Cristian Zanon

Adaptation and validation of the dispositional hope scale for adolescents

This paper describes the psychometric features and the validation process of the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS) for adolescents in the south of Brazil. This scale measures the Hope construct in terms of pathways and agency. The ADHS was translated to Portuguese and underwent a reverse translation. A sample of 450 students, from 14 to 18 years old (M=16.8 years, SD=3.4, 56% female), answered the ADHS, the Hope Index, the LOT-R and the Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale. A factorial analysis with varimax rotation showed that the scale is unidimensional and that its internal consistency was adequate (Cronbachs alpha = .80). No significant gender differences were found. Correlations of ADHS with the other constructs presented evidence of convergent validity in the present study.

Evaluation of the Latin American version of the Life Orientation Test-Revised

The Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) is the most intensively used instrument for the assessment of optimism, but empirical evidence of its psychometric quality in Latin America is lacking. The aim of this study was to test psychometric properties of this questionnaire based on a representative sample of the general population of Colombia (N = 1,500). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the bi-dimensionality of the questionnaire with two factors, namely Optimism and Pessimism. The sum scores of the optimism and pessimism subscale correlated with r = −.12. Convergent validity aspects were studied by correlating LOT-R values with anxiety, depression, quality of life, fatigue, mental health, hopelessness, and self-efficacy. Optimism was more strongly correlated with these variables than pessimism. Normative data and mean values for both genders and different age groups are given. Generally, there were only small age and gender effects. Compared to the German norm data, the Colombian participants scored on average one scale point higher in the dimension of optimism. In summary, the LOT-R in its Spanish version is an appropriate and practical tool for screening purposes in individual diagnostics and epidemiological research in Latin American samples.

Desenvolvimento e validação de uma escala de afetos positivos e negativos

The aim of this study was to construct a positive and negative affect scale (AS) and to search for validity evidence. The participants were 850 undergraduate students from southern Brazil, 57% female, with a mean age of 21 years (SD=3). A factor analysis extracted two factors: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). The first one presented an eigenvalue of 5.1 explaining 25.6% of the total variance; the second factor presented an eigenvalue of 2,6 explaining 12.8% of the total variance. The internal consistency for PA was .83, and .77 for NA. High correlations between the two factors of the AS and PANAS were observed: .73 for PA and .74 for NA. It was also observed that PA had positive correlations with life satisfaction, hope, optimism, and self-esteem while NA presented negative correlations with those variables. These results indicate evidences of construct validity and appropriate psychometric properties.

Adaptation and validation of the hope index for Brazilian adolescents

This study aimed at adapting and validating the Staats Hope Index for Brazilian adolescents. Participants were 450 high school students aged from 14 to 18 years old being 56% females. They responded to the Staats Hope Index, Adult Dispositional Hope Scale, Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. A factor analysis extracted two factors, replicating the structure of the original scale. Coefficients alphas were .83 and .81, for each factor, respectively. The correlations of the Hope Index factors with dispositional hope, optimism and self-esteem were similar to the findings reported in the literature and indicated convergent validity. The results indicate that the Hope Index is valid to be used in Brazil and that hope is perceived similarly by Brazilians and Americans despite of some cultural differences.

Internal Structure of the Characters Strengths Scale in Brazil

A investigacao das forcas e virtudes esta no centro das atencoes no campo da Psicologia Positiva porque evidencias sugerem que forcas de carater podem ajudar pessoas a lidar com as adversidades. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a estrutura interna da Escala de Forcas de Carater (EFC), um teste com base no modelo de Valores em Acao, atraves de rigorosos metodos de retencao de fatores. Os participantes foram 426 estudantes universitarios brasileiros com idade entre 18 e 57 anos (M = 23.29, DP = 6.67). A analise fatorial indicou um fator, que explicou 32% da variância, como a solucao mais adequada para as 24 forcas de carater. Unidimensionalidade foi sugerida por diferentes metodos de retencao de fatores, o que nao corroborou resultados internacionais anteriores. Tais achados indicam a necessidade de estudos adicionais com esta escala em diferentes populacoes brasileiras.La investigacion de las fortalezas y virtudes se encuentran en el centro de las atenciones en el campo de la Psicologia Positiva, porque evidencias sugieren que fortalezas de caracter pueden ayudar a las personas a hacer frente a las adversidades. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la estructura interna de la Escala de Fortalezas de Caracter (EFC), un test basado en el modelo de Valores en Accion, a traves de rigurosos metodos de retencion de factores. Participaron 426 estudiantes universitarios brasilenos con edades entre 18 y 57 anos (M = 23.29, SD = 6.67). El analisis factorial indico un factor como la solucion mas adecuada para las 24 fortalezas de caracter, que explico el 32% de la variancia. Unidimensionalidad fue sugerida por diferentes metodos de retencion de factores, lo que no corrobora los hallazgos internacionales anteriores e indican la necesidad de estudios adicionales de esta escala en diferentes poblaciones brasilenas.

Relações entre pensamento ruminativo e facetas do neuroticismo

The present study was developed to assess the relationship between rumination, neuroticism and its facets (vulnerability, psychosocial maladjustment, anxiety and depression) and gender. Three hubdred sixty-one undergraduate students (48.5% females) participated in the study and the mean age was 19.9 (SD=3.6). The students were tested collectively in their classrooms. The results showed positive correlations between rumination and neuroticism and its facets, and these correlations did not differ statistically between male and female students. Male students presented higher levels of psychosocial maladjustment and depression than female students. Anxiety levels were however higher in female students. These findings are subsequently discussed according to literature and further lines of research are suggested.

Teste do Desempenho Escolar: evidências de validade do subteste de escrita

El Test de desempeno escolar (TDE) (Stein, 1994), evalua de forma amplia el aprendizaje, por medio de tres Sub-test: Lectura, Escritura y Aritmetica. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicometricas del Sub-test de Escritura, para analizar su estructura interna, dificultad y discriminacion de los items, utilizando metodos clasicos y modernos - Teoria de respuesta al item (TRI). La muestra consistio en datos originales de investigaciones realizadas en cuatro estados de Brasil (N=1831). Los resultados indicaron que el Sub-test de Escritura presenta: (a) evidencias de unidimensionalidad (b) se compone de items de dificultad media, y (c) alta capacidad de discriminacion. Por otra parte, se observo que el sub-test discrimina de una manera satisfactoria estudiantes entre primer y tercer ano, y de forma menos adecuada, estudiantes de cuarto, quinto y sexto ano. Este conjunto de resultados indica que el Sub-test presenta evidencias de validez, pero requiere ser mejorado.

Avaliação dos subtestes de leitura e escrita do teste de desempenho escolar através da Teoria de Resposta ao Item

O Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE) avalia a aprendizagem escolar atraves de tres subtestes: leitura, escrita e aritmetica. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer quais partes do continuum de habilidades sao medidas pelos subtestes de leitura e escrita e a quantidade de informacao fornecida, utilizando a Teoria de Resposta ao Item (TRI). A amostra foi composta de 1850 criancas. Os resultados indicaram que o subteste escrita mensura precisamente niveis medios de habilidade e menos satisfatoriamente niveis baixos e altos. O subteste leitura revelou ter discriminacao apropriada para niveis baixos e medios de habilidade. As partes do continuum de habilidade que estao sendo medidas adequadamente estao fornecendo alta quantidade de informacao, demonstrando que os subtestes leitura e escrita estao funcionando bem.

Relationships Between Positive and Negative Affect and the Five Factors of Personality in a Brazilian Sample

Strong associations of Neuroticism and Extraversion with positive affects (PA) and negative affects (NA) have been reported in the international literature. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of such relationships in a Brazilian sample, and also to investigate the role of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Openness in the prediction of PA and NA through the use of a hybrid structural model. Participants were 319 university students, between 17 and 37 years of age (mean = 21.5, SD = 4.9). Approximately 64% of the students were female and 36% male. Results showed that Neuroticism was the most important predictor of PA and NA, followed by Conscientiousness, but not Extraversion. Surprisingly, Agreeableness was shown to be a weak prediction for NA, but had no relationship with PA. As expected, Openness showed no relationship with PA or NA. These results are partially in agreement with the international literature but some important differences were detected.Strong associations of Neuroticism and Extraversion with positive affects (PA) and negative affects (NA) have been reported in the international literature. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of such relationships in a Brazilian sample, and also to investigate the role of Conscientiousness, Agreeableness and Openness in the prediction of PA and NA through the use of a hybrid structural model. Participants were 319 university students, between 17 and 37 years of age (mean = 21.5, SD = 4.9). Approximately 64% of the students were female and 36% male. Results showed that Neuroticism was the most important predictor of PA and NA, followed by Conscientiousness, but not Extraversion. Surprisingly, Agreeableness was shown to be a weak prediction for NA, but had no relationship with PA. As expected, Openness showed no relationship with PA or NA. These results are partially in agreement with the international literature but some important differences were detected.

Adaptation and Validation of the Brazilian Version of the Hope Index

The objective of this study was to adapt and gather validity evidence for a Brazilian sample version of the Hope Index and to verify if cultural differences would produce different results than those found in the United States. In this study, we present a set of analyses that together comprise a comprehensive validity argument for the use of a test in a new language or culture. Participants were 844 undergraduate Brazilian students (mean age 21.3 years). A content validity study suggested that new items could be added to the scale. Factor analyses extracted two factors replicating the original instrument structure. The internal consistency was adequate with and without the added items. The results illustrate how different validation procedures can be used to support the use of an adapted version of a test, suggesting that in Brazil, researchers may choose the original adapted version (16 items) or the more emic version (21 items) depending on the objectives of their study. The indication that the Hope Index is valid in a Brazilian sample strengthens the idea that this construct may be universal. The results also stress the importance of conducting content validity studies as part of a cross-cultural adaptation of a test.