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A Cross-Cultural Validation of the Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT)

Self-report measures of affect come with a number of difficulties that can be circumvented by using indirect measurement procedures. The Implicit Positive and Negative Affect Test (IPANAT) is a recently developed measure of automatic activation of representations of affective states and traits that draws on participants’ ratings of the extent to which nonsense words purportedly originating from an artificial language bear positive or negative meaning. Here we compared psychometric properties of this procedure across 10 countries and provide versions in corresponding languages (Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, and Spanish). The results suggest good reliability, metric invariance, and construct validity across countries and languages. The IPANAT thus turns out as a useful tool for the indirect assessment of affect in different languages and cultures.

A psychometric evaluation of the Group Environment Questionnaire in a sample of professional basketball and soccer players.

Psychometric properties of the Group Environment Questionnaire were investigated in a large sample of soccer (n = 222) and professional basketball players (n = 375). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed both on the total sample and on the two subsamples through a multi-group approach; associations between cohesion and the duration of belonging to the team were also explored. Results confirmed the four-factor structure proposed by Carrons original model even though some items with low loadings were eliminated. No significant associations were found between team cohesion and the duration of belonging to the team.

Minority Stress, Depression and HIV-Progression Biomarkers: An Exploratory Study on a Sample of Italian HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men

Gay and bisexual men may experience stress due to their social minority status, which is caused by the manifestations of sexual stigma. Stress, in turn, promotes depression and physical health impairments, two major issues in the context of HIV infection. Thus, the relationships between the manifestations of sexual orientation stigma (enacted sexual stigma, the expectations of discrimination from ones family, and internalized homophobia) with depression and HIV-progression biomarkers (CD4+ cell counts and viral load) have been tested. The participants (N = 120) were gay and bisexual HIV-positive Italian men recruited via the Internet. The results of our analyses confirmed that enacted sexual stigma (e.g., homophobic physical aggression) correlated with depression and viral load. Internalized homophobia was associated with a greater level of depression and lower CD4+ cell counts, whereas the expectations of discrimination indirectly corresponded to lower CD4+ cell counts through internalized homophobia. In conclusion, the manifestations of sexual stigma are linked to poorer mental and physical health in HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. Minority stress, then, is an important concept that needs to be further addressed in the contexts of HIV care.

Psychometric characteristics of the caregiver burden inventory in caregivers of adults with heart failure

Background: A better understanding of caregiver burden and its determinants is essential to support caregivers. Many instruments have been developed to measure caregiver burden in various illness contexts, but few have been psychometrically tested for caregivers of heart failure patients. Aims: The aim of this study was to test the validity (factorial and concurrent validity) and reliability (internal consistency) of the caregiver burden inventory (CBI) in a cohort of caregivers of heart failure patients. Methods: This was a secondary analysis from a cross-sectional study on heart failure patients and their caregivers enrolled from various Italian outpatient centres. The factorial validity of the CBI was tested with confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity was tested correlating CBI scores with the short form-12 health survey scores. The internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha. Results: In total, 505 caregivers of heart failure patients (52.2% women, mean age 56.59±14.9 years) were enrolled. Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the original five-factor model: time-dependence, developmental, physical, social and emotional burden. This model fits the data better than the single-factor model, and the dimensions showed high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.91 for time-dependence burden, 0.92 for developmental burden, 0.88 for physical burden, 0.89 for social burden and 0.93 for emotional burden; 0.96 for the total score of burden). Conclusion: The CBI proved to be a good multidimensional instrument for evaluating the burden in caregivers of heart failure patients and can be used in clinical practice and research. This tool can be considered to tailor interventions aimed at improving caregiver outcomes.

Changes in physical activity among coronary and hypertensive patients: A longitudinal study using the Health Action Process Approach

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is a key factor in cardiovascular disease prevention. Through the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), the present study investigated the process of change in PA in coronary patients (CPs) and hypertensive patients (HPs). Design: Longitudinal survey study with two follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months on 188 CPs and 169 HPs. Main outcome measures: Intensity and frequency of PA. Results: A multi-sample analysis indicated the equivalence of almost all the HAPA social cognitive patterns for both patient populations. A latent growth curve model showed strong interrelations among intercepts and slopes of PA, planning and maintenance self-efficacy, but change in planning was not associated with change in PA. Moreover, increase in PA was associated with the value of planning and maintenance self-efficacy reached at the last follow-up Conclusions: These findings shed light on mechanisms often neglected by the HAPA literature, suggesting reciprocal relationships between PA and its predictors that could define a plausible virtuous circle within the HAPA volitional phase. Moreover, the HAPA social cognitive patterns are essentially identical for patients who had a coronary event (i.e. CPs) and individuals who are at high risk for a coronary event (i.e. HPs).

Measuring dispositional optimism in patients with chronic heart failure and their healthcare providers: the validity of the Life Orientation Test-Revised

The Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) measures dispositional optimism (DO) – an individual difference promoting physical and psychological well-being in healthy adults (HAs) as well as in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and healthcare providers (HPs). Controversy has arisen regarding the dimensionality of the LOT-R. Whereas DO was originally defined as a one-dimensional construct, empirical evidence suggests two correlated factors in the LOT-R. This study was the first attempt to identify the best factor structure of the LOT-R in patients with CHF and HPs and to evaluate its measurement invariance among subsamples of patients with CHF, HPs, and a normative sample of HAs. Its validity was also evaluated in patients with CHF. The sample comprised 543 participants (34% HAs; 34% HPs; and 32% CHF patients). Congeneric, two correlated factor, and two orthogonal factor models for the LOT-R were compared by performing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Measurement invariance was evaluated by considering differential item functioning (DIF) among subsamples of HPs, patients with CHF, and HAs. In patients with CHF, validity was assessed by considering associations with anxiety and depression. The CFA demonstrated the superior fit of the two orthogonal factor model. Moreover, across patients with CHF, HPs, and HAs, the results highlighted a minimal DIF with only trivial consequences. Finally, negative but weak correlations of DO with anxiety and depression confirmed the validity of the LOT-R in patients with CHF. In summary, these findings supported the validity and suitability of the LOT-R for the assessment of DO in patients with CHF, HPs, and HAs.

Validation of the Minority Stress Scale among Italian gay and bisexual men.

The experience of sexual orientation stigma (e.g., homophobic discrimination and physical aggression) generates minority stress, a chronic form of psychosocial stress. Minority stress has been shown to have a negative effect on gay and bisexual men’s (GBM’s) mental and physical health, increasing the rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and HIV risk behaviors. In conservative religious settings, such as Italy, sexual orientation stigma can be more frequently and/or more intensively experienced. However, minority stress among Italian GBM remains understudied. The aim of this study was to explore the dimensionality, internal reliability, and convergent validity of the Minority Stress Scale (MSS), a comprehensive instrument designed to assess the manifestations of sexual orientation stigma. The MSS consists of 50 items assessing (a) Structural Stigma, (b) Enacted Stigma, (c) Expectations of Discrimination, (d) Sexual Orientation Concealment, (e) Internalized Homophobia Toward Others, (f) Internalized Homophobia toward Oneself, and (g) Stigma Awareness. We recruited an online sample of 451 Italian GBM to take the MSS. We tested convergent validity using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Through exploratory factor analysis, we extracted the 7 theoretical factors and an additional 3-item factor assessing Expectations of Discrimination From Family Members. The MSS factors showed good internal reliability (ordinal &agr; > .81) and good convergent validity. Our scale can be suitable for applications in research settings, psychosocial interventions, and, potentially, in clinical practice. Future studies will be conducted to further investigate the properties of the MSS, exploring the association with additional health-related measures (e.g., depressive symptoms and anxiety). L’esperienza dello stigma sessuale (ad esempio, discriminazione e aggressioni fisiche) genera stress da minoranza (minority stress), una forma di stress psicosociale cronico. Lo stress da minoranza ha un effetto negativo sulla salute mentale e fisica dei gay e uomini bisessuali (GUB) ed è una delle cause degli elevati tassi di depressione, ideazioni suicidarie e comportamenti sessuali a rischio di HIV. In ambienti religiosi e conservativi come l’Italia, l’esperienza dello stigma sessuale può essere più frequente e intenso. Nonostante ciò, lo stress da minoranza fra i GUB italiani rimane poco investigato. Lo scopo di questo studio era di esaminare la dimensionalità, l’attendibilità interna, e la validità convergente del Minority Stress Scale (MSS), uno strumento Italiano in grado di misurare le manifestazioni dello stigma sessuale. L’MSS è composto da 50 item che misurano (a) lo Stigma Strutturale, (b) lo Stigma Manifesto, (c) le Aspettative di Essere Discriminato, (d) l’Occultamento dell’Orientamento Sessuale, (e) l’Omofobia Interiorizzata Diretta Verso gli Altri, (f) l’Omofobia Interiorizzata Diretta Verso Se Stessi, e (g) la Consapevolezza dello Stigma. Abbiamo reclutato un campione di 451 GUB Italiani online che hanno compilato l’MSS. La validità convergente è stata valutata utilizzando il Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Attraverso l’analisi fattoriale esplorativa, abbiamo estratto sette fattori teorici e un fattore aggiuntivo composto da 3-item “Aspettative di Discriminazione dai propri Familiari.” I fattori del MSS hanno dimostrato una buona attendibilità interna (ordinal &agr; > .81) e una buona validità convergente. La nostra scala può essere utilizzata nell’ambito della ricerca, interventi psicosociali e, potenzialmente, nella pratica clinica. Ulteriori studi verranno condotti per valutare le proprietà psicometriche dell’MSS come l’associazione con altri fattori legati alla salute (ad esempio, sintomi depressivi e ansia).

[OP.5B.01] Pulse Wave Velocity And Depression In Hypertensive Patients

Objective: Abnormal large artery function plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Prior studies have suggested that the principal determinants of arterial stiffening are age, Blood Pressure (BP) and others CV risk factors such as dyslipidemia and diabetes. However, scanty data are available on the role of psychological factors on arterial stiffness. Previous work have shown that arterial stiffness was associated with depression in the elderly and in healthy adolescents, but no study has focused on the role of depression and other psychological variables in hypertensive patients. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between depression, anxiety, perceived stress, Type A personality, and Type D personality and Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in a cohort of hypertensive patients, using baseline examination data of the TIPICO project. Design and method: A total of 259 outpatients (ages 18–80 years) followed by the Hypertension Unit of S. Gerardo Hospital (Monza, Italy) affected by essential hypertension were recruited. Aortic stiffness was evaluated by PWV between the carotid and the femoral artery of the same side with the patient in the supine position. Moreover, anamnestic data, clinical BP, and laboratory data were evaluated. Patients were asked to complete a battery of psychological questionnaires under the guidance of a psychologist. The associations between psychological variables and PWV was explored using multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis and regression coefficients (b) were given per 1-point increment. Results: The mean age was 55.9 ± 10.1years, SBP and DBP were 135.6 ± 17.7 and 82.5 ± 9.1mmHg and PWV was 8.6 ± 2.1m/s. The results from the multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed that age (beta = 0.284, p < 0.001), pulse pressure (beta = 0.369, p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (beta = 0.130, p = 0.012), family history of CV disease (beta = -0.123, p = 0.017), and depression (beta = 0.126, P = 0.014) were significantly and independently associated with PWV. Conclusions: The current study shows that, among psychological factors, higher levels of depression is related to higher PWV, while anxiety, perceived stress, Type A personality, and Type D personality are not associated with arterial stiffness. Depression assessment and target intervention to reduce it are recommended in hypertensive patients.

Type A Personality as the principal psychological determinants of Left Ventricular Mass Index in hypertensive patients

Selected Abstracts From XXXIV National Congress of the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA), Milan, 5–7 October 2017 Springer International Publishing AG 2017 METABOLIC ASPECTS AND RISK FACTORS PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES IN DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT METABOLIC SYNDROME. A PRELIMINARY STUDY M. Bonomo, J. Guidi, S. Gostoli, G. Marchetti, R. Roncuzzi, C. Rafanelli Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy; Division of Cardiology, Bellaria Hospital, Bellaria, Italy Introduction: The combination between Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) has a major impact on health increasing the risk for Cardiovascular Diseases. Despite previous studies have shown some psychological features characterizing MetS, little is known about the subpopulation of diabetic patients with MetS. Aim: to evaluate if the presence of psychological distress, psychosomatic syndromes, Allostatic Overload (AO), and psychological well-being impairments characterize patients with MetS in a diabetic population. Methods: 126 diabetic patients were considered for the current study. Clinical and biomedical data were collected on the basis of their medical records. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), PsychoSocial Index and Psychological Well-Being scales (PWB) were used for the psychological assessment. Results: 60% of diabetic patients in our sample satisfied criteria forMetS. Binge Eating Disorder (p = 0.007), DCPR cluster of psychological factors affecting medical conditions (p = 0.023), higher levels of SQ Somatic Symptoms (p = 0.05) and presence of AO (p = 0.021) were more frequently reported by patients with both diabetes andMetS. Conclusions: The presence of specific psychological features characterizes diabetic patients with MetS compared to diabetics only. A deeper understanding of the relationship between psychological status and the onset of such health risk factor in high-risk population could have a positive impact on health promotion and illness prevention. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN URIC ACID AND CARDIAC, VASCULAR AND RENAL TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE IN HYPERTENSIVES SUBJECTS A. Maloberti, M. Varrenti, N. Triglione, L. Occhi, F. Panzeri, M. Alloni, L. Giupponi, P. Vallerio S. Signorini, R. Falbo, M. Casati, G. Grassi, G. Mancia, C. Giannattasio Medicine and Surgery Department, Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy; Cardiology IV Unit, ‘‘A. De Gasperis’’ Department, Ospedale Niguarda Ca’ Granda, Milan, Italy; Biochemical Laboratory, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy Introduction: To date no definitive results exist about the relationship of Serum Uric Acid (SUA) and Target Organ Damage (TOD) in hypertensive patients (HT). Aim: to determine if such an association exist between SUA and subclinical cardiac, vascular and renal alterations in HT. Methods: we enrolled 632 consecutive outpatients, followed by the Hypertension Unit of S. Gerardo Hospital (Monza, Italy) affected by essential HT. We evaluated High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev (2017) 24:475–549 DOI 10.1007/s40292-017-0225-0

Need for Information and Locus of Control among Hypertensive Patients

Objective: Hypertension is a major health problem leading to high rates of mortality, morbidity and impaired quality of life. Due to high costs of hypertension and low adherence to treatment and lifestyles changes, the tasks of developing maximally beneficial treatment programs for individuals with this health problem have received growing emphasis in recent years. Patients with hypertension need appropriate information in order to take meaningful choices about their future, but information should be focused on patients peculiar needs to be really effective. Research has highlighted the importance of the identification of information needs and their psychological correlates, in order to create tailored health communication interventions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the information provided. A promising construct in this field is Locus of Control (LOC), that refers to the extent to which individuals believe they can control and have power over events affecting their life. In the health context, LOC describes the belief that ones health is dependent upon internal (e.g. behavior) versus external factors (e.g. chance). This study was designed to investigate possible relationships between need for information and health LOC in patients with essential hypertension. Design and method: One hundred seventy-five patients (48.8% women; mean age = 63.68, SD = 10.90, range 26–86) completed an assessment questionnaire evaluating Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) and the need for further information on topics related to disease management. Correlation analysis were conducted to explore the relationship between variables. Results: Positive and significant correlations were found between “Internal”, “Doctors”, “Other People” locus of control and need for information, while negative, but not significant, relationships were found between need for information and “Chance” locus of control. Conclusions: Taking into account patients’ types of locus of control could enhance the quality of health communication interventions, leading health-care system to move toward a patient-tailored care.