Meng-Cheng Wang

The factorial invariance across gender of three well-supported models: further evidence for a five-factor model of posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract Three well-supported latent models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; i.e., Emotional Numbing, Dysphoria, and Dysphoric Arousal [DA] models) were examined using factorial invariance across gender. There is a notable lack of studies that have investigated the factorial invariance of the PTSD models across gender, and, to date, no study has assessed the factorial invariance of the DA model across gender. The current sample consisted of 571 children and adolescent earthquake survivors (297 male and 274 female participants) from China. The results indicated that the 17 symptoms of PTSD have equivalent factor loadings between the male and female participants. Furthermore, the female participants evidenced more severe manifestations of PTSD. Moreover, the newly proposed five-factor DA model provided superior fit to the data compared with the Emotional Numbing and Dysphoria models. The implication of these results is discussed.

Factor structure and construct validity of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) in a sample of Chinese male inmates.

The current study examined the factor structure and convergent and discriminant validity of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (LSRP) in Chinese male inmates (N = 437). The original 2-factor model, the revised 2-factor model, and the 3-factor model were tested through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity were examined via correlational and multiple linear regression analyses between LSRP factors and external criterion variables. Results showed that the 3-factor model fit the data better than the 2-factor model. The 3-factor model also showed reasonable convergent and discriminant validity. The findings were consistent with previous studies and suggested that the LSRP can be an effective self-report measure for assessing psychopathy in China.

The factor structure and construct validity of the inventory of callous-unemotional Traits in Chinese undergraduate Students

The current study assesses the factor structure and construct validity of the self-reported Inventory of Callous–Unemotional Traits (ICU) in 637 Chinese community adults (mean age = 25.98, SD = 5.79). A series of theoretical models proposed in previous studies were tested through confirmatory factor analyses. Results indicated that a shortened form that consists of 11 items (ICU-11) to assess callousness and uncaring factors has excellent overall fit. Additionally, correlations with a wide range of external variables demonstrated that this shortened form has similar construct validity compared to the original ICU. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the ICU-11 may be a promising self-report tool that could be a good substitute for the original form to assess callous-uncaring traits in adults.

The Child Problematic Traits Inventory in China: A multiple informant-based validation study.

The aim of this study was to further test the reliability and validity of a newly developed instrument designed to assess psychopathic traits in children, the Child Problematic Traits Inventory (CPTI). Teachers and mothers of 686 approximately 6- to 12-year-old children (48.1% girls) completed the CPTI. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the proposed 3-factor structure of the CPTI teacher and parent versions and good to excellent internal consistency of the teacher- and mother-based CPTI scores were found. The validity of the teacher- and mother-based CPTI scores was supported by revealing the expected relations with conduct problems, hyperactivity, and various dimensions of temperament. In conclusion, the results suggest that the CPTI holds promise as a teacher- and parent-rated tool for assessing psychopathic traits in Chinese children, although more research is needed to see if these findings can be generalized to other Chinese samples and settings.

Psychometric Properties and Measurement Invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 Among Chinese Insurance Employees

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties and factorial invariance of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed to verify the BSI-18’s factor structure in a large sample of Chinese insurance professionals (N = 2363, 62.7% women; age range = 19–70). Multigroup CFA were performed to test the measurement invariance of the model with the best fit across genders. In addition, structural equation modeling was conducted to test the correlations between the BSI-18 and two covariates – social support perception and grit trait. Results indicated that the bi-factor model best fit the data and was also equivalent across genders. The BSI-18’s general factor, and somatization and depression dimensions were significantly related to social support perception and grit trait, whereas the anxiety dimension was not. Overall, our findings suggested that the BSI-18’s can be a promising tool in assessing general psychological distress in Chinese employees.

Assessing Impulsivity in Chinese: Elaborating Validity of BIS Among Male Prisoners

This study was carried out to test the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–Version 11 (BIS-11), and its short versions (the eight-item and 15-item BIS) in a sample of 424 Chinese male prisoners (M = 31.26, SD = 7.43, age = 18-52 years). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFAs) indicated that the single-factor model of BIS with eight items (BIS-8) and the three-factor model of BIS with 15 items (BIS-15) fit the data well. In addition, the item response theory (IRT) approach confirmed the construct and items for the BIS-8 with good discrimination, threshold parameters, and test information curve. Correlations with psychopathic traits, antisocial personality disorder, and aggression suggested that the performance of the eight-item BIS was comparable with that of the original 30-item BIS in measuring general impulsivity.

Autonomic conditioning to monetary and social stimuli and aggression in children

Poor conditioning to punishment, such as loud tones or electric shock, has been proposed as an important factor involved in the etiology of aggressive and psychopathic behavior. However, it is not known whether the association holds when monetary or social stimulus is used as the unconditioned stimulus, and if aggressive individuals also have impaired conditioning to rewards. In this study, skin conductance responses in a conditioning task involving both monetary/social reward and punishment as unconditioned stimuli were assessed in 340 male and female 8- to 9-year-old children from the community. Children reported their reactive and proactive aggression using the Reactive and Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ; Raine et al., 2006). Results showed that monetary/social reward and punishment were effective in eliciting physiological classical conditioning in children, and that reduced reward conditioning was associated with high levels of proactive aggression in particular. Findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between reactive and proactive aggression when examining antisocial behavior in children, and suggest that reward-oriented treatment programs may not be effective for children with more proactive, instrumental aggressive behavior.