Structural Validity Research Articles

Nurses' attitudes towards telehealth: The development and validation of the nurses' attitudes towards the use of telehealth scale.

To develop the nurses' attitudes towards use of a telehealth scale (NATUTS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. This methodological study involved two stages: the development of the NATUTS and the testing of the psychometric properties of NATUTS. We followed STROBE guidelines when reporting the study (File S1). Items for NATUTS were created using evidence from the literature and presented to eight experts. The scale was tested in a methodological study conducted through a face-to-face survey with nurses working in outpatient and inpatient units of a tertiary hospital in Türkiye. Psychometric properties of the scale, such as structural validity, content validity and internal consistency reliability, were tested. The sample, consisting of 630 nurses, was divided into two separate random groups. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted with the data of the first 330 people, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with the data of the remaining 300 people. A 19-item, three-factor structure (Satisfaction, Rejection, Development) was obtained in the newly developed scale. In NATUTS, Factor 1 (α = .93), Factor 2 (α = .86) and Factor 3 (α = .87) measured 64.4% of the total variance. The entire 19-item acceptability survey showed good internal consistency. NATUTS is a brief survey based on research evidence validated in a large Turkish sample. Findings show that NATUTS has acceptable content and structural validity and is reliable in measuring nurses' attitudes towards the use of telehealth. Further research can be conducted to develop the scale and strengthen its validity. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Quantifying efficient shape-shifting: Energy barrier measurement in multi-stable lattice metamaterials

Shape-shifting between multiple stable deformation states offers attractive pathways to design adaptive structures. Ideas have been conceptualised in diverse fields, including soft robotics and aerospace engineering. The success of shape-shifting relies on overcoming the energy barrier separating adjacent stable configurations, which necessitates efficient actuation strategies. Recently, multistable mechanical metamaterials have been designed with shape-shifting controlled by an actuator at the local scale, i.e with embedded actuation. This local, embedded actuation creates challenges for quantifying the energy barriers required for shape-shifting. Specifically, the local actuation requires a pair of forces with opposite directions and the direction of the forces must remain constant throughout the entire loading process. Moreover, the loading points must move freely in a direction perpendicular to the loading direction. We present a novel bi-axial test rig for a typical multi-stable lattice metamaterial that accurately determines the energy barrier between stable states by using an embedded actuator and inducing shape-shifting. Our experimental design features two independent actuation systems operating at different length scales: a primary one for a globally applied axial compression of the metamaterial, and a secondary local system for triggering shape-shifting between different stable configurations. Experimental data obtained using this bespoke test rig unveil the metamaterial’s response to local, embedded actuation. Excellent agreement with finite element simulations is observed, demonstrating the effectiveness of the test setup in providing measurements of the energy barrier. This work provides a valuable benchmark for measuring energy barriers in multi-stable metamaterials and paves the way for rigorous validation and verification of novel functional metamaterial and structures that leverage shape-shifting mechanisms.

Initial psychometric properties of the medical outcomes study social support survey in caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Brazil

This study investigated the initial evidence of internal structure and convergent validity of the Brazilian version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS) in caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study included 185 caregivers of individuals with disabilities who were users of a non-governmental organization in southeastern Brazil. We performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency reliability, and predictive validity analyses. Our results demonstrated a one-dimensional internal structure for the adapted scale, consisting of nineteen items and presenting good precision coefficients (α = 0.96 and ω = 0.96) and composite reliability (0.96). Also, the MOS-SSS showed convergent validity with the Family APGAR Scale and the family support and self-control factors of the Informal Caregiver Burden Assessment Questionnaire-Short Version. These findings suggest that the Brazilian version of the MOS-SSS has adequate psychometric properties and can be used in this context and population.

Adaptation and validation for use in Brazil of the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS)

BackgroundThe Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS in English Version) was originally developed in the USA by Matheny et al (Bringing order out of chaos: psychometric characteristics of the confusion, hubbub, and order scale. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 16(3):429–444, 1995) to measure chaos in the family environment, characterized by confusion, lack of routine, and organization.ObjectiveTo present evidence of content validity, internal structure validity, and validity based on relationships with external measures of an adapted version of the CHAOS into Brasilian Portuguese with adolescents sample in São Paulo - Brasil.MethodStudy 1 involved the translation/back-translation and adaptation of the scale into Brazilian Portuguese [here named “Escala de Confusão, Alvoroço e Ordem no Sistema familiar” (CAOS)], assessed by 5 judges. In Study 2, we conducted an exploratory factor analyses (EFA) to determine the scale’s factor structure (N = 180 adults). In Study 3, we carried out confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to confirm the internal validity of the scale, along with complete structural equation modeling to explore convergent validity in another sample (N = 239 adolescents).ResultsThe CAOS scale displayed content validity, and the EFA and CFA showed a unifactorial structure (with some scale adjustments) with an acceptable fit. The family chaos latent factor was associated with externalizing symptoms and perceived stress in adolescents.ConclusionOverall, the Brazilian version of the scale presented evidence of construct, internal, and concurrent validity that indicate its usefulness in Brazil.

Intelligent inversion of mesoscale eddy temperature anomaly profiles based on multi-source remote sensing data

Inversion of the underwater temperature anomaly of mesoscale eddies from sea surface remote sensing data plays an important role in understanding the three-dimensional structure of eddies. In this article, a neural network structure, named the eddy temperature anomaly inversion network (EddyTAINet), is proposed and established to invert the vertical temperature anomalies of eddies using 20-year (2002–2022) Argo profiles and multi-source remote sensing data in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Vertical temperature anomaly profiles with 45 depth levels ranging from 10 to 1000 m are derived as the outputs of the inversion networks. The input feature sequences are extracted from the mesoscale eddy product based on sea level anomaly (SLA) data, and sea surface temperature (SST) data are also introduced into the proposed network structure to improve its accuracy. For the problem of inconsistent sizes of the 2D matrix SST data corresponding to mesoscale eddies, the spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) network module is introduced, which allows different sizes of SST data to be simply convolved and then subjected to hierarchical feature extraction to obtain fixed-size feature vectors. Validation and comparison of the network structure are performed and show the improved performance of EddyTAINet. The average root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) are 0.63 °C/0.66 °C and 0.48 °C/0.51 °C for cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies, respectively, which are more than 20% lower than the results of the network using the SLA-based data.

In silico homology modeling of dengue virus non-structural 4B (NS4B) protein and its molecular docking studies using triterpenoids

BackgroundDengue fever has become a significant worldwide health concern, because of its high morbidity rate and the potential for an increase in mortality rates due to lack of adequate treatment. There is an immediate need for the development of effective medication for dengue fever.MethodsHomology modeling of dengue virus (DENV) non-structural 4B (NS4B) protein was performed by SWISS-MODEL to predict the 3D structure of the protein. Structure validation was conducted using PROSA, PROCHECK, Ramachandran plot, and VERIFY-3D. MOE software was used to find out the in-Silico inhibitory potential of the five triterpenoids against the DENV-NS4B protein.ResultsThe SWISS-MODEL was employed to predict the three-dimensional protein structure of the NS4B protein. Through molecular docking, it was found that the chosen triterpenoid NS4B protein had a high binding affinity interaction. It was observed that the NS4B protein binding energy for 15-oxoursolic acid, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, and 3-o-acetylursolic acid were − 7.18, − 7.02, − 5.71, − 6.67 and − 8.00 kcal/mol, respectively.ConclusionsNS4B protein could be a promising target which showed good interaction with tested triterpenoids which can be developed as a potential antiviral drug for controlling dengue virus pathogenesis by inhibiting viral replication. However, further investigations are necessary to validate and confirm their efficacy.

Psychometric Analysis of the Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale in Japanese Patients With Heart Failure.

Patients with heart failure (HF) experience a wide variety of symptoms. Appropriate recognition of symptoms is important in HF care. The Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale (HFSPS) measures the presence of HF symptoms and the degree to which physical symptoms are bothersome. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the HFSPS. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess structural validity. Construct validity was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient to evaluate the association between HFSPS total and subscale scores and global physical health on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. Internal consistency was assessed using the model-based internal consistency for the HFSPS as a whole and Cronbach α for the subscales. Participants were 315 Japanese outpatients (72.1% male), with a mean age of 72.9 ± 12.9 years. The result of confirmatory factor analysis was an adequate model fit by adding error correlations. Construct validity was significant for the correlation with global physical health of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. The model-based internal consistency was 0.95. Cronbach αs for each subscale were 0.88 for dyspnea, 0.60 for chest discomfort, 0.77 for early and subtle symptoms, and 0.77 for edema. The findings support the use of the HFSPS in a more diverse population, suggesting that it is a reliable and valid instrument in Japanese patients with HF. The HFSPS may provide an accurate assessment of the symptoms experienced by patients with HF in daily life in future educational intervention studies to improve symptom perception and coping behaviors.

Validation of the Spanish Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form in adolescents with suicide attempts.

Child maltreatment is associated with a higher probability of mental disorders and suicidal behavior in adolescence. Therefore, accurate psychometric instruments are essential to assess this. To validate the Spanish version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) in adolescents with suicide attempts. Multisite cohort study of 208 adolescents with suicide attempts using data from the following scales: Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and CTQ-SF. Statistical analysis: CTQ-SF scores analyzed by descriptive statistics. Internal consistency: McDonald's omega and Cronbach's alpha. Concurrent validity with PHQ-9 and C-SSRS scores: Spearman correlation coefficient. Structural validity: Confirmatory factor analysis. Floor and ceiling effects: Physical abuse and neglect as well as sexual abuse demonstrated high floor effects (50.0, 35.1, and 61.1% of adolescents, respectively). No ceiling effects were found. The CTQ-SF had excellent internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.94), as did the majority of its subscales (Cronbach's alpha 0.925-0.831) except for physical neglect (0.624). Its concurrent validity was modest, and the emotional neglect subscale had the lowest Spearman correlation coefficients (0.067-0.244). Confirmatory factor analysis: Compared with alternative factor structures, the original CTQ-SF model (correlated 5-factor) exhibited a better fit [S-B χ 2 = 676.653, p < 0; RMSEA (90% CI = 0.076-0.097) = 0.087; SRMR = 0.078; CFI = 0.980; TLI = 0.978]. The Spanish CTQ-SF is a reliable, valid instrument for assessing traumatic experiences in adolescents at high risk of suicide. It appears appropriate for use in routine clinical practice to monitor maltreatment in this group.

Psychometric synthesis of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

AbstractHazardous or harmful alcohol use is very prevalent among the US population. With 15.1 million adults in the United States currently identified as having an alcohol use disorder, identifying hazardous and harmful drinking earlier is necessary for early intervention strategies. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test's (AUDIT) strong psychometric properties lead it to be a screening tool of choice across countries, cultures, and subgroups. A psychometric analysis aggregates all available evidence of reliability and validity to support the use of an instrument for screening, diagnosis, and treatment planning. AUDIT internal consistency for the 10‐item total scale was α = 0.817 (n = 247,963). The two‐factor model had the most structure validity support and aggregated convergent validity comparisons with other alcohol use assessments ranged from r = 0.578 to r = 0.701. The optimal cutoff score for diagnostic validity was 6/7, rather than the 8 recommended by the AUDIT authors. Clinically appropriate use and interpretation of the AUDIT as well as study limitations and suggestions for future research were discussed.

A construct validation of the perceived Negative Context of Reception Scale with Indian American youth.

Crucial to the resettlement experiences of immigrants is the degree to which the receiving country accepts them and affords them social support and opportunities. Through the factor structure and incremental validity of scores generated by the Negative Context of Reception (NCR) Scale, in the present study, we examine Indian American youths' perception of their context of reception using a sample of youth residing in the United States. Data came from a sample of 223 Indian American youth (aged 12-17) as part of a larger convergent mixed-methods project. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we examined the scale's validity and the relationship between perceived NCR and criterion-related factors such as perceived discrimination and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was then used to analyze qualitative data from 11 of these Indian American youth. Qualitative data provided additional insights about NCR in this population. NCR scores evidenced strong psychometric properties among Indian American youth. Confirmatory factor models demonstrated good model fit. NCR yielded significant associations with perceived discrimination (r = .33, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (r = .25, p < .002). Two major themes (parental/family sacrifices and being treated differently from White peers) emerged from the qualitative data. Results validate NCR as a construct relevant to Indian American youth and associated with negative mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, these results underscore the importance of a welcoming and supportive environment for Indian American youths' well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children (PSWQ-C): Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity

This study presents the Polish version of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children (PSWQ-C). The validation of the PSWQ-C in Poland was conducted through two studies. Study 1 examined the initial factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the PSWQ-C in two samples of school students (N = 819) aged 8–19 years (M = 14.63, SD = 3.09). Study 2 involved 620 participants aged 8–19 years (M = 14.35, SD = 3.42). We conducted Confirmatory Factor Analysis to compare the initial factor structure with different models mentioned in the literature. The results suggest that the scale has good psychometric properties, including good reliability and acceptable validity. The factor structure that showed the best fit to the data consisted of one general worry factor and two method factors representing wording effects. This study is part of a broader discussion on the factor structure of the PSWQ-C. The results suggest that the questionnaire is homogeneous and measures one latent variable, worry, despite a bifactorial model being the best fit for the data. The two sub-factors do not have any psychological meaning (“non-worrying”), but are only an effect related to the positive or negative wording of the scale’s statements.

Validation of the Hungarian version of the 6-item turnover intention scale among elderly care workers

This research examines the psychometric characteristics and reliability of the 6-item turnover intention scale (TIS-6) by Bothma and Roodt (SA J Hum Resour Manag 11:a507, 2013) on a Hungarian sample. The internal validity of the TIS-6 was assessed using data from 269 Hungarian elderly care institution workers. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to analyse the structural validity. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined with questions on job characteristics and using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale. IBM SPSS 28.0 software was used for the statistical analysis, and the results were considered significant at p < 0.05. The internal consistency of the questionnaire's scale proved to be acceptable (α = 0.826). Convergent validity was confirmed by the relationships between the components of the questionnaire and burnout (rs = 0.512; p < 0.001; rs = 0.419; p < 0.001) and workplace stress (rs = 0.565; p < 0.001; rs = 0.310; p < 0.001). There were significant differences between the TIS-6 scores among the groups with different degrees of burnout (p < 0.001), which indicated adequate discriminant validity of the questionnaire. The structural validity of the questionnaire was acceptable, and the scale questions fit well. The Hungarian version of the TIS-6 scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing turnover intention among elderly care institution workers in Hungary.

Construct Validity of the Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality – Self-Report Form (CAPP-SR)

The Comprehensive Assessment of Psychopathic Personality (CAPP) is a concept map developed to consolidate research on psychopathy. Recently, the CAPP – Self Report form (CAPP-SR) was developed, but its psychometric properties have not been extensively or independently investigated. The current study evaluated the internal consistency, factorial structure, and construct validity of the CAPP-SR in a large sample of undergraduate and community participants. No organizational structure was superior, but a theoretically supported three factor solution representing behavioral, affective, and interpersonal traits appeared to be the optimal solution. The CAPP-SR demonstrated overlap with other preexisting psychopathy measures and the three-factor solution evinced relatively good convergent and discriminant associations with external criteria. The CAPP-SR seems to measure a similar construct to psychopathy measures, though it remains unclear whether the new measure captures meaningful information neglected by other models or outperforms them in prediction of important outcomes.

Adaptation and Validation of the Post-Pandemic Health Promotion Behavior of Young Adults in the Digital Age (PS-SGD) Scale in the Turkish Population.

Young adulthood is a critical developmental period in which individuals establish life-long health behaviors and take responsibility for their own health care. Health promotion strategies tailored to young adults, leveraging digital tools, and addressing challenges exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic are needed. The aim of this study was to adapt the post-pandemic health promotion behavior of young adults in the digital age (PS-SGD) scale to the Turkish population in order to assess and compare the health behavior of young adults after the pandemic. A total of 312 participants, aged between 19 and 29 years, were included in the study via non-probabilistic criterion sampling, while the Turkish adaptation process started with translation and back translation methods performed with three language and two health science experts. For statistical analysis, EFA and CFA were conducted to evaluate internal consistency and structural validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to confirm the structure of the six sub-dimensions. Additionally, measurement invariance was examined regarding participants' gender to determine if the scale accurately captured similar traits across diverse groups. The relationship between the test-retest data was tested by Pearson correlation to measure consistency and its invariance over time. The gender distribution of the sample was found to be 61.3% female and 38.7% male. According to the results of EFA, items 8 and 18 were removed from the Turkish-adapted version. As a result of the reliability analysis conducted with the Turkish version of the scale, the Cronbach alpha coefficient was obtained as 0.851 for the post-pandemic health promotion behavior. Additionally, the scale was rated as reliable with the following Cronbach alpha values: 0.79 for the "personal hygiene", 0.78 for "dietary habits", 0.72 for "using mobile devices", 0.70 for "emotional health", 0.68 for "health care and physical activity", and 0.51 for "social health" sub-dimensions. To examine the six sub-dimension factor structures of the scale, fit indices were calculated as χ2/df (1.722), GFI (0.894), IFI (0.908), TLI (0.892), CFI (0.907), RMSEA (0.048), and SRMR (0.057) and were within acceptable limits. Findings of the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis for measurement invariance were less than or equal to 0.01 for the ∆CFI and ∆RMSEA values across all indices. Consequently, it was observed that the item-factor structure, factor loadings, variances, covariances, and error variances of the scale were equivalent for both male and female young adults, while test-retest results showed a high positive correlation. The Turkish version of the post-pandemic health promotion behavior scale of young adults in the digital age scale, consisting of 25 items and six subscales, was proven to be a valid and reliable tool to measure health promotion behavior in young adults aged 19-29 years.

Physical Education Teachers' Health Literacy: First Evidence from Lithuania.

Promotion of health literacy is an important goal in the context of promoting whole school health. Physical education teachers are of particular importance in achieving this goal. However, very limited empirical studies have addressed the health literacy of physical education teachers. This research aimed to test the structural validity and reliability of the HLS19-Q12, to measure health literacy among physical education teachers, and to evaluate associations of health literacy with health- and lifestyle-related indicators. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Lithuanian physical education teachers. The participants completed a self-administered online survey that collected information on socio-demographics and health literacy (HLS19-Q12 for general health literacy and the optional package HLS19-DIGI to measure digital health literacy) as well as health behavior. A total of 332 participants completed the survey. The HLS19-Q12 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's α of 0.73 and McDonald's ω of 0.75) and satisfactory structural validity (CFI = 0.924, TLI = 0.917, RMSEA = 0.081). Participants had an average score of 85.09 (SD = 17.23) when using the HLS19-Q12, with 19.3% and 48.8% displaying excellent and sufficient levels of health literacy, respectively. Regression analyses revealed that a higher level of health literacy was significantly associated with better health evaluation (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), but no significant association was found with other health behavior and lifestyle indicators. Overall, the results suggest that teachers' general health literacy is relatively high. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting more in-depth studies to pursue the understanding of the whole school teachers' health literacy.

Measurement properties of the Regular Physical Exercise Adherence Scale (REPEAS) in individuals with chronic pain

ObjectiveTo examine the measurement properties of the Regular Physical Exercise Adherence Scale (REPEAS) in Brazilians with chronic pain.MethodsCross-sectional and longitudinal design (washout period for reliability). The study was conducted in two Brazilian states, Maranhão and São Paulo, and included Brazilian adults, irregular exercisers, former exercisers or non-exercise practitioners, aged 18 to 59 years and with chronic pain. The instruments used in this study were: the REPEAS, the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (BHPAQ), the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for general pain (RMDQ-g). The evaluation focused on structural validity, construct validity, reliability (with standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change), internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects.ResultsThe two-dimensional structure was tested through confirmatory factor analysis, which resulted in adequate fit indeces: chi-square values/degrees of freedom = 1.541, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.966, comparative fit index = 0.974, root mean square error of approximation = 0.074, and standardized root mean square residual = 0.068. Additionally, satisfactory factor loadings (> 0.40) were obtained. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were adequate for the environmental factors domain (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.79, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88) and the personal factors domain (ICC = 0.97, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93). In hypothesis testing for construct validity, we observed a significant correlation with magnitude below 0.30 of the environmental factors domain of the REPEAS with RMDQ-g, PSEQ and sport domain of the BHPAQ. For the personal factors domain, we observed a significant correlation with a magnitude of 0.30 to 0.50 with RMDQ-g, PSEQ, and sport domain of the BHPAQ, and below 0.30 with leisure domain of the BHPAQ. No floor or ceiling effects were found for the REPEAS domains.ConclusionThe REPEAS is a valid instrument with a two-dimensional internal structure consisting of 12 items. It has a reliable construct and is suitable for use in the clinical and epidemiological context for adults with chronic pain in Brazil.

Assessment of the Validity and Reliability of an Arabic Version of Autism Behavior Checklist: One Center Study

Abstract Background Autism behavior checklist (ABC) is a list of questions concerning a child's behaviors as a part of a broader tool, the Autism screening instrument for educational planning (ASIEP). To date, this checklist has not been translated into Arabic, and therefore, it cannot be used with Arabic speaking patients. Objective To translate the Autism Behavior Checklist from English to Arabic and to assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version. Patients and Methods A total of 400 Arabic fluent mothers or caregivers of autistic and typically developed children aging 2-14 years recruited from Developmental and behavioral clinic and outpatient clinic-pediatrics hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University participated in the study. The Arabic version of Autism behavior checklist was checked for its structural validity and reliability. Results Of 400 children included in the study, the autism group consisted of 114 boys (76%) and 36 girls (24%), mean age was 7 years ± 1.8 years, and the typical development group consisted of 145 boys (58%) and 105 girls (42%),mean age was 7.4 years ±1.6 years. The Autism behavior checklist was translated following the international guidelines. Autism behavior checklist yielded a five factors model by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) statistic was (0.671), Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was statistically significant (P-value&amp;lt; 0.05) with chi square test value of (χ2 = 22231.064, df = 1596). Overall, the 75 items revealed good internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha was (0.972), the intra- class correlation coefficients (ICC) of the five subscales ranged from 0.423 to 0.677 (P &amp;lt; 0.01). At two weeks interval the ICC of the five subscales ranged from 0.335 to 0.856 and the total score was 0.869 (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Conclusion The Arabic version of Autism Behavior Checklist (AV-ABC) is a valid and reliable tool to screen and assess cases with autism spectrum disorder.

EduSEL-R – the refined educators’ social-emotional learning questionnaire: expanded scope and improved validity

ABSTRACT Educators’ Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is crucial for fostering positive, supportive, and effective learning environments. This study seeks to improve SEL assessment among educators by addressing limitations of the previous EduSEL questionnaire. Study 1 established convergent validity by comparing EduSEL with a validated SEL questionnaire. Study 2 focused on expanding the scope of the assessment, by adding new items. In Study 3, exploratory factor analysis yielded a four-factor structure comprising self-management, ethical problem solving, self and social awareness and relationship skills. In Study 4, the five most robust items from each subscale (20 items) were assessed in confirmatory factor analysis, yielding good model fit indices for the four-factor structure, high reliability (α = .92) and adequate convergent validity. To summarise, the EduSEL-R questionnaire exhibits closer alignment with the CASEL framework and encompasses additional SEL competencies. Thus, the current study contributes to the advancement of a comprehensive SEL assessment.

Reliability and validity study of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale in patients with cerebellar injury.

To preliminarily investigate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Scale (CCAS scale) in the cerebellar injury population. In this study, 40 patients with cerebellar injury and 39 normal individuals hospitalized in a stroke center were assessed using the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A, MMSE, and PHQ2, and the results were analyzed using content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, inter- rater agreement, and test-retest reliability. The correlation coefficients of semantic fluency, phonemic fluency, category switching, digit span forward, digit span backward, cube, verbal recall, similarities and Go No-Go subscores in the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A were 0.586-0.831 (P ≤ 0.05) with the total score, but there was no significant correlation between the affect and the total score (P = 0.110). The total cognitive score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A was correlated with the (r = 0.807, P ≤ 0.01), and the total score of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A affect was correlated with the total score of PHQ2 (r = 0.884, P ≤ 0.01). The 2 factors were extracted using principal component analysis, and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 59.633%. The factor loadings of each of the corresponding factors were > 0.5, indicating good structural validity of the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A. Cronbach α = 0.827 indicated good internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability (ICC > 0.95) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.717-0.895)indicated that the Chinese version of the CCAS scale A had good inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability. The Chinese version of the CCAS scale A has good reliability and validity in the cerebellar injury population and is useful for screening cerebellar cognitive-emotional syndrome.

Psychometric properties of the Short-Form Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire among nursing students in China: A confirmatory factor analysis.

To analyse the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Chinese Short-Form Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF) among nursing students in the Chinese mainland. A cross-sectional study. A total of 240 undergraduate nursing students were recruited from a school of nursing in Beijing, China from 25 to 30 April 2021. FFMQ-SF and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale were used to collect information on the mindfulness level and mental health status of the study participants. Descriptive analyses were performed to examine the demographic characteristics. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were used to test the structural, convergent and discriminant validity of the scale model. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between the variables and the criterion validity. The overall fit of the scale model is good (Bollen-Stine χ2 = 177.206, df = 142, GFI = 0.923, AGFI = 0.883, TLI = 0.980, CFI = 0.983, RMSEA = 0.032, SRMR = 0.090). One-factor models using CFA demonstrated the overall best fit for four out of five subscales of the FFMQ-SF. In the five-factor CFA of the FFMQ-SF, the composite reliability values of the five factors were from 0.685 to 0.870 and the values of average variance extracted were from 0.426 to 0.627. The students who participated in this study contributed to the advancement of knowledge on mindfulness and mental health among nursing students in China. They voluntarily completed the online questionnaires and provided their honest and valid responses. Their data was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the FFMQ-SF and to examine the relationship between mindfulness and psychological problems. Their feedback also helped to improve the quality and applicability of the FFMQ-SF instrument for future research and practice.