Paula Vagos

A proposal for evaluating cognition in assertiveness.

This article presents the development process and initial psychometric features of an instrument for evaluating cognition in assertiveness. This is an essential social skill for adolescent development and seems to encompass emotional, behavioral, and cognitive aspects. The instrument was created by combining both empirical and theoretical methods for item construction, aiming to evaluate the cognitive realm of assertiveness. A sample of 996 adolescent students was used to test for reliability and validity. Results indicate good psychometric properties. The instrument is composed of 4 subscales: Outer Emotional Support, Functional Personal Ability, Interpersonal Management, and Affective Personal Ability. The Assertive Interpersonal Schema Questionnaire may potentially be a useful tool in the diagnosis of, understanding of, and development of a treatment plan for individuals with persistent difficulties in social events.

The Centrality of Events Scale in Portuguese Adolescents Validity Evidence Based on Internal Structure and on Relations to Other Variables

We explored the measurement model of the adolescent version of the Centrality of Event Scale and its invariance across community (n = 1,079; 42.8% male), referred for foster care (n = 205; 58.0% male), and detained (n = 206 male) adolescent participants. Results indicated a three-factor measurement model, including all three functions that memories of significant life events may have, as a good fit to our data, particularly for male participants. This measurement model was invariant across boys taken from those different samples but not across gender. As for the short version of the instrument, a one-factor solution was the best fit to our data. It was invariant across boys taken from those different samples and across gender. Boys and girls expressed similar experiences, whereas community male adolescents reported the lowest impact of a meaningful event, in comparison with referred and with detained boys. These findings provide evidence on the validity of the scale for use with diverse adolescent samples, which may contribute for a better understanding of the impact that significant life events may have on the development of gender-specific and group-specific vulnerabilities.

The Portuguese version of the Basic Empathy Scale (BES): Dimensionality and measurement invariance in a community adolescent sample

Abstract Empathy is the heightened ability to cognitively perceive and/or affectively share the emotions of others, which has been consistently associated with desirable social interactions. This paper aimed to test the bi-factorial structure of a Portuguese version of the Basic Empathy Scale and examine its variation by gender and age using a large community sample (n = 1029) of adolescents. The two-factor model, originally developed and supported by other cross-cultural validations, presented good fit indicators which was similar across genders and adolescent age groups. Girls were more empathic than boys and younger adolescents were more empathic than the older ones. Further support for the validity of the new scale comes from its relations to measures of social skills and aggression which were similar to theoretical predictions. In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the BES is a consistent and valid instrument for the assessment of empathy in samples of adolescents aged 12–18 years old in Portugal, which can now be used in cross-cultural studies of this important psychological construct.

Validação da versão reduzida da escala de comportamento interpessoal para adolescentes Portugueses

This work presents the Portuguese linguistic adaptation of the short version of the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior and the evaluation of its psychometric characteristics using a sample of late adolescents (aged 16 to 21 years; N = 872). An internal organization of four dimensions was found along with a general measure for the two components under evaluation: discomfort while being assertive and frequency of practicing assertive behavior. All measures obtained acceptable internal consistency values and moderate levels of validity based on the relation to other variables, namely the short version of Rathus Assertiveness Scale. Some sex differences were observed. The instrument showed to be useful to be employed for evaluation and research in psychology.

Measuring Evaluation Fears in Adolescence: Psychometric Validation of the Portuguese Versions of the Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale and the Specific Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale

Modified measures of Fear of Negative Evaluation and Fear of Positive Evaluation were examined among Portuguese adolescents. These measures demonstrated replicable factor structure, internal consistency, and positive relationships with social anxiety and avoidance. Gender differences were found. Implications for evaluation and intervention are discussed.

Initial psychometric characterization for the Portuguese version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi)

ABSTRACT This work reports the initial psychometric characterization of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) for Portuguese young-adults (N = 466). A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a three-factor model (i.e. Morning Affect, Eveningness and Distinctness) in our data, as originally proposed. Furthermore, construct validity evidence in relation to external variables (i.e. morningness/eveningness and satisfaction with life), as well as adequate reliability (i.e. internal consistency and test-retest reliability), were found. Finally, sex-based invariance and between-sex differences were investigated for the three subscales, as were correlations with age. Results point to the suitability of the MESSi for multi-cultural research on relevant and multiple aspects of chronotype.

Effectiveness of Skills for Academic and Social Success (SASS) With Portuguese Adolescents

Abstract Social fears are common among adolescents and may considerably impair their lives. Even so, most adolescents do not seek professional help for these difficulties, making it important to promote evidence-based and preventive interventions in community samples. This research presents the effectiveness of an intervention with a group of five female adolescents who reported serious interference of their social fears in their daily life. At post-intervention, effectiveness was noticeable by high recovery, reliable individual change, and intragroup statistical change. The intervention showed impact for measures of social anxiety, avoidance, and assertiveness, and such impact was steady at 3-month follow-up. These findings add to the cumulative and transcultural evidence on the effectiveness of Skills for Academic and Social Success (SASS).

Evaluating social fears in late adolescence: Study with a Portuguese sample

This work intends to psychometrically evaluate a measure of social fears for late adolescents, who may differently perceive social fear stimulus. A community sample of 794 late adolescents was recruited and assessed, using the Social Anxiety and Avoidance Scale for Adolescents. Internal structure analysis indicates that late adolescents adopt a unique perspective on social experiences. Internal consistency and convergent validity relating to thoughts typical of social anxiety were found. The instrument may be useful for evaluating social fears throughout adolescence.

Willingness and Acceptance of Delusions Scale: early findings on a new instrument for psychological flexibility

ABSTRACT Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and related constructs (experiential avoidance, cognitive defusion and committed action) have recently been applied to psychosis. However, with a few exceptions, this application has not resulted in symptom-specific assessment instruments. The current work intends to develop a measure for assessing experiential acceptance regarding delusions (the Willingness and Acceptance for Delusions Scale) and to conduct a preliminary study of its psychometric properties in a sample of 91 patients with a psychotic disorder, mostly male (87%), single (86%), unemployed (44%), presenting with a schizophrenia diagnosis (71%), and currently with delusions (last week – 52%). Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure (Acceptance and Action, Non-entanglement and Non-struggling), which adequately fitted the data and reflected the intended constructs within an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framework. Scores from all factors achieved adequate reliability and were associated with mindfulness and satisfaction with life. These early findings point to the internal and construct validity and reliability of the scores of the WADS. Although further research into the scale’s psychometric properties, particularly construct validity, is needed, its use in research and clinical practice with psychosis populations seems substantiated.

Garantir a validade de conteúdo na construção de instrumentos: o caso do Cenas para Processamento de Informação Social na Adolescência

O Cenas para Processamento de Informacao Social na Adolescencia (SSIPA) propoe avaliar diversos passos cognitivos sugeridos pelo modelo de processamento de informacao social, alem de considerar estados emocionais que podem interferir com este processamento racional. A avaliacao psicometrica deste instrumento aponta para a sua validade de constructo, mas muito pouca informacao foi avancada acerca do seu processo de construcao, de forma a garantir que reflete adequadamente, como se propoe, as experiencias sociais unicas de adolescentes. Este trabalho apresenta informacao detalhada acerca dos tres processos que foram considerados para desenvolver o SSIPA: 1) tres grupos focais com um total de 23 adolescentes e utilizacao das suas verbalizacoes para construcao de itens; 2) analise da validade facial dos itens por 7 peritos, que avaliaram cada item de acordo com o conteudo pretendido para cada item, e 3) avaliacao da usabilidade, compreensibilidade e pertinencia geral do instrumento numa nova amostra de 23 adolescentes. Os grupos focais e a avaliacao dos itens constituiram ferramentas apropriadas para construir itens que cumprissem o principio de aceitabilidade inicial e captassem com precisao o processamento de informacao social de adolescentes, resultando num instrumento inovador e psicometricamente robusto, passivel de utilizacao em contextos clinicos e de investigacao.