Bruno Figueiredo Damásio

Adaptação e validação de instrumentos psicológicos entre culturas: algumas considerações

The adaptation of psychological instruments is a complex process that requires a high methodological rigor. Because there is no consensus in the literature about its steps, this article discuss some essential aspects regarding the cross- cultural adaptation of psychological instruments and proposes guidelines to the researchers about the different steps of this process. Some considerations regarding the validation of the adapted instrument are also presented. In this stage, we discuss some aspects regarding the factorial structure of the instrument, which might be evaluated through statistical procedures, such as exploratory and confi rmatory factor analysis. More than that, the authors provide some guidelines to the validation of psychological instruments in different cultures.

14-Item Resilience Scale (RS-14): Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version

The Resilience Scale (RS) was developed to evaluate the levels of resilience in the general population. Its reduced version (RS-14) has presented reliable internal consistency and external validity. However, its psychometric properties have not been systematically evaluated. The objective of this study was to present the psychometric properties of the Brazilian RS-14. A total of 1,139 subjects selected by convenience (62.9% women) from 14 to 59 years old (M = 26.1, SD = 11.61) participated in the study. Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and parallel analysis were conducted in order to assess the factor structure of the scale. A 13-item single-factor solution was achieved. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and multigroup CFA (MGCFA) corroborated the goodness of fit and measurement invariance of the obtained exploratory solution. The levels of resilience correlated negatively with depression and positively with meaning in life and self-efficacy.

Contribuições da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória Multigrupo (AFCMG) na avaliação de invariância de instrumentos psicométricos

The Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA) is a structural equation modeling technique which evaluates to what extent the configuration and the parameters of a psychometric instrument are invariant (equivalent) in several groups. This technique is being presented as an important resource in the development, use, evaluation and refinement of psychometric instruments. However, in Brazil, there is a significant lack of publications considering the topic. Thus, the present study discusses the MGCFA technique, presenting its potentialities. Throughout the article, three major topics are covered: the different models to be tested, the issue of complete and partial measurement invariance, and the measurement invariance evaluation. It is expected that this article assist researchers in the comprehension, interpretation and use of the MGCFA.

Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe): Psychometric Properties and Sociodemographic Findings in a Large Brazilian Sample

This study presents the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe-BR). Participants were 3.034 subjects (63.9% women), ranging in age from 18 to 91 years. Reliability analysis, parallel analysis (PA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were employed to evaluate the structure and reliability of the SoMe-BR. Through PA and ESEM, a five-dimension structure for the 26 sources of meaning was achieved. CFAs supported meaningfulness and crisis of meaning as two distinct constructs. Convergent validity within the SoMe-BR and between the SoMe-BR and other scales were also achieved. Regarding the SoMe scores and sociodemographic variables, significant main effects were found for gender, age groups and marital status. Our results corroborate the international literature, which claims in favor of the SoMe as a reliable measure to evaluate meaning in life contents in different cultural contexts.

Impact Evaluation of a Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy Model in Brazilian Sexually Abused Girls

This study evaluated the impact of a cognitive behavioral group therapy model in Brazilian girls who had experienced sexual abuse. The effect of the waiting period before treatment and the enduring effectiveness of the treatment after six and 12 months were also evaluated. Forty-nine female sexual abuse victims between the ages of 9 and 16 completed instruments measuring depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder before, during, and after the group therapy. The group therapy had a positive impact on their psychological functioning, significantly reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The therapeutic effects lasted six to 12 months after the treatment ended. The model proved effective for treating young female victims of sexual abuse.

The Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale - Revised (ASAS-R): adaptation and construct validity in the Brazilian context.

Este estudo apresenta as propriedades psicometricas da versao brasileira da Escala de Avaliacao de Agenciamento de Autocuidados - Revisada (ASAS-R). Participaram 627 sujeitos (69,8 mulheres), com idades entre 18 e 88 anos (media = 38,3; DP = 13,26). Com uma primeira parte da amostra (n1 = 200), uma analise fatorial exploratoria encontrou uma solucao de tres fatores com indices de confiabilidade adequados. Com uma segunda parte (n2 = 427), duas analises fatoriais confirmatorias testaram a solucao exploratoria e a solucao original. A validade convergente foi avaliada utilizando-se a Escala de Felicidade Subjetiva, a Escala de Satisfacao com a Vida, e o 36-item Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2). Todos os indicadores de validade se mostraram adequados. O nivel de agenciamento de autocuidados apresentou correlacoes significativas com a idade, nivel educacional e renda. Em uma parcela da amostra, composta por pacientes com doenca cronica (n = 134), foi encontrado que quanto maior o nivel de agenciamento de autocuidados menor o impacto negativo da doenca cronica no cotidiano desses sujeitos.This study presents the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale - Revised (ASAS-R). The sample was made up of 627 subjects (69.8% women) aged between 18 and 88 years (mean = 38.3; SD = 13.26) from 17 Brazilian states. Exploratory factor analysis of part of the sample (n1 = 200) yielded a three-factor solution which showed adequate levels of reliability. Two confirmatory factor analyses of the other part of the sample (n2 = 427) tested both the exploratory and the original model. The analysis of convergent validity using the Subjective Happiness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2) demonstrated adequate levels of validity. A significant correlation was found between levels of self-care agency and age, level of education and income. The analysis of sample members with chronic disease (n = 134) showed that higher levels of self-care agency indicated lower levels of negative impact of the chronic illness in the individuals everyday life.

Dimensionalidade da Escala de Estresse Percebido (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-10) em uma Amostra de Professores

The present study aimed to investigate the dimensionality of the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) in a sample of school teachers (N = 517). An exploratory factor analysis done by the extraction method of minimum rank factor analysis, using polychoric correlation matrix and parallel analysis criterion for factor retention, indicated a one-factor solution as the best fit to the data. The items showed adequate factor loadings and the retained factor explained 67% of common scores variance, presenting internal consistency (a = .80). This study provides validity evidences of the PSS-10 for the Brazilian context.

Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate overt aggression and reactions to peer aggression

This study presents the psychometric properties of the Peer Aggressive and Reactive Behaviors Questionnaire (PARB-Q), a self-report questionnaire to measure child overt aggression (PA) and reaction to peer aggression (RPA). Participants were 587 Italian elementary school children, aged 7-10 years (51.5% female). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses presented a one-factor solution for the PA scale and a three-factor solution for the RPA scale (reactive aggression, seeking teacher support and internalizing reaction), presenting adequate reliability and goodness-of-fit indexes for both scales. Criterion validity presented satisfactory evidence. The PARB-Q appears to be a psychometrically sound tool to evaluate aggressive behavior and reactions to peer aggression in elementary school children.

Psychometric properties of the positivity scale - Brazilian version

Este estudo apresenta as propriedades psicometricas da versao brasileira da Escala de Positividade (EP). Participaram 730 sujeitos (65,0% mulheres), com idades entre 17 e 70 anos (M = 31,0; DP = 11,43) de 21 estados brasileiros. A amostra foi dividida em duas metades para a validacao cruzada dos resultados. Com a primeira metade da amostra (n1 = 365), foi conduzida uma analise fatorial exploratoria (AFE). Com a segunda metade da amostra (n2 = 365), foi conduzida uma analise fatorial confirmatoria (AFC) para avaliar a adequacao do modelo exploratorio. Validade convergente e diferencas entre grupos tambem foram avaliadas. A AFE e a AFC indicaram o modelo unidimensional para a EP. Correlacoes moderadas foram encontradas entre a EP e medidas de saude mental, felicidade subjetiva e satisfacao com a vida. Os niveis de positividade apresentaram correlacoes positivas fracas com as variaveis idade, nivel educacional e renda. Resultados significativos, com baixo tamanho de efeito, foram encontrados nos niveis de positividade em relacao a status ocupacional e estado civil. A positividade parece estar mais relacionada a disposicoes pessoais do que com caracteristicas sociodemograficas. Os resultados sugerem que a EP pode ser uma medida confiavel para avaliar os niveis de positividade no Brasil.

Sentido de Vida, Bem-Estar Psicológico e Qualidade de Vida em Professores Escolares

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of meaning in life (MIL), psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QOL) in a large sample of school teachers, and to observe to what extent the MIL could act as a moderator variable in the relation between PWB and general QOL. The study included 517 teachers from 57 public and private schools in the city of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, 174 men and 343 women (averaging 36.5 years old, SD = 10.34). The results showed that a signifi cant portion of professionals had negative indexes of MIL, PWB and QOL. Inferential analyses showed MIL as a predictor variable of both PWB and QOL. Moderation analysis demonstrated that the PWB and QOL showed distinct correlations for individuals with high and low levels of MIL. Refl ections for future research and occupational health interventions are suggested.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los indices de sentido de vida (SV), bienestar psicologico (BP) e calidad de vida (CV) en una amplia muestra de profesores escolares, y observar como el sentido de vida podria actuar como una variable moderadora de la relacion entre el BP y la CV general. Participaron del estudio 517 profesores, de 57 escuelas publicas y privadas de la ciudad de Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, siendo 174 hombres y 373 mujeres (promedio de 36,5 anos, DE = 10,34). Los resultados mostraron que parte significativa de los profesionales presentaron indices negativos de SV, BP y CV. Analisis inferenciales mostraron al SV como una variable predictora, tanto de BP como de CV. Analisis de moderacion demostraron que BP y CV presentaron correlaciones diferentes en sujetos con altos y con bajos niveles de SV. Reflexiones para investigaciones futuras e intervenciones en salud del trabajador son senaladas.