Showing papers in "Psychological Assessment in 2018"

Testing the factor structure and measurement invariance of the PHQ-9 across racially diverse U.S. college students.

Abstract: Today's college students are at increased risk for depression. Therefore, accurate and sustainable assessment of depressive symptoms among college students has become an important issue. One promising instrument for depression screening in college settings is the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a 9-item self-report measure developed in primary care and designed to assess the presence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) symptom criteria for major depressive disorder. Although the PHQ-9 has been well validated in primary care settings, no studies have examined its factor structure for diverse college populations in the United States. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to test competing measurement models and the measurement invariance of the PHQ-9 across gender (men and women) and racial/ethnic groups (African American, Asian American, European American, Latino/a American) in a sample of 857 U.S. college students. Results supported a 1-factor model of the PHQ-9. Based on configural, metric, and scalar invariance test results, the PHQ-9 assesses depressive symptoms equivalently across gender and racial/ethnic groups. In support of validity evidence, PHQ-9 scores were positively associated with alcohol use and negatively associated with mental well-being. Implications for future research and assessment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Validation of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire Short Scale (NARQ-S) in convenience and representative samples.

Abstract: Due to increased empirical interest in narcissism across the social sciences, there is a need for inventories that can be administered quickly while also reliably measuring both the agentic and antagonistic aspects of grandiose narcissism. In this study, we sought to validate the factor structure, provide representative descriptive data and reliability estimates, assess the reliability across the trait spectrum, and examine the nomological network of the short version of the Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ-S; Back et al., 2013). We used data from a large convenience sample (total N = 11,937) as well as data from a large representative sample (total N = 4,433) that included responses to other narcissism measures as well as related constructs, including the other Dark Triad traits, Big Five personality traits, and self-esteem. Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory were used to validate the factor structure and estimate the reliability across the latent trait spectrum, respectively. Results suggest that the NARQ-S shows a robust factor structure and is a reliable and valid short measure of the agentic and antagonistic aspects of grandiose narcissism. We also discuss future directions and applications of the NARQ-S as a short and comprehensive measure of grandiose narcissism. (PsycINFO Database Record

College student mental health: An evaluation of the DSM–5 self-rated Level 1 cross-cutting symptom measure.

Abstract: The DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure was developed to aid in clinical decision-making for clients seeking psychiatric services and to facilitate empirical investigation of the dimensional nature of mental health issues. Preliminary evidence supports its utility with clinical samples. However, the brief, yet comprehensive structure of the DSM-5 Level 1 measure may benefit a high-risk population that is less likely to seek treatment. College students have high rates of hazardous substance use and co-occurring mental health symptoms, yet rarely seek treatment. Therefore, the current study evaluated the psychometric properties (i.e., construct and criterion-related validity) of the DSM-5 Level 1 measure with a large, diverse sample of non-treatment-seeking college/university students. Data from 7,217 college students recruited from 10 universities in 10 different states across the United States evidenced psychometric validation of the DSM-5 Level 1 measure. Specifically, we found acceptable internal consistency across multi-item DSM-5 domains and moderate to strong correlations among domains (internal validity). Further, several DSM-5 domains were positively associated with longer, validated measures of the same mental health construct and had similar strengths of associations with substance use outcomes compared to longer measures of the same construct (convergent validity). Finally, all DSM-5 domains were negatively associated with self-esteem and positively associated with other theoretically relevant constructs, such as posttraumatic stress (criterion-related validity). Taken together, the DSM-5 Level 1 measure appears to be a viable tool for evaluating psychopathology in college students. Several opportunities for clinical application and empirical investigation of the DSM-5 Level 1 measure are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The Online Social Support Scale: Measure development and validation.

Abstract: A new measure, the Online Social Support Scale, was developed based on previous theory, research, and measurement of in-person social support. It includes four subscales: Esteem/Emotional Support, Social Companionship, Informational Support, and Instrumental Support. In college and community samples, factor analytic and item response theory results suggest that subtypes of in-person social support also pertain in the online world. Evidence of reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity provide excellent psychometric support for the measure. Construct validity accrues to the measure vis-a-vis support for three hypotheses: (a) Various broad types of Internet platforms for social interactions are differentially associated with online social support and online victimization; (b) similar to in-person social support, online social support offsets the adverse effect of negative life events on self-esteem and depression-related outcome; and (c) online social support counteracts the effects of online victimization in much the same way that in-person friends in one social niche counterbalance rejection in other social niches. (PsycINFO Database Record

Development and preliminary validation of a five factor model measure of Machiavellianism.

Abstract: Machiavellianism is characterized by planfulness, the ability to delay gratification, and interpersonal antagonism (i.e., manipulativeness and callousness). Although its theoretically positive relations with facets of Conscientiousness should help distinguish Machiavellianism from psychopathy, current measurements of Machiavellianism are indistinguishable from those of psychopathy in large part because of their assessment of low Conscientiousness. The goal of the present study was to create a measure of Machiavellianism that is more in line with theory using an expert-derived profile based on the 30 facets of the five-factor model (FFM) and then test the validity of that measure by comparing it with relevant constructs. Previously collected expert ratings of the prototypical Machiavellian individual on FFM facets yielded a profile of 13 facets including low Agreeableness and high Conscientiousness. Items were written to represent each facet, resulting in a 201-item Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory (FFMI). Across 2 studies, with a total of 710 participants recruited via Mechanical Turk, the FFMI was reduced to its final 52-item form and was shown to relate as expected to measures of Big Five personality traits, current Machiavellianism measures, psychopathy, narcissism, ambition, and impulsivity. The FFMI is a promising alternative Machiavellianism measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Measuring variations in bicultural identity across U.S. ethnic and generational groups: Development and validation of the Bicultural Identity Integration Scale-Version 2 (BIIS-2).

Abstract: Bicultural Identity Integration (BII) is an individual difference construct that captures variations in the experience of biculturalism. Using multiple samples in a series of steps, we refined BII measurement and then tested the construct in a diverse sample of bicultural individuals. Specifically, we wrote new BII items based on qualitative data (n = 108), examined the quality of the new measure using subject-matter experts (n = 23) and bicultural individuals (n = 5), and then collected validation data from bicultural college students (n = 1049). We used exploratory factor analyses to select items and explore BIIS-2 structure with a random subset of the larger sample (n = 600), confirmatory factor analyses to show that the factor structure fit the data well (n = 449), and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses to demonstrate measurement invariance in two ethnic and two generational groups. Results showed that the Bicultural Identity Integration Scale-Version 2 (BIIS-2) yielded reliable and stable scores. The data also revealed interesting and important patterns of associations with theoretically relevant constructs: personality, acculturation, and psychological well-being. Additionally, structural equation models confirmed that in general, personality and acculturation variables influence individuals' experiences with their dual cultural identities, which in turn influence adjustment, but there were interesting and important generational differences in how these variables were related. These findings lend support for the validity of BIIS-2 score interpretations; add to our understanding of the sociocultural, personality, and adjustment correlates of the bicultural experience; and have important implications for understanding the well-being of bicultural individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

A meta-analysis of the five-factor internal structure of the Personality Inventory for DSM–5.

Abstract: The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, Section III, presents a new approach to conceptualizing personality psychopathology and diagnosing personality disorders. The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) was designed to measure Criterion B of the AMPD and is composed of 25 lower-order facet trait scales that form 5 higher-order domain trait scales. Although the PID-5 has mostly adequate to strong psychometric qualities, the lower-order factor structure of PID-5 facet scales has shown considerable variability across studies, and several PID-5 facets scales show evidence of interstitiality-the cross-loading of facets onto more than 1 domain. This interstitiality is neither unexpected nor especially problematic because complex models of personality have traits that are by nature interstitial. What is problematic, however, is that the factor loadings of these interstitial facets vary across samples, suggesting that some PID-5 facet scales are likely susceptible to sampling error and sampling variability. Moreover, the magnitude of some cross-loadings in some studies is substantive (i.e., ≥ .30). The objective of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis of the internal structure of the PID-5 to offset potential variability associated with sampling error and gain a clearer picture of the lower-order structure of PID-5 facet scales. This was accomplished using weighted mean factor loadings of the PID-5 facet scales across 14 independent samples (N = 14,743). Results supported that the level of interstitiality decreased when multiple samples were combined, and a clearer picture of the internal structure of the PID-5 facet scales emerged. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA): New tools to assess nondual traits and states of consciousness occurring within and beyond the context of meditation.

Abstract: This article details the development of two measures of nondual awareness, the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment-Trait (NADA-T) and the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment-State (NADA-S). Principal component analysis (N = 528) revealed two, interpretable dimensions of the NADA-T: self-transcendence and bliss. Bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling, conducted in three independent samples (N = 338, N = 221, N = 166), indicated that both NADA-T dimensions were components of a second-order nondual awareness construct. Convergent validity was observed between the NADA-T and theoretically aligned constructs, including interdependent self-construals and dispositional mindfulness. Given theoretical and observed relationships between nondual awareness and mindfulness, additional analyses examined the relationship between mindfulness practice and nondual awareness. Results indicated that mindfulness practitioners reported higher NADA-T scores than nonpractitioners, and mindfulness practice frequency was positively associated with nondual awareness. To assess the immediate effect of meditation practice on nondual awareness, items retained in the final version of the NADA-T were modified to create the NADA-S. A randomized controlled experiment (N = 53) comparing participants receiving a mindfulness induction (i.e., body scan) with those in an attention control group revealed state effects of mindfulness on nondual awareness using two, alternate forms of the NADA-S. Thus, the NADA-T appears to be psychometrically sound, representing a novel, standardized instrument capable of facilitating quantitative investigation of nondual awareness. Furthermore, the NADA-S may be useful for measuring fluctuations in nondual states of awareness evoked during mindfulness meditation practice and other contemplative techniques designed to transform consciousness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Identifying children with anxiety disorders using brief versions of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale for children, parents and teachers

Abstract: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health disorders experienced by children and are associated with significant negative outcomes. Only a minority of affected children, however, access professional help, and a failure to identify children with anxiety disorders presents a key barrier to treatment access. Existing child anxiety questionnaire measures are long and time consuming to complete, limiting their potential for widespread use as identification tools in community settings. We developed a brief questionnaire for parents, children, and teachers using items from the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and evaluated the new measure’s psychometric properties, capacity to discriminate between a community (n = 361) and clinic-referred sample (n = 338) of children aged 7–11, and identified optimal cut-off scores for accurate identification of preadolescent children experiencing clinically significant levels of anxiety. The findings provided support for the reliability and validity of 8-item versions of the SCAS, with the brief questionnaire scores displaying comparable internal consistency, agreement among reporters, and convergent/divergent validity to the full-length SCAS scores. The brief SCAS scores also discriminated between the community and clinic-referred samples and identified children in the clinic-referred sample with a moderate-to-good level of accuracy and acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Combining reporters improved sensitivity, but at the expense of specificity, and findings suggested parent report should be prioritized. This new brief questionnaire has potential for use in community settings as a tool to improve identification of children who are experiencing clinically significant levels of anxiety and warrant further assessment and potential support.

The Stroop test as a measure of performance validity in adults clinically referred for neuropsychological assessment.

Abstract: This study was designed to develop performance validity indicators embedded within the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Systems (D-KEFS) version of the Stroop task. Archival data from a mixed clinical sample of 132 patients (50% male; MAge = 43.4; MEducation = 14.1) clinically referred for neuropsychological assessment were analyzed. Criterion measures included the Warrington Recognition Memory Test-Words and 2 composites based on several independent validity indicators. An age-corrected scaled score ≤6 on any of the 4 trials reliably differentiated psychometrically defined credible and noncredible response sets with high specificity (.87-.94) and variable sensitivity (.34-.71). An inverted Stroop effect was less sensitive (.14-.29), but comparably specific (.85-90) to invalid performance. Aggregating the newly developed D-KEFS Stroop validity indicators further improved classification accuracy. Failing the validity cutoffs was unrelated to self-reported depression or anxiety. However, it was associated with elevated somatic symptom report. In addition to processing speed and executive function, the D-KEFS version of the Stroop task can function as a measure of performance validity. A multivariate approach to performance validity assessment is generally superior to univariate models. (PsycINFO Database Record

Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) correlations with prospective violence assessment in a longitudinal cohort.

Abstract: Retrospective recall-based measures administered to adults, like the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), are commonly used to determine experiences of childhood trauma in the home. However, the CTQ has not been compared with prospective measures of childhood violence exposure, whether at home or in the community. We evaluated the relationships between young adults' responses to the CTQ and their prospective self-reports of exposure to violence in childhood and adolescence. Participants were 127 (93% African American, 47% male) urban young adults in a longitudinal birth cohort study examining effects of prenatal substance exposure and environmental factors on development. Participants completed the Violence Exposure Scale for Children-Revised (VEX-R), a 21-item self-report measure of experience of/witness to interpersonal violence, administered face to face at 9, 10, and 11 years using cartoon pictures, and via audio-computer assisted self-interview at 12, 14, and 16 years. Participants also completed the CTQ, a 28-item, 5-scale screening measure, during a young-adult follow-up (ages 18-23). Using Pearson Correlation coefficients, VEX-R total scores significantly correlated with the sum of CTQ scales, r = .33, p < .01, and 3 (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse) of the 5 CTQ subscales, showing a moderate linear association. This study suggests that the CTQ serves as a reasonable retrospective assessment of prospectively ascertained childhood trauma exposure. The differences may be accounted for by disparities in domains assessed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Development and validation of the Narcissistic Vulnerability Scale: An adjective rating scale.

Abstract: There is an ongoing debate regarding the nature of narcissism such that some argue that narcissistic individuals oscillate between grandiose and vulnerable states, whereas others argue these dimensions are stable traits (e.g., grandiose individuals remain in grandiose states). Scales sensitive to fluctuations in narcissistic states are necessary to address this question. The current study (N = 1,613 across three samples) validates the newly developed Narcissistic Vulnerability Scale (NVS), a brief (11-item) adjective-based measure of vulnerable narcissism. Expert ratings were used for item selection. The NVS's factor structure was evaluated along with its correlations with measures of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, five-factor model traits, and self-esteem. A subset of NVS items were also evaluated using an ecological momentary assessment design. Results indicate the NVS is a unidimensional measure of vulnerable narcissism that could be used in either trait-oriented or state-oriented analyses, the latter of which may be particularly well suited to answering the most pressing questions in the study of narcissism. (PsycINFO Database Record

A bifactor model of intolerance of uncertainty in undergraduate and clinical samples: Do we need to reconsider the two-factor model?

Abstract: The theorized role that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) plays in the acquisition, maintenance, and treatment of multiple emotional disorders underscores the importance of valid assessment tools. Research using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short form (IUS-12) has conceptualized IU along 2 dimensions, namely, prospective IU and inhibitory IU. However, recent research has cast doubt on the separability of these dimensions. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the fit of competing measurement models of the IUS-12 in separate undergraduate (N = 506) and clinical (N = 524) samples. Unidimensional, correlated 2-factor, and bifactor models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The results of both studies supported a bifactor model consisting of a strong general IU factor. The general IU factor explained the majority of unique variance in the IUS-12, and suggested that a total score is generally appropriate for assessing IU. The general IU factor was most strongly and consistently associated with symptoms of multiple disorders. The inhibitory IU group factor was more weakly associated with most symptom measures in the clinical sample, but only with social phobia symptoms in the undergraduate sample. The prospective IU group factor was only separable from the general IU factor in the undergraduate sample, and did not explain unique variance in disorder symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record

Positive clinical psychology and Schema Therapy (ST): The development of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3).

Abstract: Negative schemas have been widely recognized as being linked to psychopathology and mental health, and they are central to the Schema Therapy (ST) model. This study is the first to report on the psychometric properties of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ). In a combined community sample (Manila, Philippines, n = 559; Bangalore, India, n = 350; Singapore, n = 628), we identified a 56-item, 14-factor solution for the YPSQ. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the 14-factor model using data from two other independent samples: an Eastern sample from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (n = 229) and a Western sample from the United States (n = 214). Construct validity was demonstrated with the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short Form (YSQ-S3) that measures negative schemas, and divergent validity was demonstrated for 11 of the YPSQ subscales with their respective negative schema counterparts. Convergent validity of the 14 subscales of YPSQ was demonstrated with measures of personality dispositions, emotional distress, well-being, trait gratitude, and humor styles. Positive schemas also showed incremental validity over and above negative schemas for these same measures, thus demonstrating that both positive and negative schemas are separate constructs that relate in unique ways to mental health. Implications for using both the YPSQ and the YSQ-S3 scales in tandem in ST as well as cultural nuances from the use of Asian samples were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Assessment of fluctuation between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: Development and initial validation of the FLUX scales.

Abstract: There is a growing interest in the distinction between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, along with a hypothesis of a fluctuation between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism within individuals. There are several well-validated measures of both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, but research has generally found that they are relatively distinct in their relations with their nomological networks. Further, the existing measures of narcissism do not actually assess for a possible fluctuation. The present study developed three scales of narcissistic fluctuation: fluctuation between indifference and anger, grandiosity and shame, and assertiveness and insecurity. Consistent with expectations, the FLUX scales correlated with both grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, displayed convergent and discriminant validity with factor derived-narcissism scales and the five-factor model, and correlated at moderate-to-large effect sizes with measures of affective lability. The three FLUX scales were also reduced to one unidimensional nine-item scale of narcissistic fluctuation (the g-FLUX) that retained the correlational properties for the more specific scales and had incremental validity over the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory and Pathological Narcissism Inventory grandiose and vulnerable scales in accounting for affective lability. Results from the present study suggest that the FLUX scales may provide an informative assessment of a fluctuation between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Five Factor Model personality disorder scales: An introduction to a special section on assessment of maladaptive variants of the five factor model.

Abstract: The Five-Factor Model (FFM) is a dimensional model of general personality structure, consisting of the domains of neuroticism (or emotional instability), extraversion versus introversion, openness (or unconventionality), agreeableness versus antagonism, and conscientiousness (or constraint). The FFM is arguably the most commonly researched dimensional model of general personality structure. However, a notable limitation of existing measures of the FFM has been a lack of coverage of its maladaptive variants. A series of self-report inventories has been developed to assess for the maladaptive personality traits that define Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition; DSM-5) Section II personality disorders (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013) from the perspective of the FFM. In this paper, we provide an introduction to this Special Section, presenting the rationale and empirical support for these measures and placing them in the historical context of the recent revision to the APA diagnostic manual. This introduction is followed by 5 papers that provide further empirical support for these measures and address current issues within the personality assessment literature. (PsycINFO Database Record

Early bird fails the PVT? The effects of timing artifacts on performance validity tests.

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effects of timing on the likelihood of failing the Recognition Memory Test-Words (RMT) and Word Choice Test (WCT). The RMT and WCT were administered in counterbalanced order either at the beginning (Time 1) or at the end (Time 2) of a test battery to a mixed clinical sample of 196 patients (Mage = 44.5 years, 55.1% female) medically referred for neuropsychological evaluation. The risk of failing the accuracy score was higher at Time 1 on both the RMT (relative risk [RR]: 1.44-1.64) and the WCT (RR: 1.21-1.50) across a range of cutoffs. Likewise, the risk of failing the time-to-completion score was higher at Time 1 on both the RMT (RR: 1.30-1.94) and the WCT (RR: 1.58-3.75). Established cutoffs failed to reach specificity standards at Time 1; more liberal cutoffs cleared specificity thresholds at Time 2. According to our findings, the RMT and WCT may be prone to false-positive errors at Time 1. Conversely, when administered at Time 2, existing cutoffs may have lower sensitivity, but they are highly specific to invalid performance. Timing should be considered during both test selection and the interpretation of RMT and WCT scores. Using conservative cutoffs for morning administrations and liberal cutoffs for afternoon administrations may be necessary to neutralize timing artifacts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The D-KEFS Trails as performance validity tests.

Abstract: This study was designed to examine the potential of the Delis-Kaplan Executive System (D-KEFS) version of the Trail Making Test (TMT) as a performance validity test (PVT). Data were collected from a mixed clinical sample of 157 consecutively referred outpatients (49% male, MAge = 47.1, MEducation = 13.6) undergoing neuropsychological assessment at an academic medical center in the northeastern United States. Sensitivity and specificity of the D-KEFS Trails to psychometrically defined invalid responding was calculated across various cutoffs and criterion PVTs. The D-KEFS Trails produced classification accuracy comparable to the original version of the TMT, hovering around the "Larrabee limit" (.50 sensitivity at .90 specificity). Different cutoffs (age-corrected scaled score ≤5 on Trails 1-3, ≤4 on Trails 4 and ≤8 on Trails 5) were needed to achieve the same classification accuracy across the five trials. Combining multiple cutoffs improved the signal detection performance. The study provides preliminary evidence of the utility of D-KEFS Trails as a PVT. Embedded PVTs are valuable, because they make a multivariate approach to validity assessment feasible. Combining validity indicators is superior to relying on single cutoffs. (PsycINFO Database Record

Using the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version in sexual violence risk assessments: Updated risk categories and recidivism estimates from a multisite sample of treated sexual offenders.

Abstract: The present study sought to develop updated risk categories and recidivism estimates for the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version (VRS-SO; Wong, Olver, Nicholaichuk, & Gordon, 2003-2017), a sexual offender risk assessment and treatment planning tool. The overarching purpose was to increase the clarity and accuracy of communicating risk assessment information that includes a systematic incorporation of new information (i.e., change) to modify risk estimates. Four treated samples of sexual offenders with VRS-SO pretreatment, posttreatment, and Static-99R ratings were combined with a minimum follow-up period of 10-years postrelease (N = 913). Logistic regression was used to model 5- and 10-year sexual and violent (including sexual) recidivism estimates across 6 different regression models employing specific risk and change score information from the VRS-SO and/or Static-99R. A rationale is presented for clinical applications of select models and the necessity of controlling for baseline risk when utilizing change information across repeated assessments. Information concerning relative risk (percentiles) and absolute risk (recidivism estimates) is integrated with common risk assessment language guidelines to generate new risk categories for the VRS-SO. Guidelines for model selection and forensic clinical application of the risk estimates are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Factor structure and criterion validity across the full scale and ten short forms of the CES-D among Chinese adolescents.

Abstract: We systematically examined the factor structure and criterion validity across the full scale and 10 short forms of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) with Chinese youth. Participants were 5,434 Chinese adolescents in Grades 7 to 12 who completed the full CES-D; 612 of them further completed a structured diagnostic interview with the major depressive disorder (MDD) module of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia for School-age Children. Using a split-sample approach, a series of 4-, 3-, 2-, and 1-factor models were tested using exploratory structural equation modeling and cross-validated using confirmatory factor analysis; the dimensionality was also evaluated by parallel analysis in conjunction with the scree test and aided by factor mixture analysis. The results indicated that a single-factor model of depression with a wording method factor fitted the data well, and was the optimal structure underlying the scores of the full and shortened CES-D. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for MDD case detection showed that the CES-D full-scale scores accurately detected MDD youth (area under the curve [AUC] = .84). Furthermore, the short-form scores produced comparable AUCs with the full scale (.82 to .85), as well as similar levels of sensitivity and specificity when using optimal cutoffs. These findings suggest that depression among Chinese adolescents can be adequately measured and screened for by a single-factor structure underlying the CES-D scores, and that the short forms provide a viable alternative to the full instrument. (PsycINFO Database Record

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

Abstract: 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. (PsycINFO Database Record

FFMPD scales: Comparisons with the FFM, PID-5, and CAT-PD-SF.

Abstract: A series of 8 Five Factor Model Personality Disorder (FFMPD) scales have been developed to assess, from the perspective of the Five Factor Model (FFM), the maladaptive traits included within DSM-5 Section II personality disorders. An extensive body of FFMPD research has accumulated. However, for the most part, each study has been confined to the scales within 1 particular FFMPD Inventory. The current study considered 36 FFMPD scales, at least 1 from each of the 8 FFMPD inventories, including 8 scales considered to be from neuroticism, 8 from extraversion, 5 from openness, 8 from agreeableness, and 7 from conscientiousness. Their convergent, discriminant, and structural relationship with the FFM was considered, and compared with the structural relationship with the FFM obtained by the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) and the Computerized Adaptive Test-Personality Disorder-Static Form (CAT-PD-SF). Support for an FFM structure was obtained (albeit with agreeableness defining 1 factor and antagonism a separate factor). Similarities and differences across the FFMPD, PID-5, and CAT-PD-SF scales were highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS): Factor structure, reliability, and validity.

Abstract: Numerous studies have identified the significant role of emotion regulation in an individual's psychological and social functioning. Ever since its development, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) has been widely adopted as a comprehensive measure to assess emotion regulation problems among English-speaking adults. To assess emotion regulation in adults from Chinese-speaking societies and to promote future cross-cultural examination of the emotion regulation processes, the authors aimed to develop a Chinese version of the DERS and provide an initial validation of this instrument. For the purpose of the current study, we recruited 862 Chinese adults from universities and local companies. The results indicated a similar six-factor solution in the Chinese version to the original version. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were good. Concurrent validity was assessed by examining the correlations of the DERS and its subscales with measures of psychopathological symptoms and self-regulation of negative mood. The results demonstrated strong correlations of the DERS subscales with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Generalized Expectancy for Negative Mood Regulation Scale, except for that between the awareness subscale and the SCL-90. For the convergent validity, most DERS subscales were significantly correlated with personality traits, emotional intelligence, and self-control ability, with several exceptions. These findings are discussed within the context of the relevant literature. (PsycINFO Database Record

What item response theory can tell us about the complex span tasks.

Abstract: Working memory capacity is an important construct in psychology because of its relationship with many higher-order cognitive abilities and psychopathologies. Working memory capacity is often measured using a type of paradigm known as complex span. Some recent work has focused on shortening the administration time of the complex span tasks, resulting in different versions of these tasks being used (Foster et al., 2015; Oswald, McAbee, Redick, & Hambrick, 2015). Variations in the complex span tasks, such as the number of set sizes, can lead to varying power to discriminate individuals at different ability levels. Thus, research findings may be inconsistent across populations due to differing appropriateness for the ability levels. The present study uses a combination of item response theory and correlational analyses to better understand the psychometric properties of the operation span, symmetry span, and rotation span. The findings show that the typical administration of these tasks, particularly the operation span, is not suitable for above average ability samples (Study 1; n = 573). When larger set sizes are added to the tasks (Study 2; n = 351), predictive validity and discriminability is improved for all complex span tasks, however the operation span is still inferior to the spatial tasks. The authors make several conclusions about which tasks and set sizes should be used depending on the intended population, and further suggest avoiding the standard-length operation span for average or higher ability populations. (PsycINFO Database Record

The dynamics of persisting through distress: Development of a Momentary Distress Intolerance Scale using ecological momentary assessment.

Abstract: Distress tolerance, or the ability to withstand uncomfortable states, is thought to be a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. Distress tolerance is typically measured using self-report questionnaires or behavioral tasks, both of which construe distress tolerance as a trait and downplay the potential variability in distress tolerance across time and situation. The aim of the current study was to provide a method for assessing momentary distress tolerance using ecological momentary assessment to capture both within- and between-individual information. Participants (n = 86) responded to random prompts on their cell phones seven times per day for one week, which included 10 momentary distress tolerance items as well as momentary emotion. After examining item distributions and interclass correlations, we conducted a multilevel exploratory factor analysis using both within-individual and between-individual data to arrive at a brief, 3-item measure we call the Momentary Distress Intolerance Scale. Model fit and reliability indices were good for both within- and between-individual approaches. We found that distress tolerance varied significantly over time, and that average momentary distress intolerance and instability in momentary distress intolerance were associated with trait distress tolerance, emotion dysregulation and tendencies to use experiential avoidance. Neither average momentary distress intolerance nor instability in momentary distress intolerance correlated with behavioral distress tolerance tasks. We discuss the importance of construing distress tolerance from a dynamic perspective and provide recommendations toward future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire - Dysregulation Profile (SDQ-DP)

Abstract: The Dysregulation Profile (DP) has emerged as a measure of concurrent affective, behavioral and cognitive dysregulation, associated with severe psychopathology, and poor adjustment. While originally developed with the Child Behavior Checklist, more recently the DP has also been defined on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), mostly with a 5-item, but also a 15-item, SDQ-DP measure. This study evaluated the SDQ-DP by examining its factor structure, measurement invariance, and construct validity. Different SDQ-DP operationalizations were compared. In a United States longitudinal community sample (N = 768), a bifactor model consisting of a general Dysregulation factor and three specific factors of Emotional Symptoms, Conduct Problems, and Hyperactivity-Inattention fitted best, across three different developmental periods (early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence) and across three different reporters (parents, teachers, and youth). Measurement invariance across reporter, gender, and developmental period was demonstrated. These findings indicate that the SDQ-DP, like the CBCL-DP, reflects a broad syndrome of dysregulation that exists in addition to specific syndromes of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity-inattention. SDQ-DP bifactor scores were strongly related with scores on the 5- and 15-item SDQ-DP measures and similarly concurrently associated with two markers of self-regulation, ego-resiliency and effortful control, and longitudinally with antisocial behavior and disciplinary measures. As reliability, validity, and stability was weaker for the SDQ-DP 5-item measure, use of all 15 items is recommended. Advantages of using a bifactor approach are discussed as well as the potential of the SDQ-DP as an easy screening measure of children at risk for developing serious psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record

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

Abstract: 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. (PsycINFO Database Record

A cognitive psychometric model for assessment of picture naming abilities in aphasia.

Abstract: Picture naming impairments are a typical feature of stroke-induced aphasia. Overall accuracy and rates of different error types are used to make inferences about the severity and nature of damage to the brain's language network. Currently available assessment tools for picture naming accuracy treat it as a unidimensional measure, while assessment tools for error types treat items homogenously, contrary to findings from psycholinguistic investigations of word production. We created and tested a new cognitive psychometric model for assessment of picture naming responses, using cognitive theory to specify latent processing decisions during the production of a naming attempt, and using item response theory to separate the effects of item difficulty and participant ability on these internal processing decisions. The model enables multidimensional assessment of latent picture naming abilities on a common scale, with a relatively large cohort for normative reference. We present the results of 4 experiments testing our interpretation of the model's parameters, as they apply to picture naming predictions, lexical properties of the items, statistical properties of the lexicon, and participants' scores on other tests. We also created a website for researchers and clinicians to analyze item-level data using our model, providing estimates of latent abilities and percentile scores, as well as credible intervals to help gauge the reliability of the estimated model parameters and identify meaningful changes. To the extent that the model is successful, the estimated parameter values may aid in treatment decisions and progress monitoring, or they may help elucidate the functional properties of brain networks. (PsycINFO Database Record

Consensual lay profiles of narcissism and their connection to the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory.

Abstract: Although there is evidence that experts agree on the traits that characterize narcissism, this agreement may be due, in part, to the influence of the operationalizations based on the American Psychiatric Association's series of Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1980, 1994, 2013). Because these trait descriptions are important in shaping conceptualizations and serving as empirical criteria for construct validation, we explored their generalizability. In Study 1, we collected lay ratings (N = 1,792) of prototypical cases of narcissism across 15 different categories (e.g., gender, age, occupational status) on the 30 traits of the five-factor model (FFM). There was good agreement within and across rating categories and the trait profiles were quite similar to existing ratings made by academicians and clinicians. In Study 2 (N = 603), we examined the degree to which various scores from the Five-Factor Narcissism Inventory-Short Form (FFNI-SF; Sherman et al., 2015) provided empirical matches to these FFM profiles (mean lay ratings from Study 1; existing expert-based and meta-analytically derived profiles). In general, scores from the FFNI-SF grandiose scale, as well as the empirically derived FFNI-SF Antagonism and Agentic Extraversion components yielded FFM profiles closely aligned to the various consensus profiles. These results are generally consistent with a burgeoning literature that suggests that the FFNI/FFNI-SF is a promising tool for the study of narcissism given its comprehensiveness, flexibility, and ties to the predominant model of personality. (PsycINFO Database Record

Method biases in single-source personality assessments.

Abstract: The magnitude of components of variance in trait scales-true score, method variance, and error-can be estimated from information on the mono-method correlations among personality traits within a domain and on cross-observer agreement on domains and facets. Estimates of these components in NEO Inventory facet scales were compared with prior estimates that were based on a consideration of internal consistency and retest reliability (McCrae, 2015). Together, results suggested that (a) about 40% of the variance in self-reports and single informant ratings is due to method variance; (b) as with substantive traits, method biases exist on several different levels, some broad, some narrow; and (c) consequently, a large number of distinct biases affect personality scale scores. Method biases beyond acquiescence and evaluation were also found in a clinical instrument, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5. Because many biases appear to be idiosyncratic, it is unlikely that validity scales could be created to assess or control all of them. These findings underscore the value of utilizing multiple informants in research and individual assessment. To the extent that they can be distinguished from valid variance, method biases are themselves of clinical interest as potentially important elements of the self-concept. (PsycINFO Database Record