPs. Data were collected via an online survey platform. We used the Rasch rating scale model for data analysis and differential item functioning (DIF) analyses to test for measurement invariance across student subgroups. Ultimately, the refined 8-item SUBS was found to be suitable for on-campus undergraduate students, showing acceptable unidimensionality and minimal DIF across gender, minority status, and LLP participation. The SUBS demonstrated high internal consistency (α = .96) and acceptable Rasch reliability (.83). Measurement precision was excellent except at the ceiling of the instrument.

ABSTRACT Despite the general consensus attributing an advantage to female readers, there are indications of their unsatisfactory performance on some reading tests. Adopting a cognitive approach, this article attempts to determine the underlying skills/attributes of and possible gender-based differences in a high-stakes nationwide English as a Foreign Language (EFL) reading comprehension test. Through two study phases, we utilized more recent, rigorous methodologies/frameworks of Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment (CDA) to scrutinize the existence of any gender-related differential item functioning (DIF) and/or differential attribute functioning (DAF) under the generalized deterministic input, noisy “and” gate (G-DINA) model. After our panel of expert applied linguists confirmed the existence of six reading attributes, the empirical evidence indicated that the Q-matrix is valid for the item response data of the EFL reading comprehension test. The results of the tests also showed that three test items and two attributes (i.e. sub-skills) of the reading comprehension test have large DIF and DAF against female examinees. The study discusses and concludes with the implications of the findings (including application of CDA and DIF/DAF methodology) for the teaching, testing, and researching of reading skills in general and high-stakes EFL reading examinations in particular.

Development of a new health-related quality of life instrument for patients on home enteral nutrition according to caregivers' perceptions: The Home Enteral Nutrition Quality of Life (HENQoL) care instrument.

The Vertigo Symptom Scale - Short Form (VSS-SF) is a widely used questionnaire to measure vestibular symptoms such as dizziness and vertigo. Most cross-cultural validations focus only on translation and basic psychometrics, providing limited insight into cross-national comparability. This study aimed to (1) develop and validate a Dutch version of the VSS-SF, and (2) provide novel insights into cross-cultural differences in symptom reporting and the methodological robustness of the scale. Following international guidelines, we translated and linguistically validated the Dutch VSS-SF. We then compared its dimensional structure, reliability, and differential item functioning (DIF) with the original British version, using bifactor modeling to test essential unidimensionality. We used data from patients aged 50 years and older with chronic vestibular symptoms who participated in British (n = 296) and Dutch (n = 322) randomized controlled trials. The Dutch version was well understood. Psychometric evaluation supported essential unidimensionality in both versions (structural coefficient bias < 15%). Reliability was excellent (omega-total 0.920 Dutch; 0.956 British). DIF analysis revealed cultural differences: Dutch patients were less likely to report nausea/vomiting but more likely to report unsteadiness, even at the same symptom level. However, these differences had negligible impact on total scores. The Dutch VSS-SF is valid and reliable, with scores directly comparable to the British version. Beyond translation, this study shows how advanced psychometric methods reveal both the robustness of the VSS-SF and subtle cultural differences in symptom perception, strengthening its use in multinational research and clinical practice.

Does social anxiety influence reporting of cannabis consequences? A differential item functioning analysis of the Brief Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (B-MACQ).

An item response theory examination of the functionality appreciation scale.

Health literacy (HL) is pivotal to healthy aging, yet existing instruments often show suboptimal psychometric performance in older populations. This study aimed to develop and validate a concise HL instrument tailored to older adults and evaluate its psychometric properties. A cross-sectional survey of 957 community-dwelling Chinese adults (≥ 60 years) used the Chinese HLS-EU-Q47. Unidimensional and between-item multidimensional Rasch analyses removed items with poor fit, differential item functioning (DIF), or local dependence. The retained 12-item HLS-Q12-OA was assessed via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) for its factor structure and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for model fit. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α, McDonald's ω, and person separation reliability (PSR). Findings were compared with the original HLS-EU-Q12 and international adaptations. Rasch analysis revealed substantial item misfit and DIF in the original HLS-EU-Q47. The HLS-Q12-OA showed no floor/ceiling effects (rates 0.10%-6.79%). EFA suggested three factors with high inter-factor correlations; CFA supported a unidimensional structure with excellent fit (CFI = 0.991, GFI = 0.983, AGFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.032) and all factor loadings > 0.5. Reliability was satisfactory (Cronbach's α = 0.891, McDonald's ω = 0.894, PSR = 0.892). The HLS-Q12-OA outperformed the original HLS-EU-Q12 in the same sample; its Cronbach's α was slightly lower than Japanese/Chinese adult versions but higher than Jordanian/Turkish versions, with the best construct validity and no age-related DIF. The HLS-Q12-OA is the first unidimensional short-form HL scale developed specifically for older adults. It overcomes key psychometric limitations of the original HLS-EU-Q47 and offers a reliable, valid, and practical tool for HL screening in geriatric and community settings.

The Penn Parkinson's Daily Activities Questionnaire-27 (PDAQ-27) is a 27-item measure of cognitive instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients developed by integrating 12 additional items with the original 15-item PDAQ-15 via mixed-methods research with the goal of creating a more balanced and sensitive instrument. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the PDAQ-27 in a PD cohort using both patient and knowledgeable informant (KI) responses. A cross-sectional study of 114 PD participants was conducted. Participants and, when available, KIs completed the PDAQ-27. Psychometric properties were evaluated using Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT) and Classical Test Theory (CTT). Consistency between patient- and KI-reported versions was assessed using RMT framework. The PDAQ-27 demonstrated strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95; Person Separation Index = 0.93) and good Rasch model fit, with no significant local dependency or differential item functioning. The PDAQ-27 total score correlated moderately with cognitive tests (eg, DRS-2 total: r = 0.37; MoCA: r = 0.30), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures (eg, PDQ-39 cognition domain: r = 0.65), supporting construct validity. Compared with the PDAQ-15, the PDAQ-27 marginally improved coverage of mild cognitive IADL impairments, though low-end discrimination remained limited. Patient and KI scores were highly correlated and largely equivalent, despite differing response patterns reflecting the different perspectives of patients and KIs. The PDAQ-27 is a promising measure of cognition-related IADLs in patients with PD, with solid cross-sectional psychometric performance. Further research on its longitudinal properties will be needed to recommend its future use in PD studies.