Kornel Sipos

Measuring anxiety by ordered categorical items in data with subgroup structure: the case of the Hungarian version of the trait anxiety scale of the state-trait anxiety inventory for children (staic-h)

The present study suggests a modelling methodology for examining measurement invariance of ordered categorical item indicators of latent constructs such as anxiety, coping, motives etc., in research settings with few subgroups and a large sample of individuals. The Hungarian version of the Anxiety Trait scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC-H) was administered to 605 boys and 975 girls of age 10–15 in 12 schools. A MIMIC model was suggested for examining measurement invariance across subgroups of schools and ages, while a multi-group analysis was recommended for investigating invariance across gender. High degree of invariance across groups was obtained for the Anxiety Trait scale in terms of item factor loadings, item thresholds and item homogeneity with respect to group contrast variables. Based on the diagnostic information obtained by the present methodology, the few item indicators showing non-invariance were discussed with reference to methodological and conceptual considerations.

Anxiety and Coping of Hungarian National Ice Hockey Players

The purpose of this study was to identify those major psychological factors that affect ice hockey performance. The exploration of the differences in CSAI-2, ACSI-28 and STPI-Y psychometric measures targeted the adult national team members and the U-18 age-group of ice hockey players in Hungary. U-18 (n = 27) and adult national ice hockey players (n = 25) filled out the tests during a training camp before international preliminary round matches. It was found that State Anxiety, Cognitive Anxiety and Somatic A-State were significantly lower in the adult national team players than in the U-18 group of players. Also, the adult team demonstrated a significantly higher score in relation to Peaking under Pressure and also in Freedom from Worry than the 18 year-old group. Discriminant analysis showed that Cognitive A-State, Trait Curiosity, Coachability, State Anger, Freedom from Worry, and State Depression differentiate the adult team from the U-18 players. We can conclude that the members of the adult team are generally in a more beneficial state from the standpoint of anxiety pressure, and worry than the U-18 group. It seems that the experienced players can better manage unexpected events (stress situations) than the younger players.

Human Electrophysiological Studies on the Influence of RF Exposure Emitted by GSM Cellular Phones

The high penetration of mobile telephone users in general world-wide population demands the investigation concerning biological effects and potentially adverse health effects from radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation in the frequency range of today’s wireless (mobile) communication technology. There are many questions related to the assessment of risk for users and the general public from exposure to RF radiation from mobile transceivers including hand-held units1,2. On the side of brain-physiology the following questions are presently unanswered: i) Is there any cancer risk related to cellular phone exposure? ii) What are the electrical, ionic and metabolic consequences in the brain tissue at doses of RF radiation analogous to those produced by cellular telephones? iii) Is there a reproducible effect of RF radiation that can be utilized as an easily measurable ‘end-point’ to define the dose-dependency of RF radiation effects and may appropriate safety standards be developed? This question arises because present knowledge and definition of the effects produced by RF radiation in the brain are unclear.