Mindfulness Is Positively Related to Socioeconomic Job Status and Income and Independently Predicts Mental Distress in a Long-Term Perspective: Danish Validation Studies of the Five-Factor Mindfulness QuestionnaireJensen, Christian Gaden; Krogh, Søren Christian; Westphael, Gitte; Hjordt, Liv Vadskjær
doi: 10.1037/pas0000667pmid: 30520656
The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures 5 factor-analytically derived mindfulness aspects (Observe, Describe, Non-Judgment, Non-Reactivity, and Acting with Awareness) and is commonly used as an indicator of mindfulness in population surveys and studies of mindfulness-based interventions (MBI). Outside MBI, FFMQ scores are hypothesized to reflect relatively stable human dispositions of importance to psychological health. However, the long-term test–retest reliability of FFMQ scores is virtually untested and it remains unknown whether FFMQ scores predict psychological health after controlling for standardized socioeconomic status classifications. First, we focused on psychometric validation of the FFMQ translated to Danish in a randomly invited healthy and nonmeditating adult community sample (N = 490). Confirmatory factor analyses primarily supported a four-factor construct excluding the Observe facet. The four-factor model showed adequate composite reliability, convergent validity and satisfactory-excellent internal consistency, Cronbach αs = .72–.91. Structural equation modeling revealed that FFMQ Total scores were positively related to income and socioeconomic status but independently predicted psychological distress and mental health scores, respectively, after controlling for age, gender, body mass index, socioeconomic job classification, stressful life events, and social desirability, β = −.24–.29, ps < .001. Second, FFMQ scores showed adequate short-term (two weeks) test–retest reliability among 99 healthy university students, Spearman’s ρs ≥ .82. Finally, all FFMQ mean scores showed satisfactory test–retest reliability across a long-term (six months) interval (N = 407), intraclass correlation coefficients ≥.74. We recommend the Danish FFMQ for further use. The Observe facet should be interpreted with caution. Remaining FFMQ facet scores comprise an internally consistent four-dimensional construct reflecting long-term-reliable human dispositions of independent significance for predicting mental health.
The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index: Measurement Equivalence Among College Students in the U.S. and MexicoArmenta, Brian E.; Cooper, M. Lynne
doi: 10.1037/pas0000608pmid: 30198725
The Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) is widely used to assess alcohol-related problems among college students within the U.S. and internationally. Despite its wide usage, whether the RAPI similarly assesses alcohol-related problems among students in different countries has not been established. We begin to address this issue by evaluating responses to the RAPI for measurement equivalence across college students in the U.S. (European Americans and Mexican Americans, treated as separate groups) and Mexico (Mexicans). Toward this end, we evaluated the RAPI for Differential Item Functioning (DIF) within an item response theory framework. Our results showed DIF for 6 item severities, all but one of which differed as a function of country (U.S. vs. Mexico). Additional analyses showed that using a latent RAPI variable with no DIF assumed had no substantive consequences in terms of group mean differences and zero-order correlations with self-reported drinking behaviors. Similarly, when using observed RAPI scale scores, there were no substantive differences in terms of correlations. The observed scale scores, however, led to inaccurate mean comparisons. Based on our results, we recommend that scholars model the RAPI as a latent variable when conducting analyses.
Cross-Validation of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits Across Reporters and Genders in a Sample of Detained YouthLin, Betty; Kerig, Patricia K.; Adkins, Daniel E.
doi: 10.1037/pas0000636pmid: 30080064
The development of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) has contributed importantly to research on the role of callous-unemotional traits in youth offending. However, findings from recent studies have raised questions about the measure’s psychometric properties by yielding discrepant findings about how best to optimize the ICU for capturing meaningful variability in callous-unemotional traits across genders, reporters, and samples. The present study drew data from a sample of justice-involved adolescents and examined the psychometric properties of the ICU across caregiver- and youth self-report versions as well as across genders. Findings suggested that the ICU functioned differently across caregiver- and youth self-report versions and, thus, that different scale variations may better optimize the use of the ICU for caregiver versus youth self-reports. Specifically, findings from the current study supported the use of a youth self-reported ICU scale excluding reverse-coded items and the caregiver-reported full scale. Minimal gender differences emerged. Continued efforts to optimize the psychometric qualities and functional significance of the ICU, particularly the youth self-report form, may enhance efforts both to identify and intervene with the subgroup of youth at particular risk for recidivism.
Latent Factor Structure of DSM5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Evaluation of Method Variance and Construct Validity of Novel Symptom ClustersLee, Daniel J.; Bovin, Michelle J.; Weathers, Frank W.; Palmieri, Patrick A.; Schnurr, Paula P.; Sloan, Denise M.; Keane, Terence M.; Marx, Brian P.
doi: 10.1037/pas0000642pmid: 30113182
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM–5) 4-factor model of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has demonstrated adequate fit in several confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) studies. Although several alternative measurement models have demonstrated better fit, there is no consensus yet on the best model, and newly proposed models lack sufficient construct validation. Notably, these studies have relied exclusively on questionnaire data, and thus their findings may be attributable to a method effect. This study examined the factor structure of DSM–5 PTSD symptoms using both questionnaire and interview data to determine the impact of assessment method on factor structure and construct validity of alternative model symptom clusters. Participants (N = 380) were veterans who completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM–5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM–5 (CAPS-5; Weathers et al., 2013). Fit was similar across models. However, the seven-factor Hybrid model (Armour et al., 2015) fit best. Limited evidence of a method effect was observed. Results of construct validity analyses were mixed; some of the newly proposed symptom clusters demonstrated hypothesized differential associations with external correlates, but others did not. These findings suggest that results of previous DSM–5 PTSD CFAs supporting the Hybrid model are not attributable to a method effect. However, observed limited difference in model fit and mixed construct validity evidence raise concerns regarding the value of parsing DSM–5 symptom clusters. Constructs implied by the new factors in the more complex measurement models of PTSD require greater explication and construct validation.
The Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory (MEDI): Assessing Transdiagnostic Dimensions to Validate a Profile Approach to Emotional Disorder ClassificationRosellini, Anthony J.; Brown, Timothy A.
doi: 10.1037/pas0000649pmid: 30160498
There has been limited progress evaluating the validity of dimensional approaches to emotional disorder classification. This has occurred in part because of a lack of standardized assessment tools developed with the specific intent of studying dimensional classification. The goal of the current study was to develop and validate the Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory (MEDI) to efficiently assess nine empirically supported transdiagnostic dimensions proposed in the Brown and Barlow (2009) profile approach to emotional disorder classification: neurotic temperament, positive temperament, depression, autonomic arousal, somatic anxiety, social anxiety, intrusive cognitions, traumatic reexperiencing, and avoidance. The MEDI factor structure, reliability, and convergent/discriminant validity was evaluated in outpatients with emotional disorders (pilot sample = 227; validation sample = 780). The final 9-factor solution fit the data well. Intercorrelations among MEDI factors were consistent with previous research, and all MEDI dimensions had acceptable reliability. Correlations with common self-report questionnaires and DSM–5 diagnoses supported the convergent/discriminant validity of all nine MEDI dimensions. Collectively, these results support the use of 49-item MEDI in clinical research samples. The MEDI should be used in future research to evaluate the validity of the Brown and Barlow (2009) approach to emotional disorder classification. Because it provides an efficient assessment of several well-established emotional disorder traits and phenotypes, the MEDI also may have utility for general research or clinical purposes.
Estimating Transdiagnostic Symptom Networks: The Problem of Skip Outs in Diagnostic InterviewsHoffman, Michaela; Steinley, Douglas; Trull, Timothy J.; Sher, Kenneth J.
doi: 10.1037/pas0000644pmid: 30160496
Network models of the symptoms of psychological disorders provide a novel lens for examining comorbidity. Viewing symptoms as causal entities in their own right, researchers can attempt to identify specific symptoms that “bridge” diagnostic entities, providing a more granular perspective on comorbidity than the one provided by analysis at the syndromal level. Such analyses could help identify transdiagnostic targets for both research and clinical interventions. Although promising conceptually, extant work using this approach often uses structured diagnostic interview data that employ “skip outs,” branching logic conditional on responses to gating questions (which may be criterial or risk markers). We demonstrate that skip outs, where screening items are asked for each disorder before assessing the remaining symptoms, can produce significant problems in interpretation of comorbidity between symptoms and, hence, transdiagnostic network models. The nature and extent of this problem is explored, and suggestions for future network studies of comorbidity are provided.