Subscale Structure Research Articles

Validating measurement of social norms for entertainment-education: a five-factor model.

Though the measurement of social norms is important for evaluating entertainment-education interventions, there is a dearth of validity evidence for measuring tools to assess different social norm constructs. Identical survey items were used to assess family planning norms among married Zambian women in 2019 and 2022 following an entertainment-education radio program intervention. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used for confirmation of the internal structure of several subscales used to measure social norms found in a previous study. There were no statistically significant demographic differences between participant groups at T1 and T2. CFA supported a five-factor model at T2 comprising descriptive norms (4 items), outcome expectations (3 items), and 3 different constructs capturing injunctive norms (3 items each). Results indicate good structural validity evidence for measuring social norms in entertainment-education using existing tools.

Sensitized Reynolds stress modeling of a bubbly jet emerging into a water cross-flow

The present work is concerned with the computational study of an air–water mixture stream emanating from a nozzle submerged in a water cross-flow inside a rectangular open channel to form a curved, intensively dispersed, bubbly jet. The work focuses on evaluating the predictive performance of an eddy-resolving turbulence model applied to the described case of a multiphase gas-liquid flow system characterized by a variety of closely coupled phenomena, including: turbulence anisotropy-induced secondary motion, free surface flow, bubbly jet propagation, and the varying interaction dynamics of the carrier water flow with the air bubble dispersion. Correspondingly, an appropriately extended differential near-wall Reynolds stress model, which describes the dynamics of unresolved subscale structures within the Sensitized Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) computational framework, is currently used in conjunction with a two-way coupled Euler–Lagrange approach to simulate this gas-water bubbly flow, with the operating and boundary conditions following the experimental reference of Zhang and Zhu (2013). Accordingly, the conditions at the free surface are adequately derived for all components of the residual turbulence stress tensor and the corresponding length scale determining variable. It is shown that the statistics of the bubble phase can be accurately captured, and the proper-orthogonal-decomposition analysis of the dynamic properties of the flow reveals at least two large-scale transient effects associated with the bubbly jet. Furthermore, in the preliminary part of this work it is shown that the currently applied turbulence model can be successfully used to correctly capture the effects of Reynolds stress anisotropy in the single-phase open-channel configuration, representing the incoming flow field of the main two-phase flow configuration.

The Family Climate Questionnaire: A general measure of autonomy support from family members.

The current study examines the psychometric characteristics of the Family Climate Questionnaire (FCQ), which was intended to measure the degree of autonomy-support among family members for a respondent with health concerns. The sample included military veterans (N = 350), a portion of whom had congestive heart failure (N = 86) or diabetes (N = 77), and a portion who were referred from primary care for behavioral health concerns (N = 187). Overall, 92.6% of the participants were male, and 56.7% were Black or African American and 40.6% were Caucasian. The findings highly supported the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the Autonomy Support subscale. In addition, there was high support for factorial invariance across subsamples of veterans with chronic medical problems compared to those referred from primary care. The findings for an additional subscale developed for this study, Coercion, were less supportive, with insufficient convergence in factor structure and relatively poorer internal consistency. The FCQ Autonomy Support measure appears to have potential as a useful measure of a family environment that supports autonomy for health among individuals with both medical and mental health conditions, and it is a flexible measure that can be used with a range of family member types. The FCQ Coercion measure received less consistent empirical support and will require additional development and testing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Validity, reliability, responsiveness, and clinically meaningful change threshold estimates of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Symptom Index (NFBSI-16)

BackgroundBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Patient-reported outcome measures are used to evaluate patients’ health-related quality of life in clinical breast cancer studies. This study evaluated the structure, validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Symptom Index (NFBSI-16) subscales in a clinical trial featuring patients with advanced/metastatic breast cancer (aBC), and estimated NFBSI-16 meaningful change thresholds.MethodsData from 101 patients with aBC enrolled in a phase II trial (Xenera-1) were included for psychometric evaluation of the NFBSI-16. Subscale structure was evaluated by assessing inter-item correlations, item-total correlations, and internal consistency (cycles 2 and 5). Validity was assessed using scale-level convergent validity (cycles 2 and 5) and known-groups (Baseline). Reliability was analysed via test-retest at cycles 3–4, and responsiveness to improvement and worsening was evaluated at cycles 5, 7, and 9. Meaningful change thresholds were estimated using anchor-based methods (supported by distribution-based methods) at cycles 5, 7, and 9.ResultsNFBSI-16 internal consistency was acceptable, but item-total correlations suggested that its subscales and the GP5 item (side-effect of treatment) scores may be preferred over a total score. Convergent and known-groups evidence supported NFBSI-16 validity. Test-retest reliability was good to excellent for Total and DRS-P (disease-related symptoms: physical) scales, and moderate for the GP5 item. Responsiveness to worsening was generally demonstrated, but responsiveness to improvement could not be demonstrated due to limited observed improvement. Anchor-based meaningful change thresholds were estimated for DRS-P and Total scores.ConclusionThis study provides evidence that the NFBSI-16 has desirable psychometric properties for use in clinical studies in aBC. It also provides estimates of group- and individual-level meaningful change thresholds to facilitate score interpretation in future aBC research.

Turkish cross-cultural adaptation, construct validity, and reliability of the treatment expectations in chronic pain scale.

Measuring treatment expectations using the Treatment Expectations in Chronic Pain (TEC) scale has the potential to help clinicians and researchers better understand the role that treatment expectations play within the framework of multimodal pain management settings. The purpose of this study is to determine the cross-cultural adaptation, construct validity and reliability of the TEC Scale in the Turkish language. The study included 191 volunteers aged 22-65 with chronic musculoskeletal diseases. This study composed of a six-stage cross-cultural adaptation process, which included translation, translation synthesis, back-translation, expert committee review, pre-testing and documentation submission. The Positivity Scale and Illness Cognition Questionnaire were used to measure convergent validity while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to test divergent validity. The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the TEC scale was examined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Scale's internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's alpha. Pearson correlation coefficients were utilized to evaluate both convergent and divergent validity. The significance level was set at p < .05. The results of the CFA showed that factor structure of predicted subscale fitted well the data (x2/df = 3,07;CFI = 0,91,IFI = 0,91 TLI = 0,87,RMSEA = 0,10). The results of the CFA indicated that factor structure of ideal subscale fitted well with the data (x2/df = 2,38;CFI = 0,92,IFI = 0,93,TLI = 0,90,RMSEA = 0,08). Both subscales of the TEC were strongly correlated. The predicted subscale had moderate relationships to depression, anxiety, and positivity (r=-0.37 to r = 0.55) but poor correlations with measures of acceptance, perceived benefits and helplessness (r=-0.24 to 0.35). The ideal subscale had moderate correlations with measures of positivity (r = 0.36) and depression (r=-0.38) but poor correlations with measures of acceptance, perceived benefits helplessness and anxiety (r = 0.14). The Turkish version of the TEC scale is acceptable, valid, and reliable for use in Turkish patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in physiotherapy outpatient practice.

Turkish version of a short nutrition literacy scale for young adults: cultural adaptation and validation.

Recent changes in nutrition trends may lead to health issues. In particular, the unhealthy eating habits of young adults suggest that future generations may be at risk. Therefore, the importance and necessity of nutrition literacy is becoming increasingly apparent. The purpose of this study was to create a Turkish version of a short nutrition literacy (S-NutLit-Tr) scale for young adults developed by Vrinten et al (2023). This research involved 115 young adults from Istanbul Gelişim University, who were selected through convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling method. After the original S-NutLit scale was translated into Turkish, the validity and reliability of the determined factor structure were tested on 115 young adults. Internal consistency was examined with the Cronbach Alpha coefficient. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to validate the two sub-scale structures. Finally, measurement invariance was tested concerning participants' gender, aiming to ascertain whether the scale captured equivalent characteristics across different groups. As a result of the reliability analysis conducted with the scale of S-NutLit-Tr, the Cronbach Alpha coefficient was obtained as 0.86 for the scale of S-NutLit-Tr. Additionally, it was found to be 0.84 and 0.77 for the "information skills" and "expert skills" sub-scales, respectively. Accordingly, the scale of S-NutLit-Tr was found to be reliable. To examine the two sub-scale factor structures of the S-NutLit-Tr scale, fit indices were examined: χ2/df (1.246), GFI (0.923), IFI (0.975), TLI (0.967), CFI (0.974), RMSEA (0.046), and SRMR (0.055) and it was observed that the indices were within acceptable limits. In the analysis results obtained through the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis for measurement invariance, it was observed that the ∆CFI and ∆TLI values across all indices were less than or equal to 0.01. 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. The study found that the scale of S-NutLit-Tr for young adults was a valid and reliable measurement tool in Turkish culture.

The Turkish Version of a Personal Responsibility Scale for Chinese College Students: Adaptation and Validation.

The purpose of this study is to carry out the Turkish adaptation study of the personal responsibility scale developed by Ren et al for Chinese university students and to examine the validity and reliability of the adapted scale. The original scale was developed to determine the personal responsibility levels of Chinese university students. This research is very important in terms of determining the personal responsibility levels of Turkish university students. This research involved university students, who were selected through purposeful sampling, a non-probability sampling method. After the original scale was translated into Turkish, a pilot study was conducted on 165 students and exploratory factor analysis was conducted to reveal the scale structure. The validity and reliability of the determined factor structure was tested on 259 students. Internal consistency was obtained with the Cronbach Alpha coefficient. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to check the validity of the two subscale structure. To examine the two-dimensional factor structure of the scale, fit indices were examined: X2/df (1.591), GFI (0.949), IFI (0.937), TLI (0.920), CFI (0.936), RMSEA (0.048) and SRMR (0.050) and It was observed that the indices were within acceptable limits. In the analysis results conducted with the multi-group confirmatory factor analysis method for measurement invariance, it was observed that ∆CFI and ∆TLI values among all metrics were less than or equal to 0.010. The Turkish version of the personal responsibility scale for Chinese college students, consisting of 12 items and two subscales, was proven to be a confirmatory and reliable tool to measure university students' awareness of personal responsibility.

We got this: Evaluating racial socialization competency among diverse ethnic-racial groups.

Historically, research on racial socialization (RS) has centered on frequency, beliefs, and content of parent-child communications, with varied applications and implications across racial and ethnic subgroups. The Racial Socialization Competency Scale (RaSCS; Anderson et al., 2020) was developed to assess three dimensions of a novel construct, RS competency (confidence, skills, stress), among Black caregivers. In this article, we investigated the psychometric properties of the RaSCS across diverse ethnic-racial groups. Participants were 778 caregivers (Mage = 44.4 years) of youth between the ages of 10 and 18 recruited from across the United States. The sample was intentionally racially and ethnically diverse, with 26.1% identifying as Black, 24.2% identifying as Latinx, 24.9% identifying as Asian American, and 24.8% identifying as White. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated the previously identified structure of the RaSCS subscales, and scores were reliable. Multigroup measurement invariance analyses supported full scalar invariance across the four racial/ethnic subgroups for the Confidence, Skills, and General RS Stress subscales and partial scalar invariance for the Call to Action RS Stress subscale. These findings suggest that the RaSCS is an appropriate tool for assessing RS competency across racial and ethnic groups and that RS competency as a universal construct is relevant across groups. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Emotion Beliefs Questionnaire: Psychometric properties, norms, and links to affective outcomes

BackgroundThe Emotion Beliefs Questionnaire was recently developed to measure beliefs about the controllability and usefulness of negative and positive emotions. These are beliefs that have been theorised to be influential for emotion regulation and psychological outcomes. However, to date there are few studies utilising large, representative samples to examine the EBQ's psychometric properties and affective correlates. Our aim was to fill this gap by examining the EBQ's psychometric properties and exploring associations between emotion beliefs, emotion regulation, and affective disorder symptoms. MethodsA sample of 1175 adults recruited from the general population in the United States completed measures of emotion beliefs, emotion regulation, and affective disorder symptoms. ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses supported the EBQ's intended subscale structure, where controllability and usefulness beliefs were separated by valence. This structure was invariant across gender, age, and education categories. The EBQ correlated in expected ways with other measures, demonstrating good validity, and had good to excellent levels of internal consistency reliability. LimitationsThis study used a non-clinical sample that was predominantly White. Future work should utilise clinical and cross-cultural samples to maximise generalisability of findings. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the EBQ is a psychometrically sound tool for measuring the multidimensional emotion belief construct. The EBQ may have clinical utility in the conceptualisation, assessment, and treatment of maladaptive emotion beliefs. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of considering the potential influence of maladaptive emotion beliefs in emotion dysregulation and affective disorder symptoms.

Translation of SCAR-Q into Finnish and psychometric validation of the Finnish version

BackgroundAn effective patient-reported outcome measure for scars is needed to assess scar treatments and thus improve scar management. The recently developed SCAR-Q questionnaire for all scar types, which consists of the Appearance, Symptom, and Psychosocial impact scales, has been developed with patients’ input. The aim of this study was to translate the SCAR-Q into Finnish and to assess its psychometric properties in burn patients. MethodsThe translation protocol followed the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research guidelines. Participants for the psychometric validation of the Finnish SCAR-Q were adults with deep second or third degree burns treated with skin grafting in the Helsinki Burn Centre between 2006 and 2017. Internal consistency was assessed by using Crohnbach’s alpha and reliability by using ICC, SEM, R values, and Mann-Whitney U-test. The internal structure of each SCAR-Q subscale was investigated by using exploratory factor analysis. Results190 burn patients participated in the psychometric validation of the Finnish SCAR-Q. 135 (71.1 %) of the participants were male. Ceiling effect was present in all subscales. Internal consistency was excellent with all subscales, Crohnbach’s alpha 0.97, 0.91, and 0.94. Reliability was good in all subscales, ICC 0.84, 0.88, and 0.91. The parallel analysis suggested inclusion of one factor into factor analysis for the Appearance scale and the Psychosocial impact scale, whereas two factors for the Symptom scale. ConclusionThe Finnish version of the SCAR-Q is equivalent with the original scale, showed excellent internal consistency, factor analysis confirmed it for the Appearance and Psychosocial impact scale, and demonstrated good reliability with all subscales when used in assessing burn scars.

Adaptation and validation of the Polish version of the team boosting behaviors scale

PurposeThe article aims to present the results of adapting the team boosting behaviors (TBB) scale to Polish cultural conditions and validating it.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology consisted of three steps. In the first step, I translated the TBB scale into Polish using a rigorous back-translation method. Next, to assess content validity, nine domain experts reviewed the initial version of the instrument for clarity and relevance. Finally, I applied the scale to a sample of 532 team members and underwent thorough psychometric testing to assess construct validity. I employed structural equation modeling (SEM) with the partial least squares (PLS) factor-based algorithm technique for confirmatory factor analysis to assess the scale’s reliability and validity.FindingsAfter development, the Polish version of the TBB scale kept its three sub-scale structures. However, the validation process led to a slight reduction in the number of test items compared to the original scale.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings imply that the Polish version of the scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing TBB. However, I recommend additional studies to confirm this instrument’s structure.Originality/valueThe results confirmed the reliability and relevance of the tool for measuring TBBs in Polish cultural conditions. The tool provides the basis for implementing further research with the TBB construct in Poland and internationally.

Empathy and Schizotypy: A Network Comparison of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index in High and Low Schizotypy Groups.

Empathy is a multifaceted concept that is vital to effective social functioning; yet, it is impaired in high schizotypy groups. Furthermore, empathy has been found to be a mediator in the relationship between schizotypy and social functioning, highlighting the importance of empathy as a driver in social outcomes. Despite this, the four-factor structure of a widely-used measure of empathy-the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)-has been found to be psychometrically weak in high schizotypy samples. As such, this study aimed to assess differences in the item-level network of the IRI between high (n = 427) and low schizotypy groups (n = 470). The results reveal that there are significant differences in the structure of these networks, though they evidence similar strengths. Within the high schizotypy group, the network structure was consistent with the four-factor structure of the IRI subscales; items from each subscale clustered together and were distinct from those in the other subscales. By contrast, the low schizotypy group evidenced six clusters that did not mirror the IRI subscales. These results suggest that the item-level structure of the IRI is dependent upon the level of schizotypy of the sample, with the high schizotypy group's network functioning similarly to what would be expected from the original four-factor structure.

The Swedish version of the Alabama parenting questionnaire: Psychometric evaluation and norm data.

The Alabama parenting questionnaire (APQ) is a commonly used instrument for assessing parenting practices and evaluating treatment outcomes of parent-training interventions targeting child conduct problems. In the present study we translated and developed a Swedish version of the APQ parent version and tested it on a community sample of 799 parents of children between 6 and 15 years with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected through an online survey distributed through school newsletters and social media. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) suggested a five-factor model with 23 items. Four of these factors correspond to the subscales suggested in the original version of the APQ: inconsistent discipline, poor monitoring, involvement, and positive parenting. The fifth subscale from the original APQ, corporal punishment, did not show up as a factor in our data sample. Instead, a new factor, which we refer to as contingency management, was revealed. A confirmatory factor analysis further suggested some misalignment between the original APQ subscale structure and our sample, which we interpret as a signal that the instrument may need refinement to better reflect contemporary parenting methods in diverse cultural contexts. Despite this limitation, and with the exclusion of the corporal punishment subscale, which should be employed judiciously, our results suggest that the Swedish version of the APQ can be a useful instrument in measuring parenting practices in Sweden. We present norm data stratified by child age, which practitioners and researchers can use as a reference for assessment of parenting practices in the Swedish population.

Adaptation and validation of the Adherence Barriers Questionnaire for HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ABQ-HIV) for the Brazilian context.

Despite significant advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, adherence remains a challenge. While Brazil has validated scales for treatment adherence, few assess treatment adherence barriers. This underscores the necessity for validated questionnaires on adherence barriers to identify patient-specific challenges and enhance strategies for ART adherence. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Adherence Barriers Questionnaire for HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ABQ-HIV), a 17-item questionnaire assessing the adherence barriers to ART, for the Brazilian context and to evaluate its psychometric properties in HIV patients. A methodological study on the psychometric properties and factorial structure of ABQ-HIV was conducted. The study followed seven steps: consent of the original authors, two translations, synthesis of the translations, expert committee, back-translation, pre-test, and reliability test. A high content validity index (0.93) was achieved with the expert committee. The study sample consisted of 230 adults with HIV, with 37.0 (29.3-45.0) years as the median age (IQR), and 52.2% were male. The exploratory factor analysis with a three subscales structure of 17 items showed good interpretability (Bartlett's sphericity (1167.2 [136]; p < 0.001) and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin = 0.602) and internal consistency (α = 0.76; Ω = 0.76). The fit indicators were satisfactory (χ2 = 89.931; df = 88; p > 0.005; RMSEA = 0.010; RMSR = 0.07; CFI = 0.996; GFI = 0.940; AGFI = 0.907; NNFI = 0.995). The Brazilian version of ABQ-HIV is a potential instrument for identifying specific barriers to adherence to ART in adults living with HIV in Brazil.

Examining Rates of Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Among Autistic Adults.

Autistic adults experience high rates of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, less is known about how autistic adults experience (i.e., by directly experiencing, witnessing, and/or learning about) distinct types of traumatic events (e.g., social, nonsocial traumas). Little research has considered whether the four-factor structure of PTSD symptom domains (e.g., avoidance, intrusions, hypervigilance, negative mood/cognition) can be applied for autistic adults. Lastly, understanding how demographic factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity) relate to rates of traumatic events and symptoms among autistic adults is critical for understanding disparities relating to PTSD. Therefore, the current study aims to examine self-reported traumatic events and PTSD symptoms, and identify associations with demographic factors, among autistic adults. Participants included 276 autistic adults and a nationally representative sample of 361 nonautistic adults who completed online measures, including the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Short, and Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Analyses focused on evaluating group differences in traumatic events and symptoms and considered associations with demographic factors. Autistic adults reported significantly higher rates of directly experiencing, witnessing, and learning about traumatic events than nonautistic adults, including more interpersonal events (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault) and fewer transportation accidents than nonautistic adults. Autistic adults also reported significantly higher levels of all PTSD symptom clusters than nonautistic adults. A confirmatory factor analysis and follow-up invariance analyses of the PCL-5 revealed that the four-factor Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) PTSD symptom subscale structure was equivalent across groups of autistic and nonautistic adults. Autistic adults experienced more traumatic events and PTSD symptoms overall, particularly more interpersonal traumas and hyperarousal and negative mood/cognition symptoms than nonautistic adults. Future research should examine outcomes of trauma exposure, identify protective factors, and examine efficacy of trauma-focused treatments for autistic individuals, in partnership with autistic adults.

Psychometric Analysis of the Patient-Reported Hypoparathyroidism Symptom Diary Symptom Subscale Using Data from Two Clinical Trials.

The hypoparathyroidism symptom diary (HypoPT-SD) is a disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool comprising a 7-item symptom subscale, a 4-item impact subscale and 1-item anxiety, and sadness or depression components. This analysis assessed the psychometric properties of the HypoPT-SD symptom subscale scores using data from two open-label, single arm, Phase 4 studies (Study 402 and Study 404). Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. All patients received recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) during the analysis period. Scores were recorded at baseline, and at months 6, 30 and 36 (end of treatment [EOT]) in Study 402, and at baseline and week 52 (EOT) in Study 404. The structure of the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale was analyzed by measuring correlations between pairs of item scores; internal consistency and reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's coefficient α; test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation; and construct validity was determined by performing correlational analyses between scores recorded using the HypoPT-SD and those for other conceptually similar PRO tools. A total of 60 patients were included in the analysis. Inter-item pairwise correlations were strong for all but 5 of the item pairs analysed. Cronbach's α values for the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale were 0.88 using data from Study 402 and 0.92 using data from Study 404. In general, the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale scores had moderate or strong correlations with scores recorded using PRO tools. Intraclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.70 using test-retest data from all patients in Study 402 and from a subgroup of patients with stable disease from Study 404. This analysis demonstrated the test-retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity of the HypoPT-SD using data from longitudinal prospective studies and supports the use of the HypoPT-SD in future clinical studies.

B - 49 Exploring the Factor Structure of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Impact on Processing Speed Performance.

The present study investigated: 1) factor structure of the Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) sub-scale from the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-4th Edition (BAARS-IV) and 2) the association between SCT sub-factors and processing speed. Cross-sectional data were collected from 586 adults undergoing neuropsychological evaluation for suspected attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at an academic medical center. Patients were excluded if they failed two or more performance validity tests and/or had not completed all measures. Final sample included 155 patients (Mage = 28.52; Meducation = 16.26; 63.2% female; 38.1% White, 21.9% Hispanic, 20% Black, 12.9% Asian, 7.1% other race/ethnicity; 69% diagnosed with ADHD). Factor structure of the SCT sub-scale was investigated via exploratory factor analysis with Oblimin rotation. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to assess the relationship between SCT sub-factors and processing speed (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4th Edition, Processing Speed Index), controlling for estimated intelligence (Test of Premorbid Functioning) and self-reported inattention (Clinical Assessment of Attention Deficit-Adult). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure [KMO = 0.78] and Bartlett's test [χ2(36) = 469,p < 0.001] suggested the data were factorable. Parallel analysis scree plot suggested a two-factor solution: "Cognitive Complaints" and "Lethargy" accounting for 46.3% of SCT scale variance. Only Lethargy predicted processing speed in the first (beta = -0.221, p < 0.05) and final models (beta = -0.197, p < 0.05). The overall model including estimated intelligence and inattention accounted for 6.2% of the variance in processing speed (F(4,150) = 3.57, p < 0.05). Previous studies demonstrated mixed results of two or three sub-factors of SCT including daydreaming, lethargy, and/or cognitive complaints. Present findings support the more parsimonious two-factor solution in a clinical sample. Higher lethargy complaints are modestly associated with poorer processing speed.

Secondary flow and thermal field dynamics in a T-junction with an upstream elbow: A POD-aided, eddy-sensitized Reynolds-stress modeling study

The thermal mixing of the flow-crossing streams in a T-shaped pipe junction configuration with the main branch inflow forming an elbow is presently simulated by applying a RANS-based eddy-resolving model of turbulence. The low-temperature main stream enters the T-junction with a Reynolds number of Rem=107893 after passing through a 90o-turned elbow located upstream. The high temperature branch stream is injected perpendicularly into the main stream at a Reynolds number of Rem=5422. A significant difference between the flow velocities of the two streams leads to the formation of a characteristic mixing process resembling a reattached jet configuration. Of particular interest is the interference of the branch flow with the main flow characterized by secondary vortices – the so – called Dean vortices, that are convected from the curved main inlet generating a low-rank mixing structures in its wake. The reference LES-based (Large-Eddy Simulation) database is provided by Tunstall et al. (2016). The computational framework relying on the scale-adaptive turbulence modeling approach, introduced principally by Menter and Egorov (2010), is used to simulate the dynamics of large-scale turbulent structures with moderate spatial and temporal resolution requirements. The motion of unresolved subscale structures is described by an appropriately sensitized differential near-wall Reynolds stress model according to Jakirlić and Maduta (2015). In addition, Proper-Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) is used to analyze the prevailing flow and thermal field mechanisms. The results obtained show a reasonable level of agreement with the LES reference, both from the standpoint of first-order statistics and spectral reproduction of the dynamics of coherent structures.

Psychometric Properties of the Polish Version of the Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale

The Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale (PERS) is a 30-item self-report questionnaire that assesses the ease of activation, intensity, and duration of negative and positive emotions. Our study aimed to introduce and validate the Polish version of the PERS. The study was performed on a sample of 491 people (349 females and 142 males) aged 18–84 (M = 24.78, SD = 10.96). The factor structure was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed based on the relationship between the PERS and markers of anxiety, depression, and stress. For assessing criterion validity, we conducted a set of multiple regression analyses to examine whether PERS scores could predict significant variance in these mental health symptoms. We examined discriminant validity by conducting a second-order exploratory factor analysis of PERS scores and anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Our results indicated strong factorial validity, conforming to the intended 6-factor (subscale) structure. As expected, all PERS subscales correlated in expected directions with markers of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. The PERS showed good discriminant validity in terms of measuring an emotional reactivity construct across positive and negative emotions that was separable from people’s current level of distress. Internal consistency reliability was also good. Overall, the Polish version of the PERS appears to have good psychometric properties as a comprehensive measure of emotional reactivity.

Aberrant Salience Inventory: A meta-analysis to investigate its psychometric properties and identify screening cutoff scores.

The Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI) is a useful tool to measure salience abnormalities among the general population. There is strong clinical and scientific evidence that salience alteration is linked to psychosis. To the present day, no meta-analysis evaluating ASI's psychometric properties and screening potential has been published. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase were searched using terms including "psychosis," "schizophrenia," and "Aberrant Salience Inventory." Observational and experimental studies employing ASI on populations of non-psychotic controls and patients with psychosis were included. ASI scores and other demographic measures (age, gender, ethnicity) were extracted as outcomes. Individual patients' data (IPD) were collected. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the IPD. Eight articles were finally included in the meta-analysis. ASI scores differ significantly between psychotic and non-psychotic populations; a novel three-factor model is proposed regarding subscales structure. Theoretical positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) were calculated and presented together with different cutoff points depending on preselected specific populations of interest. PPV and NPV values reached levels adequate for ASI to be considered a viable screening tool for psychosis. The factor analysis highlights the presence of a novel subscale that was named "Unveiling experiences." Implications regarding the meaning of the new factor structure are discussed, as well as ASI's potential as a screening tool.