Marta Santarén-Rosell

Cluster A maladaptive personality patterns in a non-clinical adolescent population

BACKGROUND The prevalence and expression of Cluster A personality disorders in adolescence is poorly analyzed and understood. The main goal was to analyze the rate of Cluster A traits and maladaptive personality patterns in adolescents. In addition, the underlying dimensional structure and the possible influence of sex and age in its phenotypic expression were examined. METHOD The final sample was comprised of a total of 1,443 participants (M = 15.9 years, SD = 1.2). The instrument used was the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ (PDQ-4+). RESULTS Cluster A maladaptive personality traits are common among adolescents. According to the PDQ-4+, 13.1% (n = 189) of the sample reported a Cluster A maladaptive personality pattern. Analysis of the internal structure yielded two interrelated factors, namely Paranoid and Schizotypal-Schizoid. Males, compared with females, obtained higher scores on the schizotypal subscale when the score was dimensional and on the schizotypal and schizoid subscales when items were dichotomized. CONCLUSIONS These data yield new clues that improve the understanding of Cluster A traits in this sector of the population, and advance in early detection of adolescents at risk of personality disorders.

Dimensional structure of the Spanish version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in adolescents and young adults.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the dimensional structure of the Spanish version of the PANAS, using a large sample of adolescents and young adults (N = 1103, age range 14 to 23). Furthermore, measurement invariance across gender and educational level was tested. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a bifactor model and a 3-factor model Positive Affect (PA), Negative Affect (NA) Upset, and NA Afraid (PA and NA uncorrelated) provided the best fit to the data. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses showed that the 3-factor model of the PANAS had strong measurement invariance across gender and educational level. Results showed statistically significant differences in the latent mean scores. University students scored higher than adolescents in PA, NA Upset, and NA Afraid. Men scored higher than women in PA. The PANAS scores also showed acceptable internal consistency scores (range from .80 to .86). The results found support for the PANAS as a brief and useful tool for the screening PA and NA in adolescents and young adults populations. These findings hold implications for the study and use of the PANAS in nonclinical populations. Future studies should test measurement invariance of the PANAS scores across cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record

Psychometric properties of the Peters et al Delusions Inventory 21 in college students

Delusions show high prevalence in the general population and can be considered a risk marker for psychotic disorders. Although the assessment of these experiences has made considerable progress in recent years, there is still room for improvement in the measurement quality of the self-reports available for such assessment. The goal of the present work was to analyze the measurement quality of the Peters et al Delusions Inventory 21 (PDI-21) in Spanish college students. The final sample was made up of 660 participants (29.5% men) with a mean age of 20.3 years (SD, 2.6 years). The results revealed that a high percentage of the sample reported some symptom of paranoia. Analysis of the internal structure of the PDI-21 by means of exploratory factor analysis based on the tetrachoric correlation matrix yielded an essentially unidimensional solution. Cronbach α for the total score was .91. Scores on the PDI-21 correlated in a statistically significant fashion with trait and state anxiety and negative affect. These results provide new evidence of the validity of the PDI-21 and endorse its use as a measurement instrument for assessing the extended psychosis phenotype in nonclinical population.

Evaluation of satisfaction in an extracurricular enrichment program for high-intellectual ability participants

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction of an extracurricular enrichment program of the cognitive and personal management of participants with high intellectual ability. METHOD At the first time point, the sample consisted of n= 38 participants, and n= 20 parents; n= 48 participants at the second time point; and n= 60 participants at the third time point. The Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSA in Spanish), both for students (CSA-S) and for parents (CSA-P), was constructed. RESULTS The CSA-S scores showed adequate psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a unidimensional structure. Cronbach’s alpha ranged between 85 and .86. Test-retest reliability was 0.45 (p<.05). The generalizability coefficient was .98. A high percentage of the sample was satisfied with the program, perceived improvements in cognitive and emotional management, motivation and interest in learning, and in the frequency and quality of their interpersonal relationships. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation of educational programs is necessary in order to determine the efficacy and the effects of their implementation on the participants’ personal and intellectual management.