Factor structure of the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) from infertile women attending the Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility

Background: Nowadays, infertility problems have become a social concern, and are associated with multiple psychological and social problems. Also, it affects the interpersonal communication between the individual, familial, and social characteristics. Since women are exposed to stressors of physical, mental, social factors, and treatment of infertility, providing a psychometric screening tool is necessary for disorders of this group. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the factor structure of the general health questionnaire-28 to discover mental disorders in infertile women. Materials and Methods: In this study, 220 infertile women undergoing treatment of infertility were selected from the Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility with convenience sampling in 2011. After completing the general health questionnaire by the project manager, validity and, reliability of the questionnaire were calculated by confirmatory factor structure and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Results: Four factors, including anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, depression, and physical symptoms were extracted from the factor structure. 50.12% of the total variance was explained by four factors. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was obtained 0.90. Conclusion: Analysis of the factor structure and reliability of General Health Questionnaire-28 showed that it is suitable as a screening instrument for assessing general health of infertile women.

Consumers knowledge about dietary fibre : Results of a survey questionnaire in Hungary and Romania

Dietary fi bres (DFs) are essential components of the balanced diet. Even though the adequate level of their consumption can be ensured from several natural (e.g. fruit, vegetables, legumes) and ‘artifi cial’ sources (e.g. functional foods), the consumed levels are below the recommendations. To analyse the Hungarian and Romanian consumers’ knowledge level, their perceptions of the health benefi ts associated with fi bre, as well as the recognition of the potential information sources, a survey questionnaire was conducted with the total of 713 consumers. Results showed that the level of knowledge about DFs was not adequate. Internet was found to be widely used and identifi ed as one of the most appropriate information sources to encourage the consumption of DF. It was a favourable result that three-quarter of the respondents was interested in the topic of healthy food consumption; however, just less than half of them took into consideration the label information during their shopping decisions. To increase the consumption of DF and to support the responsibility and conscious consumer decisions steps must to be done (e.g. education of children, pointing out of the sources). For this purpose, modern information technology and communication channels fi tting to the consumers’ cultural and personal particularities can be utilized.

Validation and reliability of the Japanese version of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Form

Background: Food allergy (FA) is a heavy burden for patients and their families and can significantly reduce the quality of life (QoL) of both. To provide adequate support, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the parents' QoL may be helpful. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a Japanese version of the Food Allergy QoL QuestionnaireeParent Form (FAQLQ-PF-J), an internationally validated disease-specific QoL measurement of the parental burden of having a child with FA. Methods: The FAQLQ-PF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), an instrument to test the construct validity of the FAQLQ-PF-J, were translated into Japanese. After language validation, the questionnaires were administered to parents of FA children aged 0e12 years and those of age-matched healthy (without FA) children. Internal consistency (by Cronbach's a) and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Construct validity and discriminant validity were also examined. Results: One hundred twenty-seven parents of children with FA and 48 parents of healthy children filled out the questionnaire. The FAQLQ-PF-J showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's a > 0.77) and test-retest reliability. Good construct validity was demonstrated by significant correlations between the FAQLQ-PF-J and FAIM-J scores. It discriminated parents of children with FA from those without. The scores were significantly higher (lower QoL) for parents of FA children with a history of anaphylaxis than those without, for those with >6 FA-related symptoms experienced than those with less FA-related symptoms. Conclusions: The FAQLQ-PF-J is a reliable and valid measure of the parental burden of FA in children.

Validation of the School Conflict Negotiation Effectiveness Questionnaire

N/A

Concurrent validity of the Swedish version of the life-space assessment questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The Life-Space Assessment (LSA), developed in the USA, is an instrument focusing on mobility with respect to reaching different areas defined as life-spaces, extending from the room where the person sleeps to mobility outside one's hometown. A newly translated Swedish version of the LSA (LSA-S) has been tested for test-retest reliability, but the validity remains to be tested. The purpose of the present study was to examine the concurrent validity of the LSA-S, by comparing and correlating the LSA scores to other measures of mobility. METHOD: The LSA was included in a population-based study of health, functioning and mobility among older persons in Sweden, and the present analysis comprised 312 community-dwelling participants. To test the concurrent validity, the LSA scores were compared to a number of other mobility-related variables, including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) as well as "stair climbing", "transfers", "transportation", "food shopping", "travel for pleasure" and "community activities". The LSA total mean scores for different levels of the other mobility-related variables, and measures of correlation were calculated. RESULTS: Higher LSA total mean scores were observed with higher levels of all the other mobility related variables. Most of the correlations between the LSA and the other mobility variables were large (r = 0.5-1.0) and significant at the 0.01 level. The LSA total score, as well as independent life-space and assistive life-space correlated with transportation (0.63, 0.66, 0.64) and food shopping (0.55, 0.58, 0.55). Assistive life-space also correlated with SPPB (0.47). With respect to maximal life-space, the correlations with the mobility-related variables were generally lower (below 0.5), probably since this aspect of life-space mobility is highly influenced by social support and is not so dependent on the individual's own physical function. CONCLUSION: LSA was shown to be a valid measure of mobility when using the LSA total, independent LS or assistive LSA.

Étude des propriétés psychométriques de l’échelle affective du Questionnaire de maturité vocationnelle

Les conseillers d’orientation (c.o.) en milieu scolaire ont plusieurs rôles à remplir auprès des élèves, entre autres la réponse aux demandes des élèves, le maintien de l’accès à une documentation pertinente et l’accompagnement dans une meilleure connaissance de soi et du monde du travail (Dupont, Gingras et Marceau, 2002a). Pour ce faire, plusieurs moyens sont à leur disposition, dont l’évaluation psychométrique (OCCOQ, 2013). Un concept qui pourrait utile de mesurer auprès des adolescents est la maturité vocationnelle (Jordaan et Heyde, 1979). Des instruments de mesure évaluant la maturité vocationnelle existent déjà, mais aucun d’entre eux ne semble convenir parfaitement à la réalité du Québec, emmenant la création d’un nouvel outil, le Questionnaire de maturité vocationnelle (QMV). L’objectif de ce mémoire est de vérifier les propriétés psychométriques de l’échelle affective du QMV. Les participants de l’étude sont 1 164 adolescents québécois âgés entre 14 et 18 ans (moyenne : 15,30 ans), provenant de 14 écoles secondaires. Pour ce qui est du niveau scolaire des participants, 511 (43,9 %) sont en 3e secondaire, 303 (26 %) sont en 4e secondaire et 350 (30,1 %) sont en 5e secondaire. Les résultats obtenus appuient la fidélité et la validité de l’instrument de mesure.

Entrepreneurial Motivations Questionnaire: AFC and CFA in academy.

Background Entrepreneurship has been considered essential to create value, being a powerful driver of economic and social development. Academy must invest in the development of entrepreneurial skills in students ("Entrepreneurial Academy"). Objective: To analyse the psychometric proprieties of the EMQ-Entrepreneurial Motivations Questionnaire. Methods Sample: 6,532 students from 17 polytechnic Institutes of Portugal. Measure: EMQ, composed by measures of Entrepreneurial motives for the business, Entrepreneurial influences, and Support Services. Results Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) for Entrepreneurial-Motives-for-thebusiness (KMO = .921, X2 = 54387.94, p < .001) extracted 4 factors, explaining 53.81 % of variance (EV): F1-Family security (19.92 % EV; M= 4.07, SD = 0.67), F2-Prestige (14.60 % EV; M= 3.25, SD = 0.75), F3- Independence (13.13 % EV; M= 3.33, SD = 0.75), and F4-Realization of an opportunity (11.15 % EV; M= 4.08, SD = 0.56). This factorial structure was supported by Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .084. EFA of Entrepreneurial-Influences (KMO = .916, X2 = 60584.93, p < .001), extracted 4 factors, EV 60.08 %: F1-Resources availability (21.25 % EV; M= 3.86, SD = 0.68), F2-Stable customers and incentives (19.70 % EV; M= 3.82, SD = 0.65), F3-Social and economic instability (11.11 % EV; M= 2.96, SD = 1.06), and F4-Opportunities in the sector and residence area (8.03 % EV; M= 3.29, SD = 0.95). This factorial structure was supported by CFA, with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .073. EFA of Support-Services (KMO = .995, X2 = 57311.43, p < .001) extracted 2 factors, EV 58.43 %: F1-Financial support (32.59 % EV; M= 3.93, SD = 0.69) and F2-Prestige (25.84 % EV; M= 3.95, SD = 0.65). This factorial structure was supported by CFA, with an acceptable fit: RMSEA = .090. The health group showed scores mostly above global average in factors. Conclusions EMQ showed adequate psychometric properties. The instrument is useful for measuring entrepreneurships motivations in health.

Portuguese Version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised: Validation Data and the Establishment of a Cut-Score for Screening Purposes

The aim of the present study is to provide validation data regarding the Portuguese version of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire Revised in nonclinical individuals. Two studies were undertaken with two different nonclinical samples in order to demonstrate reliability, concurrent, predictive, and construct validity, and in order to establish an appropriate cut-score for nonclinical individuals. A sample of 810 community adults participated in Study 1. Results from this study provided information regarding scale internal consistency, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and concurrent validity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis established a cut-off score to be used for screening purposes with nonclinical individuals. A sample of 440 young adults participated in Study 2, which demonstrated scale score internal consistency and 5-month predictive validity. Further, 5-month test-retest reliability was also evaluated and the correlations of SBQ-R scale scores with two other measures that assess constructs related to suicidality, depression and psychache, were also performed. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken to demonstrate the robustness of the result obtained in Study 1. Overall, findings supported the psychometric appropriateness of the Portuguese Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revise

The Decent Work Questionnaire (DWQ): Development and validation in two samples of knowledge workers

This research aimed to develop a questionnaire measure of workers’ perceptions of decent work. The initial pool of 72 items covered the substantive elements used by the International Labour Organization to characterize decent work. It was administered to workers from Portugal (N = 636) and Brazil (N = 1039) and submitted to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The final 31-item version yields seven factor scores in addition to the global decent work score. With good reliability, convergent and discriminant validity indices, the DWQ could open new avenues for empirical studies of the decent work concept.

Criterion-related validity of the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire in adults who are Deaf

Background: To implement appropriate programs for promoting physical activity (PA) in people who are Deaf, it is important to have valid instruments for assessing PA in this population. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine the criterion validity of the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S) in Deaf adults. Method: This study included 44 adults (18e65 years) of both genders (63.6% were females) who met the inclusion criteria. Objective measures of PAwere collected using accelerometers, which were worn by each participant during one week. After using the accelerometer, the IPAQ-S was applied to assess participants’ physical activity during the last 7 days. Results: There was no significant correlation between the average time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) as measured by the accelerometer (40.1 6 24.5 min/day) and by the IPAQ-S (41.3 6 57.5 min/day). The IPAQ-S significantly underestimated the time spent in sedentary behavior (7.6 6 2.7 h/day vs. 10.1 6 1.6 h/day). Sedentary behavior and MVPA as measured by the accelerometer and the IPAQ-S showed limited agreement. Conclusions: Our results show some limitations on the use of IPAQ-S for quantifying PA among adults who are Deaf. The IPAQ-S tends to overestimate the MVPA and to underestimate sedentary behavior in adults who are Deaf.

Clinical utility of the personal questionnaire

The demand to implement routine outcome assessment in mental health care services calls for measures with clinical utility, i. e, feasible to therapists, acceptable to clients and generalizable to settings. This research aims to explore the clinical utility of a patient-generated measure, the Personal Questionnaire (PQ). An on-line survey was designed (study I) and administered to an international sample of 25 therapists with experience using the PQ (study II). Results suggest that the PQ is perceived as a clinically significant and fairly practical measure, useful not only in assessing outcome but also in various clinical tasks. Furthermore, it is relatively well accepted by clients and it is extremely generalizable to different clients, clinical approaches and settings. Specific suggestions to increase the PQ’s clinical utility are provided. Exploring therapists’ perspectives and practices will improve the appropriateness of measures to real-world clinical settings; A utilidade clínica do Personal Questionnaire RESUMO: O movimento para implementar a avaliação rotineira de resultados nos serviços de saúde mental pede medidas com utilidade clínica, i. e, práticas para terapeutas, aceitáveis para clientes e generalizáveis para contextos clínicos. Este estudo tem como objetivo explorar a utilidade clínica de uma medida gerada pelo cliente, o Personal Questionnaire (PQ). Um questionário on-line foi desenvolvido (estudo I) e administrado a uma amostra internacional de 25 terapeutas com experiência de uso do PQ (estudo II). Os resultados sugerem que o PQ é considerado um instrumento valioso para a prática clínica, relativamente prático, útil como indicador de resultado e também como ferramenta clínica. Adicionalmente, é bem aceite pelos clientes e bastante generalizável para diferentes clientes, abordagens terapêuticas e contextos clínicos. Sugestões específicas para melhorar a utilidade clínica do PQ são fornecidas. Explorar as perspetivas e práticas dos terapeutas face a medidas de resultado possibilita uma melhor adequação à prática clínica.

Authentic Leadership Questionnaire: invariance between samples of Brazilian and Portuguese employees

The Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) is used to assess authentic leadership (AL). Although ALQ is often used in empirical research, cross-cultural studies with this measure are scarce. Aiming to contribute to filling this gap, this study assesses the invariance of the ALQ measure between samples of Brazilian (N = 1019) and Portuguese (N = 842) employees. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and the results showed the invariance of the first- and second-order factor models between the Brazilian and Portuguese samples. The results are discussed considering their cultural setting, with the study’s limitations and future research directions being pointed out.

The Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and its Association with Quality of Life in Ambulatory Patients Receiving Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the scored Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) tool as an outcome measure in clinical nutrition practice and determine its association with quality of life (QoL). DESIGN: A prospective 4 week study assessing the nutritional status and QoL of ambulatory patients receiving radiation therapy to the head, neck, rectal or abdominal area. SETTING: Australian radiation oncology facilities. SUBJECTS: Sixty cancer patients aged 24-85 y. INTERVENTION: Scored PG-SGA questionnaire, subjective global assessment (SGA), QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 version 3). RESULTS: According to SGA, 65.0% (39) of subjects were well-nourished, 28.3% (17) moderately or suspected of being malnourished and 6.7% (4) severely malnourished. PG-SGA score and global QoL were correlated (r=-0.66, P<0.001) at baseline. There was a decrease in nutritional status according to PG-SGA score (P<0.001) and SGA (P<0.001); and a decrease in global QoL (P<0.001) after 4 weeks of radiotherapy. There was a linear trend for change in PG-SGA score (P<0.001) and change in global QoL (P=0.003) between those patients who improved (5%) maintained (56.7%) or deteriorated (33.3%) in nutritional status according to SGA. There was a correlation between change in PG-SGA score and change in QoL after 4 weeks of radiotherapy (r=-0.55, P<0.001). Regression analysis determined that 26% of the variation of change in QoL was explained by change in PG-SGA (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The scored PG-SGA is a nutrition assessment tool that identifies malnutrition in ambulatory oncology patients receiving radiotherapy and can be used to predict the magnitude of change in QoL.

Exploring first-year academic achievement through structural equation modelling

The purpose of this research was to develop and test a multicausal model of the individual characteristics associated with academic success in first-year Australian university students. This model comprised the constructs of: previous academic performance, achievement motivation, self-regulatory learning strategies, and personality traits, with end-of-semester grades the dependent variable of interest. The study involved the distribution of a questionnaire, which assessed motivation, self-regulatory learning strategies and personality traits, to 1193 students at the start of their first year at university. Students' academic records were accessed at the end of their first year of study to ascertain their first and second semester grades. This study established that previous high academic performance, use of self-regulatory learning strategies, and being introverted and agreeable, were indicators of academic success in the first semester of university study. Achievement motivation and the personality trait of conscientiousness were indirectly related to first semester grades, through the influence they had on the students' use of self-regulatory learning strategies. First semester grades were predictive of second semester grades. This research provides valuable information for both educators and students about the factors intrinsic to the individual that are associated with successful performance in the first year at university.

Work/Family Balance: HRM Policy and Practice in Australia

An employee's inability to balance work and family responsibilities has resulted in an increase in stress related illnesses. Historically, research into the nexus between work and family has primarily focused on the work/family conflict relationship, predominately investigating the impact of this conflict on parents, usually mothers. To date research has not sufficiently examined the human resource management practices that enable all parents to achieve a balance between their work and family lives. This paper explores the relationship between contemporary family friendly HRM policies and employed parents perceptions of work/family enhancement, work/family satisfaction, propensity to turnover, and work/family conflict. Self-report questionnaire data from 326 men and women is analysed and discussed to enable organisations to consider the use of family friendly policies and thus create a convergence between the well-being of employees and the effectiveness of the organisation.