Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles

Scale development: ten main limitations and recommendations to improve future research practices

The scale development process is critical to building knowledge in human and social sciences. The present paper aimed (a) to provide a systematic review of the published literature regarding current practices of the scale development process, (b) to assess the main limitations reported by the authors in these processes, and (c) to provide a set of recommendations for best practices in future scale development research. Papers were selected in September 2015, with the search terms “scale development” and “limitations” from three databases: Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, with no time restriction. We evaluated 105 studies published between 1976 and 2015. The analysis considered the three basic steps in scale development: item generation, theoretical analysis, and psychometric analysis. The study identified ten main types of limitation in these practices reported in the literature: sample characteristic limitations, methodological limitations, psychometric limitations, qualitative research limitations, missing data, social desirability bias, item limitations, brevity of the scale, difficulty controlling all variables, and lack of manual instructions. Considering these results, various studies analyzed in this review clearly identified methodological weaknesses in the scale development process (e.g., smaller sample sizes in psychometric analysis), but only a few researchers recognized and recorded these limitations. We hope that a systematic knowledge of the difficulties usually reported in scale development will help future researchers to recognize their own limitations and especially to make the most appropriate choices among different conceptions and methodological strategies.

Insatisfação corporal em gestantes: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

The body image of pregnant women is an issue that should be further investigated by professionals in the area, especially in view of the fact that maternal and infant health has gained such prominence. The scope of this integrative review is to analyze the literature relating to body image and body dissatisfaction among pregnant women. Research was based on articles extracted from the Scopus, PubMed, BVS and PsycINFO databases, by cross-referencing “pregnancy” with the keywords “body image” and “body dissatisfaction.” Once the inclusion and exclusion criteria had been adopted, forty studies were analyzed. These produced inconclusive data about body dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Symptoms of depression, low self-esteem, an inadequate approach towards healthy eating and weight gain above recommended limits have been associated with a negative body image. The contradictory findings could be related to the different instruments used to measure body image. In view of the possible impact that a negative body image can have on maternal and infant health during pregnancy, it is recommended that further investigations are made, in particular related to the development of a specific tool to evaluate the body image of pregnant women.

Disordered eating, body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, and mood state in female adolescents

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, mood, and disordered eating in female adolescents. Methods Three hundred and seventy one adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years of age participated in this research. The Body Shape Questionnaire, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Brunel Mood Scale, and the Eating Attitudes Test - 26 were used to assess, respectively, body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, mood state, and disordered eating. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationship between the independent variables and the Eating Attitudes Test subscale scores. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to compare the Eating Attitudes Test subscale scores according to body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, and mood state classifications. Results The findings showed that body dissatisfaction (p=0.001), perfectionism (p=0.04), and mood state (p=0.05) were associated with disordered eating in the female adolescents evaluated. Despite the statistically significant results obtained for all independent variables, it is worth mentioning that body dissatisfaction was the main determinant of disordered eating in the multiple regression model. Conclusion It can be concluded that body dissatisfaction explains the variance in disordered eating; however, it is also important to note that perfectionism and mood state are also associated to the disordered eating in female adolescents, although to a lesser extent.

Autoestima, insatisfação corporal e internalização do ideal de magreza influenciam os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares?

OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a influencia da autoestima, da insatisfacao corporal e da internalizacao do ideal de magreza nos comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares de adolescentes do sexo feminino. METODOS: Participaram do estudo 471 jovens. Utilizou-se a Escala de Autoestima de Rosemberg, o Body Shape Questionnaire e o Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 para avaliar autoestima, insatisfacao corporal e internalizacao do ideal de magreza, respectivamente. As subescalas do Eating Attitudes Test foram utilizadas para avaliar os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicaram influencia dos escores do Body Shape Questionnaire (p 0,05). CONCLUSAO: Concluiu-se que a insatisfacao corporal e a internalizacao do ideal de magreza influenciam os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares em adolescentes do sexo feminino, fato que nao foi evidenciado para a autoestima.

Avaliação Psicométrica do Questionário de Atitudes Socioculturais em Relação à Aparência-3 (SATAQ-3) para Adolescentes

Objetivou-se avaliar as qualidades psicometricas do Questionario de Atitudes Socioculturais em Relacao a Aparencia-3 para adolescentes brasileiros. A amostra total foi composta por 600 adolescentes (254 meninos), os quais participaram em fases distintas da pesquisa: avaliacao da compreensao verbal da escala, avaliacao da validade de construto, validade e confiabilidade, e a terceira etapa referiu-se a avaliacao da reprodutibilidade (teste-reteste). Todos os itens apresentaram adequada compreensao verbal entre os adolescentes. O instrumento apresentou estrutura fatorial composta por sete fatores (α > 0,40), cujos indices de ajustamento foram aceitaveis, correlacao positiva e significativa com a satisfacao corporal (r = 0,41, p < 0,001) e estabilidade. As qualidades psicometricas do SATAQ-3 para adolescentes foram parcialmente confirmadas, sendo sua utilizacao indicada para essa populacao.

Educação Física Escolar: Percepções do Aluno com Deficiência1

The inclusion of disabled students is based on the law and the adaptation of physical and pedagogical structure at school represents a key point in order to make the access happen. Physical education is a part of the social inclusion and can provide great improvements in quality of life of students with disabilities. This research aimed to verify the perception of the student with disabilities on physical education classes. Therefore, a qualitative research was carried out, using a semi structured interview to collect data. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed. The sample was constituted by 20 students with disabilities enrolled in general schools at Santos Dumont, Minas Gerais. From the interviews, we highlighted the perceptions of students with disabilities on physical education at school; their understanding about the concept of quality of life; the improvements provided in the quality of life through physical education; successes and difficulties in class; and issues concerning the relationship student/ teacher and student/student. The results of this research can help the educational community and the physical education teacher to improve the quality of inclusion in general schools. In addition, perceptions of students with disabilities about the lessons can help the teacher in the search for a better environment with classes that meet everyones needs and provide a better of quality of life.

Zika virus and pregnant women: A psychological approach

Zika virus presents risk of physical harm to pregnant women, but the fear of infection is also affecting women around the world. There is a gap in the research on Zika virus in the areas involving the impact on the psychosocial well-being of pregnant women. Therefore, this study is aimed at the investigation of the psychosocial adjustment of pregnant women to the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. We investigated 14 pregnant women who were classified in three different groups: six in the first trimester, five in the second trimester and three in the third trimester, aged from 28 to 40 years (33.43 ± 3.76 years). Content analysis was used to interpret data. Our results show that the psychosocial adjustment of participants was significantly negative and included five aspects: (1) negative feelings, (2) changes in family planning, (3) adopting new customs (avoiding places of risk, use of specific clothes and use of repellent), (4) changed attitudes regarding body image and (5) feeling of external demand regarding prevention. The fear of Zika virus infection and all its associated risks have a negative biopsychosocial impact on the pregnant women in this study.

Imagem corporal, atitudes alimentares, sintomas depressivos, autoestima e ansiedade em gestantes de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil

As mudancas vivenciadas pelas gestantes podem impactar negativamente as atitudes corporais e as variaveis associadas. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influencia das atitudes alimentares, sintomas depressivos, autoestima, ansiedade e IMC na imagem corporal de gestantes. Este estudo quantitativo e transversal contou com 386 gestantes de todas as idades gestacionais, entre 18 a 46 anos de idade (media de 29,32 ± 6,04 anos) da cidade de Juiz de Fora-MG. Foram aplicados instrumentos para avaliar atitudes corporais, atitudes alimentares, sintomas depressivos, autoestima e ansiedade. Foram coletados dados antropometricos e obstetricos. Realizou-se analises estatisticas descritivas, comparativas e correlacionais. Os achados indicaram correlacoes significativas entre as atitudes corporais e: atitudes alimentares inadequadas (r = 0,478), sintomas depressivos (r = 0,387), baixa autoestima (r = 0,431) e elevado IMC (r = 0,339). Alem disso, essas variaveis juntas exerceram influencia de 41,4% sobre a imagem corporal negativa das gestantes. Assim, recomenda-se a avaliacao e a orientacao nutricional e psicologica a fim de detectar e prevenir psicopatologias, tendo em vista a saude materna e infantil.

Insatisfação corporal e fatores sociodemográficos, antropométricos e maturacionais de atletas de ginástica artística

This study aimed to evaluate the overall body dissatisfaction and in specific areas in adolescents who practice artistic gymnastic in elite and non-elite levels, and to analyze the influence of sociodemographic, anthropometric and maturational factors on body dissatisfaction. The research is characterized as transversal, quantitative, descriptive and correlational. The sample consisted of 285 adolescents, of both sexes, practicing gymnastics. They were divided into two groups: 245 non-elite athletes and 40 elite athletes. The participants were aged between 10 and 18 years (mean 12.86 ± 1.80) and were resident of the city of Tres Rios-RJ. The assessment instruments were: Body Shape Questionnaire, Body Areas Scale, Criterio de Classificacao Economica Brasil and socio-demographic questionnaire. Anthropometric and somatic maturation data were collected. The results showed that 24.9% of the non-elite athletes and 15% of elite athletes were dissatisfied with their body as a whole. For specific body areas, nonelite athletes were significantly more dissatisfied with their body area “weight” than the elite athletes. Sociodemographic and economic factors had no influence on overall body dissatisfaction. For non-elite athletes, only the body percentage of fat and somatic maturation were predictors for the overall body dissatisfaction and in specific areas, respectively. It was concluded that the non-elite athletes were more dissatisfied with their body and weight than the elite athletes.

Imagem corporal de gestantes: um estudo longitudinal

Objetivos Comparar atitudes corporais, atitudes alimentares, sintomas depressivos, autoestima, ansiedade e indice de massa corporal (IMC) de gestantes em diferentes momentos ao longo da gestacao, bem como verificar a influencia que as variaveis estudadas exercem sobre as atitudes corporais no primeiro, segundo e terceiro trimestre gestacional. Metodos Foram incluidas 17 gestantes que frequentavam o exame pre-natal na cidade de Juiz de Fora-MG, entre 22 e 41 anos de idade (media de 30,76 ± 5,65 anos), excluindo-se aquelas com dados incompletos. Como instrumentos de avaliacao utilizaram-se: Body Attitudes Questionnaire, Eating Attitudes Test-26, Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, a versao curta do Brazilian State-Trait Anxiety Inventory e o questionario sociodemografico. Ademais, foram coletados dados antropometricos e obstetricos. Foram realizadas analises estatisticas descritivas, comparativas e correlacionais. Resultados O IMC, as atitudes corporais negativas e a subescala “sentimento de gordura” aumentaram progressivamente ao longo da gestacao (p 0,05). Alem disso, o IMC explicou 31% da variância das atitudes direcionadas ao corpo no primeiro trimestre, enquanto as atitudes alimentares foram responsaveis por 30% e 46% das atitudes corporais no segundo e terceiro trimestre, respectivamente. Conclusoes As atitudes corporais, as atitudes alimentares, os sintomas depressivos, a autoestima e a ansiedade mantiveram-se constantes ao longo da gestacao. O IMC e as atitudes alimentares influenciaram a imagem corporal em gestantes. Sugere-se a criacao de instrumentos especificos a fim de um melhor entendimento das preocupacoes relacionadas ao corpo de gestantes.