Francisco Pablo Holgado-Tello

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire

The aim of this study was to validate a Spanish version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-S), originally developed by Garnefski, Kraaij, and Spinhoven. To date, it is the only available instrument that permits a conceptually pure quantification of cognitive strategies of emotional regulation. A sample of 615 students (25% men; 75% women) completed the CERQ-S. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that, as in the original version, a nine-factor model also explained the data collected with the Spanish version. However, an alternative model that integrates the nine dimensions in two second-order factors shows appropriate global fit indices and has interesting implications. Likewise, the results of the present study are comparable with those obtained in previous work with measures of depression, anxiety, and anger, and increase support for the validity of this instrument for assessing normalized affective states.

ANÁLISIS FACTORIAL CONFIRMATORIO. RECOMENDACIONES SOBRE MÍNIMOS CUADRADOS NO PONDERADOS EN FUNCIÓN DEL ERROR TIPO I DE JI-CUADRADO Y RMSEA

In order to obtain evidences about construct validity through Confirmatory Factor Analysis in Social Sciences, working with skewed ordinal variables has been usual. In this simulation study the performance of Unweighted Least Squares (ULS) method in Likert scales according to Likelihood Ratio Test (C2) and RMSEA indices is analysed through Type I error. For this purpose, four experimental factors have been manipulated: the number of factors or dimensions (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), the number of response points (3, 4, 5, 6), the degree of skewness of the responses distribution (symmetric, moderately and severely asymmetric) and the sample size (100, 150, 250, 450, 650, 850) of the simulated models. According to the main results, C2 index always shows a bigger Type I error than RMSEA, regardless of the experimental factors analysed. Finally, different action alternatives are discussed and future research lines are presented.

Reactive temperament traits and behavioural problems in children: the mediating role of effortful control across sex and age

Abstract This study examines the mediating role of effortful control between reactive temperament traits (negative affectivity and extraversion) and children’s internalizing and externalizing behavioural problems. The sample was composed of 424 non-clinical children from 3 to 6 years of age (60% male). Use of a structural equation model revealed effortful control-mediated relations between reactive temperament traits and behavioural problems. Nevertheless, uniquely and directly, negative affect predicted externalizing problems and extraversion predicted internalizing problems. Assessment of invariance by children’s sex showed that the mediating role of effortful control tends to be stronger for externalizing problems in boys than in girls. Results showed no significant age differences. According to these results, effortful control as a method of self-regulation seems to be an essential process through which reactive temperament traits affect a child’s psychological adjustment.

Father involvement and children’s psychological adjustment: maternal and paternal acceptance as mediators

ABSTRACT Research has shown that father involvement and children’s perceived parental warmth contribute significantly to children’s psychological adjustment. This study examines the mediating role of parental acceptance (i.e. that of mothers and fathers) between the father’s involvement and the child’s psychological adjustment in terms of personality dispositions and behavioral problems (internalizing and externalizing). The sample was composed of 1036 non-clinical children from 9 to 19 years old (45.1% males) who completed the Parental Acceptance‒Rejection Questionnaire, the Personality Assessment Questionnaire, the Youth Self-Report, and the Father Involvement Scale. The use of a structural equation model revealed that both father involvement and parental acceptance made significant and independent contributions to children’s outcomes. However, relationships between father involvement and children’s outcomes were mediated by both paternal acceptance and paternal acceptance via maternal acceptance. Father’s residential status, and children’s sex and age were considered as moderators. The father involvement in resident fathers had a stronger impact on perceived paternal acceptance, and father involvement on children’s psychological adjustment was no longer significant for boys (not girls) when parental acceptance is considered as mediator. No age differences were found in the tested model. In conclusion, the findings show that the father’s involvement creates an interpersonal context of love and warmth by which both the father and the mother increase the child’s psychological adjustment.

Escala de Gravedad de Síntomas Revisada (EGS-R) del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático según el DSM-5: propiedades psicométricas

La Escala de Gravedad de Sintomas Revisada del Trastorno de Estres Postraumatico (TEPT) es una entrevista estructurada que consta de 21 items, basada en los criterios diagnosticos del DSM-5, y sirve para evaluar la gravedad de los sintomas de este cuadro clinico. En este trabajo se describen las propiedades psicometricas de este instrumento. La muestra conto con 526 victimas de agresiones sexuales o de violencia familiar y con una muestra normativa de 193 participantes. El instrumento global mostro una alta consistencia interna (α = .91), asi como una buena validez discriminante (g = 1.27) y convergente (rbp = .78 con el diagnostico). Los resultados del analisis factorial confirmatorio apoyan los cuatro nucleos de sintomas del DSM-5. Un punto de corte de 20, con una eficacia diagnostica del 82.48%, es apropiada para discriminar a las victimas con un TEPT. Esta escala resulta util para planificar el tratamiento y las investigaciones clinicas.

Incremental Validity and Informant Effect from a Multi-Method Perspective: Assessing Relations between Parental Acceptance and Children’s Behavioral Problems

This study examines the relationships between perceived parental acceptance and children’s behavioral problems (externalizing and internalizing) from a multi-informant perspective. Using mothers, fathers, and children as sources of information, we explore the informant effect and incremental validity. The sample was composed of 681 participants (227 children, 227 fathers, and 227 mothers). Children’s (40% boys) ages ranged from 9 to 17 years (M = 12.52, SD = 1.81). Parents and children completed both the Parental Acceptance Rejection/Control Questionnaire (PARQ/Control) and the check list of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Statistical analyses were based on the correlated uniqueness multitrait-multimethod matrix (model MTMM) by structural equations and different hierarchical regression analyses. Results showed a significant informant effect and a different incremental validity related to which combination of sources was considered. A multi-informant perspective rather than a single one increased the predictive value. Our results suggest that mother–father or child–father combinations seem to be the best way to optimize the multi-informant method in order to predict children’s behavioral problems based on perceived parental acceptance.

The relationships between father involvement and parental acceptance on the psychological adjustment of children and adolescents: the moderating effects of clinical status

This study analyzes how a childs clinical condition modifies the relationship of father involvement, parental (fathers and mothers) acceptance and the child´s psychological adjustment, including the internalizing and externalizing problems. The cohort studied was composed of 226 subjects (61.94% males) with a mean age of 14.08 years, of which 113 children were from an incidental clinical sample and 113 from the general population. Both groups were matched by sex, age and family status, and the data show that the same structure of parent-child relationships that predict the child´s psychological adjustment can be accepted for both the clinical and non-clinical groups of children. However, the intensity of the relationships between the variables father involvement, parental acceptance and the child´s outcomes differed in function of the childs clinical status. Specifically, in the clinically-referred sample compared to non-clinical sample father involvement had a stronger effect on the children´s internalizing (but not the externalizing) problems and on their global psychological adjustment via their perceived maternal acceptance. The role of father involvement in the family relationships of clinical children is discussed. This study provides important evidence to support the need for enhanced paternal participation in the intervention programs for families.