Paul Oosterveld

Emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders

The aim of this study was to examine the unique contribution of two aspects of emotion regulation (awareness and coping) to the development of internalizing problems in 11-year-old high-functioning children with an autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) and a control group, and the moderating effect of group membership on this. The results revealed overlap between the two groups, but also significant differences, suggesting a more fragmented emotion regulation pattern in children with HFASD, especially related to worry and rumination. Moreover, in children with HFASD, symptoms of depression were unrelated to positive mental coping strategies and the conviction that the emotion experience helps in dealing with the problem, suggesting that a positive approach to the problem and its subsequent emotion experience are less effective in the HFASD group.

Validity of the visual analogue scale as an instrument to measure self-efficacy in resuscitation skills

Context  Self‐efficacy is an important factor in many areas of medical education, including self‐assessment and self‐directed learning, but has been little studied in resuscitation training, possibly because of the lack of a simple measurement instrument.

The Nonverbal Assessment of Personality in Five Cultures

The Nonverbal Personality Questionnaire, a structured nonverbal measure of Murray’s needs, and the Personality Research Form, a standard verbal measure of the same traits, were administered to respondents in five countries: Canada, England, the Netherlands, Norway, and Israel. Analysis of the nonverbal scales showed generally good levels of internal consistency, reliability, and convergent validity when compared against their verbal counterparts. Furthermore, meta-analyses of factor structure of both the nonverbal and verbal inventories showed a very clear organization to the personality traits assessed. The factors, based on data combined across cultures, resembled the Big Five factors of personality.

Generalizability of a study sample assessment procedure for entrance selection for medical school

To optimize the validity of instruments for the selection of students for admission to medical school a close resemblance between selection criteria and activities in medical school and patient care is proposed. A study sample assessment procedure (SSAP), focusing on independent studying, collaboration with peers and providing information to standardized patients, was designed and has been applied as a selection tool at UMC Utrecht Medical School since 2001. The interviews with standardized patients are observed and rated on the quality of information provided and the quality of communication. This study investigates the psychometric properties of this observational procedure. Generalizability theory was applied to estimate the reliability of the SSAP and to compare it with other procedures carried out in the same populations, such as the rating of application forms and a structured interview procedure. Data from three years were analysed. The G-coefficients for the SSAP (0.84 to 0.90) were higher than those for the interview and the application form (0.74 to 0.83 and 0.53 to 0.61 respectively). In conclusion, the SSAP appears to be a feasible and reliable procedure. The number of raters could, if necessary, be reduced from three to two.

Measuring Strength of Motivation for Medical School

Abstract: Purpose. Students vary in their strength of motivation to start and pursue medical training. This study was conducted to investigate the psychometric properties of a Strength of Motivation for Medical School (SMMS) questionnaire. Method. The questionnaire was designed using an iterative method. The instrument was applied to medical students (N= 296) at the start of medical school and to potential applicants (N= 147). The stability of the concept over a six month’s time and associations with other motivation measures were studied. A separate group of potential applicants and their parents (N= 169) were asked to validate the items of the questionnaire. Results. Cronbach’s alpha reliability of .79 was found. Test-retest reliability of SMMS-scores with a six months interval was .71. Little to no association with specific dimensions of motivation was found, except for a negative correlation with ‘ambivalence towards studying’. SMMS-scores were associated with potential applicants’ plans to apply for medical school (Spearman’s rho .65) and differentially with potential applicants’ and their parents’ judgements of item validities (.13 to .57). Conclusions. The SMMS-questionnaire appears to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure strength of motivation for medical training in students who have just entered medical school. It may be used to evaluate the validity of selection procedures and to identify associated variables that could be used in selection procedures.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the self-directed search test, a multitrait-multimethod approach

Abstract Earlier research provides only partial support for the construct validity of the Self- Directed Search (SDS). Confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the SDS to investigate whether a multitrait-multimethod model is more appropriate for explaining the structural relations between the subscales rather than the model used so far in the analysis of the structure of the SDS. Data from the normative samples reported in the SDS manuals (Holland 1985b, 1987) were reanalysed. The goodness-of-fit measures indicate that the 10 factor model (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional, Activities, Competencies, Occupational Preferences, and Self-rating of abilities) derived from the multitrait-multimethod model is more appropriate than a six factor model confined to the personality trait factors, and that the construct validity of the SDS is supported.

Measures of Alexithymia

The psychometric properties of all instruments specifically intended to measure alexithymia, are reviewed in this chapter. These reviews, not only set out clear descriptions of the pros and cons of each measure, but also demonstrate that most alexithymia measures have only low to moderate concurrent validities, indicating that alexithymia is, in its measurement, ill-defined. The starting point of our scale-analyses is the original description of the alexithymia construct as provided by Nemiah and Sifneos (1970a), and Sifneos (1973). Since alexithymia is a multi-faceted construct, factorial validity is also evaluated. Moreover, alexithymia scales are both research and diagnostic instruments. Diagnostic differentiation (discriminant validity) demands that subscales also intercorrelate lowly or only moderately.

Pathways Underlying Somatic Complaints in Children and Adolescents Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Frequent somatic complaints are not only a problem in themselves but also related to other difficulties. So far, no conclusive findings have been reported about the prevalence of and factors underlying these complaints in children and adolescents who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Such information would be valuable for prevention and intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of somatic complaints and their relation with emotional functioning in DHH youngsters, as compared with hearing youngsters. This was established by assessing how somatic complaints, mood states, and sense of coherence were experienced by 186 Dutch participants (mean age = 11;07 years). DHH and hearing groups were compared using multivariate analysis of variance and structural equation modeling. The results showed that somatic complaints were reported equally often for both groups, but that the pathways leading to these complaints were partly different. Only in DHH participants were feelings of fear associated with more somatic complaints. The results suggest that DHH children and adolescents would benefit from support in the regulation of fear and its causes. Other aspects affecting adjustment outcomes of DHH youngsters were education type and communication mode.

Validation of the Portuguese emotion awareness questionnaire for children and adolescents

Abstract This study examined the construct and concurrent validity of the Portuguese version of the Emotion Awareness Questionnaire (EAQ) in 302 children and adolescents (mean age 13 years old). The EAQ is a self-report questionnaire that allows for analysis of how youth experience and understand their own and others’ emotions. Participants completed the EAQ along with questionnaires for Worry and Somatic Complaints. Results confirmed the expected six-factor structure, good psychometric properties, and good concurrent validity. The EAQ is a reliable questionnaire, suitable for examining emotion awareness in Portugal.

Use of the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Adolescents

No assessment tools are available to measure shame and guilt in children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), while these self-conscious emotions might play a role in the frequently noted social and behavioral problems in this group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the Brief Shame and Guilt Questionnaire (BSGQ) in DHH children. In addition, we examined associations of shame and guilt with social anxiety, self-esteem, delinquency, and psychopathic behaviors. A sum of 225 hearing (Mage = 11.62 years) and 108 DHH (Mage = 11.82 years) participants completed the self-report BSGQ. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure (i.e., shame and guilt) of the BSGQ in the DHH group. Measurement invariance was established across both groups. However, the DHH group reported lower levels of self-conscious emotions in comparison with the hearing group. The BSGQ showed good concurrent validity, where shame was associated with higher levels of social anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem, and guilt was associated with lower levels of delinquency and psychopathic behavior in both groups. Future research should investigate the potential behavioral consequences of lower reported levels of self-conscious emotions in DHH youth.