This cross-sectional study aimed to provide a scale to assess different aspects of the will based on Roberto Assagioli's theory. The scale development followed three steps. Step 1 focused on ...operationalizing the construct and developing the items. It was carried out through several phases of item generation and refinement, resulting in a pool of 38 items. At Step 2 we tested the psychometric properties of the initial 38-item scale with the goal of excluding the items that weakened the structural validity and reliability of the scale. Descriptive, internal consistency, and exploratory factor analyses statistics were computed on a large sample (Sample 1: N = 587; age: M = 21.55, SD = 4.14, 66% female) and they led to a five-dimension model (Strong, Skillful, Good toward Self and Other, and Transpersonal Will) and the exclusion of 15 items. Analyses conducted at Step 3 on a different sample (Sample 2: N = 683; age: M = 34.09, SD = 16.27, 54% female) allowed for further refinement of the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis conducted on the resulting 19-item scale showed a good fit for the five-factor model (X.sup.2 (142) = 507.63, p< .001, TLI = .91; CFI = .93; RMSEA = .06 90%CI: .06-.07), and evidence of its invariance across genders and ages was provided. Reliability indices (internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficients) were adequate (ranging from .66 to .83) and correlations with measures of related constructs supported the external validity of the scale. This study provides researchers, therapists, and counselors with an efficient measurement tool to assess Assagioli's construct of will.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The present study aims to validate the Italian version of the revised Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-R). The scale was administered to a large sample of Italian adults (
N
= 689; 54.3% females,
M
age
... = 34.09,
SD
= 16.27, range = 18–84) along with measures of related psychological concepts. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated adequate fit for the three-factor structure of the scale (i.e., manageability, balance, and reflection). Internal consistency and temporal stability indices confirmed the reliability of the scale and associations with related constructs, including personality, general resistance resources, well-being, and stress, provided evidence of its validity. This study demonstrated that the Italian version of the SOC-R is a valid and reliable measure that can be utilized for clinical and research purpose.
The assessment of well-being remains an important topic for many disciplines including medical, psychological, social, educational, and economic fields. The present study assesses the reliability and ...validity of a five-item instrument for evaluating physical, psychological, spiritual, relational, and general well-being. This measure uniquely utilizes a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale in which a respondent selects a whole number that best reflects the intensity of the investigated characteristic. In study one, 939 clinical (i.e., diagnosed with cancer and liver disease with cirrhosis) and non-clinical (i.e., undergraduate students and their family and acquaintances) participants between the ages of 18 to 87 years (M = 47.20 years, SD = 19.62, 54% males) were recruited. Results showed items have strong discriminant ability and the spread of threshold parameters attests to the appropriateness of the response categories. Moreover, convergent and discriminant validity were found with other self-report measures (e.g., depression, anxiety, optimism, well-being) and the measure showed responsiveness to two separate interventions for clinical populations. In study two, 287 Canadian (ages ranged from 18 to 30 years; M = 20.78, SD = 3.32; 23% males) and 342 Italian undergraduate psychology students (age ranged from 18 to 29 years, M = 21.21 years, SD = 1.73, 38% males) were recruited to complete self-report questionnaires. IRT-based differential item functioning analyses provided evidence that the item properties were similar for the Italian and English versions of the scale. Additionally, the validity results obtained in study one were replicated and similar relationships between criterion variables were found when comparing the Italian- and the English-speaking samples. Overall, the current study provides evidence that the Italian and English versions of the WB-NRSs offer added value in research focused on well-being and in assessing well-being changes prompted by intervention programs.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Cultural, linguistic and sociodemographic peculiarities may influence trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI). An instrument capable of assessing trait EI in different populations can foster ...cross-cultural research and make an important contribution to the construct's nomological network. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between trait EI and key sociodemographic variables through univariate analyses of variance and tests of multigroup measurement equivalence. We used datasets Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue-SF) datasets from four countries. Collectively, these datasets comprised 2228 participants, 23% from Brazil, 15% from Chile, 23% from Italy, and 39% from the United Kingdom. The sociodemographic variables that we used for trait EI comparisons were gender, age, educational level, civil and occupational status. Our results indicated significant global trait EI differences across countries for civil status, occupation, educational attainment, and age. Measurement invariance across the datasets was acceptable, especially for age, gender and education. In conclusion, the present psychometric evidence supports the suitability of the TEIQue-SF for the accurate assessment of trait EI in transcultural research.
The Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Questionnaire (PVDQ) measures beliefs associated with personal susceptibility to infectious diseases and behaviors or perceptions in the presence of potential ...risk of pathogen transmission. Given the onset of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 global pandemic, otherwise known as the COVID-19 pandemic, the construct being measured may function differently based on affective, behavioral, and cognitive changes along with the need to change norms and lifestyles in a global context. The present study aims to test the psychometric properties and the gender invariance of the Italian adaptation of the PVDQ to confirm that the scale can be used with Italian-speaking people, and that it functions effectively during a pandemic.
A total of 509 participants filled out an online questionnaire including the Italian version of the I-PVDQ (I-PVDQ) and several measures of psychological constructs. Reliability and factor analyses (single and multigroup) were conducted. Bayesian correlation tests and Bayesian independent sample t-tests were used to assess the validity of I-PVDQ.
Exploratory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of the I-PVDQ, and factor loadings loaded appropriately onto perceived infectability (PI) and germ aversion (GA). In terms of invariance, the scale showed configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across genders. Decisive evidence in favor of correlation with the measure of COVID-19 related fears for both PI and GA was found. There was strong evidence for observed correlations with COVID-19 related constructs such as intolerance to uncertainty, psychological inflexibility, resilience, stress, and anxiety. Women showed higher GA than men, while there were no gender differences in PI.
Taken together, these results suggest that the I-PVDQ confirms the psychometric properties of the original version and that can be used to detect PVD when it is affected by environmental circumstances since its functioning is preserved during a pandemic.
Patients with chronic liver disease face debilitating complications in their daily living and constantly report several types of unmet needs, but there is a paucity of validated questionnaires to ...assess these needs. In this study, we present the development of the Needs Evaluation Questionnaire for Liver Diseases (NEQ-LD) for the assessment of unmet needs in patients with chronic liver disease. Two hundred eighty-six outpatients with chronic liver diseases from a single tertiary referral center completed the NEQ-LD and related validity measures. Item response theory analyses were performed and demonstrated the strong psychometric properties of the questionnaire. Differential item functioning analyses showed that the scale functions equally across groups differing for age, sex, and presence of cirrhosis, suggesting the large applicability of the NEQ-LD for the assessment of unmet needs and between-group comparisons. Criterion validity measures provided evidence that unmet needs were positively associated with measures of depression and anxiety and negatively associated with measures of subjective well-being and physical and mental health. Unmet needs were expressed by a high percentage of patients, especially in the areas of information and dialogue with clinicians. One third of the sample reported material needs. Most of the items describing unmet needs were reported more frequently by patients with cirrhosis. Conclusion: We developed a reliable, valid, and largely employable instrument that can promote patient-centered care and facilitate support services in Hepatology.
Physical distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic has limited the opportunities for family members, friends, and significant others to show physical affection (i.e., hugs, kisses, caresses, holding ...hands) during social interactions. The present study investigated the effects of positive touch and psychological distress in 991 Italian participants (
= 34.43,
= 14.27). Results showed the frequency of hugs with the cohabiting partner significantly decreased the symptoms of depression (
= -1.187,
= 0.018,
0.30, 95% CI = 0.11-0.82), whereas the frequency of caresses with cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (
= 0.575,
= 0.034,
= 1.78, 95% CI = 1.04-3.03). The frequency of hugs (
= -0.609,
= 0.049,
0.54, 95% CI = 0.30-1.00), and kisses (
= 0.663,
= 0.045,
= 1.94, 95% CI = 1.01-3.71) with non-cohabiting relatives predicted the symptoms of anxiety (
= 1.35,
= 5,
= 0.93). These results suggest the importance of positive touch on psychological well-being in the social context.
The Well-being Numerical Rating Scales (WB-NRSs) can be used to assess rapidly and accurately different types of well-being. However, the spiritual well-being scale showed slightly weaker ...psychometric properties. This study aimed to further investigate its suitability in measuring spiritual well-being. Participants (
= 270, age:
= 32.98; SD = 15.64; 67% females) were administered a questionnaire including spiritual well-being, gratitude, compassionate love, and personality traits measures. A network analysis (based on correlations) was used to display graphically the pattern of relationships among the measured constructs (i.e. the nomological net). Results provided evidence that the scale measures spiritual well-being as defined in the literature, that is, a component distinct from faith and compassionate love, but connected to meaning in life, quality of relationships, personality traits, and gratitude. These findings confirm the WB-NRSs is a psychometrically sound and easy-to-use tool with clear benefits for both research and clinical assessment.
Prioritizing positivity is effective in enhancing positive emotional experiences in everyday life. While a measure of prioritizing positivity is imperative for positive psychology interventions, no ...scale has been developed to measure this construct for Italian speakers. The current study developed and examined the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the Prioritizing Positivity Scale (I-PPS). Italian participants (
N
= 501) completed self-report measures of the I-PPS, broad personality, related psychological constructs, and indicators of well-being. Results showed strong evidence for a unidimensional model with factor loadings ranging from 0.67 to 0.82. Correlations in the expected directions were found between the I-PPS and broad personality traits, related psychological constructs, and well-being. Gender and language measurement invariance of the I-PSS revealed strict invariance between genders and metric invariance between the English (
N
= 642) and Italian versions. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that the I-PPS has adequate psychometric properties. As such, the scale could be used in future studies to advance theories, design experiments, and measure the efficacy of positive psychology interventions.
Purpose
This study aims to understand the association between emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress) in women with cancer at ...different stages. Specifically, the aims of this study were to investigate: i) the links between emotional intelligence and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression); ii) the mediating role of perceived social support provided by family members, friends, and significant others in the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological distress; iii) the impact of cancer type and cancer stage (I-II
vs
III-IV) in moderating these relationships, among Italian women.
Methods
The research sample consisted of 206 Italian women (
mean age
= 49.30 ± 10.98 years; 55% breast cancer patients) who were administered a questionnaire to assess emotional intelligence, perceived social support, and psychological distress. Structural equation model (SEM) analysis was carried out to confirm the hypothetical-theoretical model.
Results
Emotional intelligence had a positive association with perceived social support, which in turn prevented psychological distress only in women with early-stages cancers. The type of cancer has no effect on these relationships.
Conclusions
The findings of this study indicate a pressing need to screen and recognize women with lower emotional intelligence and perceived social support, as they may be more prone to experiencing psychological distress. For such individuals, our results recommend the implementation of psychological interventions aimed at enhancing emotional intelligence and fortifying their social support networks, with consideration for the stage of cancer they are facing.
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