Ecuadorian Sample Research Articles

Reliability, Factorial Invariance, Latent Mean Differences of the Goal Orientations in Exercise Scale (GOES) and the Relation of Ego-Task Profiles with Resilience and Life Satisfaction in Ecuadorian Sample

The Achievement Goal Theory has been commonly used in the literature and the relation between the goal orientation construct and aspects of athletes’ personality and well-being is an important element to be considered in the sports field. The objectives of this study were: (i) to confirm the reliability, factorial invariance and existence of latent mean differences of the Goal Orientations in Exercise Scale (GOES) in an Ecuadorian sample across sex; (ii) to identify the existence of subgroups of Ecuadorian students with different profiles of goal orientations to exercise; and iii) to determine the differences in resilience and life satisfaction among these profiles. A total of 597 Ecuadorian students from the Sports Sciences degree participated in this study. Confirmatory factorial analysis supported the two-dimensional (ego-task) GOES structure. The GOES has an adequate reliability and structural invariance across sex. Significant latent mean differences on the ego orientation subscale were found across sex but not in the task one. Cluster analysis identified three task-ego orientation profiles: (1) moderately high on task and low on ego; (2) low on task and slightly high on ego; (3) high in both task and ego orientation. Post hoc comparisons showed statistical differences in resilience between the three profiles and in life satisfaction between the profile 3 and profiles 1 and 2. The current study allows the possibility of using the GOES as an invariant and reliable scale in Ecuadorian sample and initiates the use of goal orientation profiles and their relationship with resilience and life satisfaction in the sports field.

Validation of The Purpose in Life Scale-Short Form in an Ecuadorian Sample: factor analysis, reliability and graded response model

Introduction: The purpose in life is analyzed within psychological well-being, it deals with the meaning of life that people have, which has implications in areas such as mental health. Currently, precise instrumentation is required for its assessment of the Ecuadorian population, which at the moment is limited. Objective: To corroborate the unidimensional structure of the Purpose in Life Scale-Short version (PIL-SF), the equivalence of measurement according to gender, the reliability and the parameters of discrimination and difficulty in a sample of Ecuadorian adults. Methods: Instrumental study of the PIL-SF under the precepts of Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory. Participants: 743 Ecuadorian adults (64.2% women and 45.8% men) aged 18 to 73 years (M = 24.7, SD = 7.9). Results: The unifactorial structure of the PIL-SF with adequate adjustment was confirmed. In addition, the PIL-SF is invariant at the strong level based on gender and no differences are presented at the level of latent means. The internal consistency reliability is acceptable per group and the discrimination and item difficulty parameters are adequate. Conclusion: The PIL-SF is a valid, reliable, and accurate tool to measure the Purpose in Life construct in Ecuadorian adults.

Feasibility of an observational procedure to enhance early identification of autism spectrum disorder in paediatric settings: A mixed-methods study on an Ecuadorian sample.

In Ecuador, the low official estimate of the number of persons with autism spectrum disorder suggest that many children are not identified and are not receiving support. Screening tools are short parent-addressed questionnaires used to identify children that may be developing with autism. Their use is recommended, but their application can be perceived as challenging in paediatric routines. Some professionals prefer looking for autism-related behaviours in a child rather than using screening questionnaires. Although a short observation does not replace the use of validated screening questionnaires, tasks to guide the observation of autistic early signs can help professionals decide to screen or refer the family for assessment and early intervention. In this study, we tested observational tasks that could be adapted to the Ecuadorian paediatric contexts.

EXAMINING PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND MEASUREMENT INVARIANCE OF THE EMOTION REGULATION QUESTIONNAIRE IN AN ECUADORIAN SAMPLE

The most popular instrument used to measure emotional regulation is the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), allowing researchers to study intergroup differences in emotional regulation across many different cultures. However, to make multi-group comparisons, factors within the measurement instrument must be invariant across groups. This invariance is necessary to ensure that any significant differences found between groups are due to group affiliation and not due to measurement errors in the instrument’s factors. The study examined measurement invariance of the ERQ by gender using an Ecuadorian sample, where very few studies have previously investigated this issue. The sample included 815 college students. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the bi-factor model presented the best fit. The ERQ was invariant by gender at the strict level according to multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. The ERQ also presented good reliability scores for both men and women with no significant differences between genders. These results confirm that the ERQ is a reliable instrument and that it can detect differences in the use of emotional regulation strategies between men and women without risking errors caused by measurement variance.

Performance evaluation of the Partin Table (2007), in a current ecuadorian sample

Background: Partin tables made from a 2007 cohort in a North American population are regularly used to predict the extent of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. There is no study that evaluated this table in the Ecuadorian population. Objective: To determine the usefulness in the prediction made by Partin tables in Ecuadorian patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy. Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative and retrospective study was designed, the latter being its limitation. The records of 119 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy during the period from 2010 to 2020 were reviewed. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated using the ROC curve, and the result for extraprostatic extension (EEP) was compared. , infiltration of seminal vesicles (IVS) and lymph nodes (INL) with the Partin 2007 cohort. Results: The ROC curve for EEP showed an AUC 0.54 (0.43-0.65), for ISV 0.60 (0.44-0-76) with low sensitivity and specificity, while for INL an AUC of 0.73 (0.59-0.86) with acceptable sensitivity but low specificity. Conclusions: Partin Tables did not predict pathological stages for EPP and ISV; however, for INL it can be used with caution.

Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 in the Ecuadorian and Spanish Populations: A Cross-Cultural Study.

The world's population is currently overcoming one of the worst pandemics, and the psychological and social effects of this are becoming more apparent. We will present an analysis of the psychosocial effects of COVID-19: first, a cross-sectional study in an Ecuadorian sample (n = 301) and second, a comparative study between two samples from the Ecuadorian and Spanish populations (n = 83 each one). Participants completed an online survey to (1) describe how they felt (depression, anxiety, and stress) before and after confinement; (2) analyze which emotional and behavioral variables predict depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress perceived after the confinement; (3) carry out a comparative study in a sample of Ecuadorian and Spanish surveys. Results indicate, first, that Ecuadorians experience significantly more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress after confinement. Second, variables which predict depressive symptoms and anxiety are greater public prosocial tendency, less stress as a challenge, and greater stress as a threat, as well as an empathetic tendency that implies greater emotional regulation. Experienced stress after confinement was predicted by a greater public prosocial tendency, as well as an empathetic tendency. Finally, scores for depression, anxiety, and stress are higher after confinement in both countries. However, results reveal the similarity of the psychosocial effects that are being experienced, regardless of the country, and the differences in the variables that can help explain these effects. This can contribute to the constitution of intervention plans which aim to soften and alleviate the effects produced by a situation such as that experienced with COVID-19.

Perceived Risks of Infection, Hospitalization, and Death From COVID-19 at the Equator: Ecuador and Kenya.

This study's goal was to determine the perceived risks of infection as well as the perceived risks of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in Ecuador and Kenya. It also assessed the factors associated with the risk-related perceptions. Cross-sectional studies with samples from the adult populations in both countries were conducted to assess the perceived risks of contracting COVID-19. Data were collected online using the Qualtrics platform (Qualtrics, Provo, Utah, United States) from samples of 1050 heads of households, aged 18 years or older, in each country. A total of 3 statistical analyses were conducted: summary statistics, correlation, and linear regression. The average perceived risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in the Kenyan sample were 27.1%, 43.2%, and 17.2%, respectively, and the values for the Ecuadorian sample were 34%, 32.8%, and 23.3%, respectively. The Pearson's correlation coefficients between the risk measures in each country were less than 0.38. Risk measures were associated with several sociodemographic variables (e.g., income, gender, location), but not with age. The perceived risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in Kenya and Ecuador were significantly higher relative to the statistics reported; however, no strong association existed between perceived risk and age, which is a key factor in adverse health outcomes, including death, among COVID-19 infected individuals.

Predictors of Attitudes toward Lesbian and Gay Parenting in an Ecuadorian Sample

In the past few years, Ecuador has experienced legal changes toward the recognition of sexual minority rights. However, lesbian and gay (LG) individuals and couples still face legal obstacles to become parents and social barriers that place their families in disadvantage compared to their heterosexual counterparts. To date, it is not known whether the legal changes reflect society’s move toward a more progressive and accepting climate. This study analyzed the attitudes toward LG parenting in an Ecuadorian online-recruited sample. Three hundred thirty-eight (338) participants answered an online questionnaire about the negative effects and the benefits of having LG parents. The strongest belief among participants was that children of LG parents would be victimized because of their parents’ sexual orientation. Analyses indicated differences in attitudes based on age, sexual orientation, marital status, education level, as well as religiosity. Finally, regression models suggested that beliefs about the origins of sexual orientation and contact with LG people predicted attitude scores. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Is it possible to find a bifactor structure in the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S)? Psychometric evidence in an Ecuadorian sample

The aim of the study was to evaluate the construct validity based on the internal structure, the relationship with other variables, and the internal consistency among items of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) in a sample of 743 Ecuadorians. The findings confirm the presence of a bifactor structure, which includes a general factor and two specific factors: one emotional and the other physiological. The general factor, and the specific factors presented adequate levels of internal consistency. Finally, the FCV-19S showed a highly significant relationship with GAD-7 at the latent level. The scale has adequate psychometric properties for its application.

Relationship between expressions of aggression and individual characteristics in correctional settings: A path analysis

BackgroundThe reduction of misconduct levels and its prevention are two important objectives in prison settings, for which several strategies and control mechanisms are implemented. ObjetiveWe explore the relationship between a set of socio-demographic, judicial, affective, and personality characteristics and various expressions of aggression. MethodAn Ecuadorian sample of 675 sentenced male prisoners was assessed using the Spanish adaptation of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Three subscales of the PAI were used as outcome measures: Aggressive Attitude (AGG-A), Verbal Aggression (AGG-V), and Physical Aggression (AGG-P). ResultsUsing path analysis, three models were obtained, each of which had four indicators. Borderline personality features and antisocial personality features emerged as indicators that were common to the three models. Anxiety-related disorders and non-support were indicators specific to AGG-A, whilst schizophrenia and non-support were indicators of AGG-V, and drug problems and crimes against property were indicators of AGG-P. ConclusionThis study indicates that each expression of aggression has a different structure, which suggests its usefulness for detecting the tendency of an inmate to predominantly express one form of aggression or another.

Factorial Invariance, Latent Mean Differences of the Panas and Affective Profiles and Its Relation to Social Anxiety in Ecuadorian Sample

Positive (PA) and negative affect (NA) are related with aspects that are part of people’s psychological well-being, and the possibility of combining both dimensions to create four affective profiles, self-fulfilling (high PA and low NA), low affective (low PA and low NA), high affective (high PA and high NA) and self-destructive (low PA and high NA), has recently appeared. The current work aims to validate the short version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in Ecuador, test the existence of the four affective profiles and analyze its relation with social anxiety. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents was employed in a sample of 1786 Ecuadorian students aged from 15 to 18 years (M = 16.31, SD = 1.01). The factorial invariance of the scale across sex and age groups was proved and latent mean analyses showed that girls and 18-year-old students obtained the highest scores in negative affect. With regard to the affective profiles, the cluster analyses confirmed the existence of the four mentioned profiles, and the self-fulfilling profile obtained the lowest scores in all the dimensions of social anxiety, whereas the self-destructive profile obtained the highest scores.

Brief communication: Reliability of the D-KEFS Tower Test in samples of children and adolescents in Ecuador

The Tower Test in the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) is a widely-used assessment of executive function in young people. It is similar to other Towers of Hanoi type tasks, for which doubts regarding the reliability of the test have been previously raised. Here, we present data on the internal consistency, unidimensionality, and test–retest reliability of the D-KEFS Towers Test based on an Ecuadorian sample of 264 children and adolescents. In general, the Tower Test appeared to have poor reliability. This may be caused by the combination of very simple and more difficult trials within the same assessment. Nevertheless, one measure, the Time-Per-Move Ratio, appeared to be sufficiently reliable for clinical or research use, and neuropsychological studies have suggested that the Time-Per-Move Ratio may also be the performance measure most sensitive to neurological impairment.

Testing factorial invariance of the questionnaire of evaluation of the quality perceived in sports services in Spanish, Ecuadorian and Colombian users

The Questionnaire of Evaluation of the Quality Perceived in Sports Services is a quantitative tool that has mainly been developed in users of public sports services. The aim of this study was to adapt the tool and determine the psychometric properties and the degree of factorial equivalence in three different countries (Spain, Ecuador and Colombia). Using a convenience sampling strategy, three samples with a total of 927 participants were analyzed, of which 330 were spanish, 363 ecuadorians and 234 colombians. The CFA ratified the original structure of 25 items and showed a good fit to the data in the Spanish, Colombian and Ecuadorian sample. All constructs presented good internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity. Lastly, a multi-group analysis showed the invariance factorial through the difference in the RMSEA, CFI and NNFI indices. The findings of the present study demonstrated evidence for the instrument validity and reliability. In conclusion, the adapted version of the tool provide insightful implications for sport management professionals for the evaluation of the quality of sport services in different countries who have the Spanish language as their mother tongue.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Adaptation of the Personality Assessment Inventory in Correctional Settings: An ESEM Study

The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) is among the most important personality and psychopathology assessment tools. However, its psychometric properties in the Spanish-speaking prison population have not yet been studied. We aimed to explore the factor structure of the Spanish adaptation of the PAI (Ortiz-Tallo et al., 2011) in an Ecuadorian sample of 811 convicted men using exploratory structural equation modeling, with the further objective of confirming its internal consistency. Hoelzle and Meyer (2009) identified three dimensions that are highly congruent across samples: general distress, elevated mood and dominance, and substance abuse and psychopathy. Taking these findings and the internalizing and externalizing dimensions (Ruiz & Edens, 2008) as a theoretical basis, three- and two-factor models were tested for the 22 scales and 11 clinical scales, respectively. We also tested four- and three-factor models that grouped the scales related to substance abuse as an independent factor, leaving intact the distribution presented by the remaining scales in the previous models. Although the original models showed a good fit, the 4- and 3-factor models obtained significantly better fit indexes. With respect to reliability, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from .49 to .89. This version shows acceptable psychometric properties in correctional settings.

Are psychological measures and actuarial data equally effective in discriminating among the prison population? Analysis by crimes.

The ability of a wide range of psychological and actuarial measures to characterize crimes in the prison population has not yet been compared in a single study. Our main objective was to determine if the discriminant capacity of psychological measures (PM) and actuarial data (AD) varies according to the crime. An Ecuadorian sample of 576 men convicted of Robbery, Murder, Rape and Drug Possession crimes was evaluated through an ad hoc questionnaire, prison files and the Spanish adaptation of the Personality Assessment Inventory. Discriminant analysis was used to establish, for each crime, the discriminant capacity and the classification accuracy of a model composed of AD (socio-demographic and judicial measures) and a second model incorporating PM. The AD showed a superior discriminant capacity, whilst the contribution of both types of measures varied according to the crime. The PM generated some increase in the correct classification percentages for Murder, Rape and Drug Possession, but their contribution was zero for the crime of Robbery. Specific profiles of each crime were obtained from the strongest significant correlations between the value of each explanatory variable and the probability of belonging to the crime. The AD model is more robust when these four crimes are characterized. The contribution of AD and PM depends on the crime, and the inclusion of PM in actuarial models moderately optimizes the classification accuracy of Murder, Rape, and Drug Possession crimes.

Testing the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism in Ecuadorian adolescent population.

This study aimed to test the 2 × 2 model of dispositional perfectionism in an Ecuadorian sample of 1562 students aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.83 years, standard deviation = 1.86 years). The Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the brief 21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales were used. Cluster analysis revealed four profiles: Pure Self-Oriented Perfectionism, Pure Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, Mixed Perfectionism, and Non-perfectionism. Mixed Perfectionism and Non-perfectionism obtained, respectively, the highest and lowest scores in anxiety, depression, and stress. The results are discussed in light of cultural differences in the interpretation and consequences of perfectionism.

Motivations for Business Start‐up: Are There any Differences Between Disabled and Non‐disabled Microfinance Clients?

AbstractWe use an Ecuadorian sample to investigate if there are differences in motivations for business start‐up between persons with and without disabilities. Generally, we do not document significant differences. The reason might be that we use a sample selected among customers of the microfinance bank Banco D‐MIRO. Without targeted incentives, disabled microfinance customers must resemble non‐disabled customers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Are tropical butterflies more colorful?

AbstractThere is a common and long‐standing belief that tropical butterflies are more striking in their coloration than those of cooler climates. It has been suggested that this is due to more intense biotic selection or mate selection in the tropics. We tested whether there were differences in coloration by examining the dorsal surface color properties of male butterflies from three regions of the western hemisphere: the Jatun‐Satcha Reserve in lowland Ecuador (tropical), the state of Florida, USA (subtropical) and the state of Maine, USA (cool temperate). We digitally photographed the dorsal wing and body surface of male butterfly specimens from Maine, Florida, and Ecuador. For each photograph, we analyzed the mean and variation for the color‐parameters that are thought to be related to colorfulness; namely Hue, saturation and intensity. Overall, the Ecuadorian sample exhibited more varied intensity, saturation, and Hue compared to the other regions. These results suggest a more complex assemblage of colors and patterns regionally and on a butterfly‐by‐butterfly basis in the tropics. The greater complexity of colors within each butterfly in our Ecuadorian sample suggests that tropical butterflies are indeed more ‘colorful’, at least by some measures. Possible reasons for this include stronger predation pressure selecting for aposematism, greater species diversity selecting for camouflage or warning coloration against potential predators, and easier recognition of potential mates in a species rich environment.

Hierarchical Y-SNP assay to study the hidden diversity and phylogenetic relationship of native populations in South America

Studying the Y chromosomes of indigenous tribes of Ecuador revealed a lack of strategic SNP assays to examine the substructure of South American native populations. In most studies dealing with South American samples so far only the most common Y-SNP M3 of haplogroup Q was analyzed, because this is known to define a founder group in South America. Studies of SNPs ancestral to Q-M3 (Q1a3a) to confirm the results or the typing of Q subclades have often been neglected. For this reason we developed a SNaPshot assay, which allows first for a hierarchical testing of all main haplogroups occurring in South American populations and second for a detailed analysis of haplogroups Q and C thought having ancient Asian descent. We selected 16 SNPs from the YCC haplogroup tree and established two multiplexes. The first multiplex (“SA Major”) includes 12 Y-SNPs defining the most frequent haplogroups occurring in South America (M42, M207, M242, M168, M3, M145, M174, M213, RPS4Y711, M45, P170, and M9). The second multiplex (“SA SpecQ”) contains Y-SNPs of haplogroup Q, especially of the subclade Q-M3 (M19, M194, P292, M3, and M199). Within our Ecuadorian sample, haplogroup Q-M3 (xM19, M194, P292, and M199) was predominant, but we also found haplogroup E and R, which can be attributed to recent admixture. Moreover, we found four out of 65 samples, which were tested to be haplogroup C3* (C-M217) the modal haplogroup in Mongolians and widespread in indigenous populations of the Russian Far East as well as in Eastern Asia. This haplogroup is not known to be the result of recent admixture and has been found only one time before in South America. Since haplogroup C occurs in Asia and in North America (C3b or C-P39), we assume that these C-lineages are ancient as well. Therefore, we established a third multiplex (“SA SpecC”), which allows the further subtyping of haplogroup C, mainly of subclade C3 defined by the Y-SNP M217 (M407, M48, P53.1, M217, P62, RPS4Y711, M93, M86, and P39). Altogether, these three multiplexes cover the most frequent haplogroups in South America and allow for a maximal resolution of the Y-chromosomal SNP diversity in Amerindian population samples.

Reverence for Mothers in Ecuadorian and Euro-American Culture

Two studies examine differences between Ecuadorians and Euro-Americans in levels of reverence for their mothers. Data collected from college students in Ecuador and the United States show that Ecuadorians display higher levels of mother reverence than Euro-Americans. Ecuadorians also score higher on measures of maternal power, similarity of mothers to the cultural ideal of women, and uncertainty avoidance. However, levels of independence are significantly higher in the Euro-American sample than in the Ecuadorian sample. High levels of maternal power, idealization of mothers, and interdependent self-construals are found to predict mother reverence in both cultures. The implications of these findings for interpersonal and intercultural relations are discussed.