This study assessed the construct validity, predictive validity, and responsiveness of the 4-metre walk test (4MWT) in community-dwelling older Canadians.

Baseline and 3-year follow-up data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were examined, including participants ≥ 65 years with 4MWT assessments. Secondary outcomes included physical and self-report measures and healthcare utilization (e.g., hospitalization and emergency department visits).

Baseline data on 12,433 and follow-up data on 10,107 participants were analysed. For construct validity, low-to-high correlations with the comparator measures (rho = 0.25 [with the Life Space Assessment] to 0.72 [with the Timed-Up and Go]) and known-groups differences of 0.15 m/s (assistive device use) and 0.04 m/s (falls) were found. For predictive validity, areas under the curve ranged from 0.51 to 0.59 for healthcare utilization, indicating poor prediction. For responsiveness, low-to-moderate correlations between change scores were found (rho = 0.01–0.44).

Findings demonstrated partial support for construct validity and responsiveness and no support for predictive validity.

Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a debilitating condition recently recognized to psychiatric diagnostic manuals. There is a pressing need for valid, reliable, and culturally adapted instruments that align with internationally established diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of pathological grief, particularly for Latinx populations, who often face limited access to timely mental health services. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Mexican version of the PG-13-R scale.

We translated and then back-translated the original PG-13-R. The scale was reviewed by experts in psychometrics and cognitively debriefed with a Mexican sample. The study included 397 participants, consisting of: (1) Family members of patients who died from cancer and received supportive care from a patient navigation program at a public hospital in Mexico City (CDMX) and (2) Individuals from the broader community who were contacted via social media (X, Facebook). Participants completed an online survey that included sociodemographic data, the preliminary version of the PG-13-R, an assessment of depression (PHQ-9) and of anxiety (GAD-7). Internal consistency was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine evidence of validity, along with a Pearson correlation analysis between PG-13-R scores and existing measures assessing related but distinct constructs (i.e., depression and anxiety).

CFA supported a 1-factor structure with good model fit after accounting for error covariance between related items. The Mexican PG-13-R demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.89) and positive significant correlations with measures of depression and anxiety, providing evidence of score reliability and validity.

The adapted PG-13-R offers a culturally appropriate tool for assessing prolonged grief in Mexican Spanish-speaking populations, with potential for use in clinical and research settings. The use of the PG-13-R scale is recommended for clinical research and mental health care in the Mexican population.

Understanding gender identity in transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals is crucial for effective care. The Gender Preoccupation and Stability Questionnaire (GPSQ) measures the preoccupation and stability of gender identity, but no Italian validation is available.

This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Italian version of the GPSQ in a clinical sample of TGD adults.

The GPSQ was translated with a forward–backward method and completed by 151 TGD adults at a gender clinic. Participants also filled out the Symptom Checklist-58 and Body Uneasiness Test. We assessed structural validity (EFA), internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and examined known-groups and predictive validity.

The EFA supported a four-factor structure – Gender Identity Instability, Cognitive-Affective Salience, Preoccupation, and Distress/Intervention-Oriented Reflection – with good fit (root mean square error of approximation 0.06; Comparative Fit Index 0.95; Tucker–Lewis Index 0.93; standard root mean square residual 0.04). The GPSQ showed solid internal consistency (α = 0.78; ω = 0.73) and excellent test–retest reliability (r = 0.98; intraclass correlation coefficient 0.98). Higher scores correlated with psychological distress (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and body image concerns (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). Preoccupation was most linked to obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and Cognitive-Affective Salience to body image concerns. Participants not on hormones scored higher (p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.36).

The Italian GPSQ is a reliable and valid tool to assess gender-related preoccupation and identity instability in TGD individuals. Its multidimensional structure makes it useful in both clinical practice and research in the Italian context.

The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) has been validated across various settings and health conditions. However, few studies have evaluated the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among individuals with mental health conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 in populations with depression, anxiety and psychosis from seven LMICs.

Secondary analyses were carried out using existing longitudinal data-sets in adult populations with depression, anxiety and psychosis across Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Peru and South Africa. Reliability, validity and responsiveness to change of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 were examined.

The 12-item WHODAS-2.0 was acceptably one-dimensional for all data-sets at baseline, with model-fit indices ranging from moderate to excellent. Internal consistency of the measure was found to be high across settings (Cronbach’s α = 0.83−0.97). Weak to moderate correlations with measures of symptom severity were found across all countries, except India. Moderate to strong correlations were observed with measures of functioning/quality of life across all countries, except Nigeria and Ghana.

Internal responsiveness to change was large in five out of seven studies, except both Ethiopian studies. However, external responsiveness to change exhibited variability, with weak to moderate correlations between change in WHODAS 2.0 and symptom scores across all countries.

The 12-item WHODAS 2.0 generally showed acceptable psychometric properties across different settings and mental health conditions. However, high variability was observed in convergent validity and external responsiveness to change, which warrants further investigation.

Gender dysphoria is linked to various psychosocial challenges in adolescence, underscoring the need to identify and support youth experiencing gender-related distress. Although gender identity exists on a spectrum beyond the binary, no validated tool currently exists in Turkey that uses inclusive, gender-neutral language to assess it in adolescents.

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish adaptation of the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale–Gender Spectrum (UGDS-GS) among clinical- and community-based adolescents.

A total of 240 participants aged 12–23 years were included. The validity of UGDS-GS was assessed through content validity and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was measured using Cronbachʼs alpha and test–retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A sociodemographic data form, UGDS, UGDS-GS, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) were utilised.

Findings demonstrated strong content validity, with a content validity Index of 0.69, and robust construct validity, indicated by a comparative fit index of 0.993 and a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.071 following the exclusion of three items. UGDS-GS effectively differentiated scores across demographic groups, showing significant variances based on assigned gender and age. The scale also exhibited excellent criterion validity, evidenced by an area under the curve of 0.947 in receiver operating characteristic analysis, with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (95.9%) at an optimal cut-off value of 42.50. With a Cronbachʼs alpha of 0.935, UGDS-GS demonstrated strong internal consistency and substantial test–receiver operating characteristic retest reliability (ICC 0.884), alongside notable but weak correlations with several RSES subscales and low to moderate correlations with YSR scores.

These results affirm that tUGDS-GS is valuable and reliable in assessing gender dysphoria in Turkish adolescents. Further research is warranted to improve applicability in diverse contexts and populations.

Individuals admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to cancer frequently encounter cognitive impairment and alterations in their mental health, which engenders psychological distress and considerably impacts their quality of life. In Mexico, there is an imperative for valid and reliable clinical tools to identify these symptoms, to providing timely and appropriate psychological intervention.

To determine the psychometric properties of the Intensive Care Psychological Assessment Tool (IPAT) in a Mexican population with cancer discharged from ICU.

A cross-sectional instrumental design with non-probability convenience sampling was employed. Data were collected between February 2023 and October 2024 with 75 people discharged from the ICU. Factor structure (confirmatory factor analysis), reliability (internal consistency), measurement invariance, and criteria validity (convergent, discriminant, and known-groups) were assessed. Patients were assessed during oncological hospitalization, following ICU.

The participants were predominantly male, residing in the interior of the country, with an average age of 44 years (range 19–78, SD 16.21). Internal consistency results were deemed to be satisfactory (α = 0.78) for 9 items. The CFA indices were adequate [χ2 (gl) 27.436 (24), CMIN/DF 1.143, CFI 0.96, GFI 0.97, SRMR 0.036, RMSEA 0.044] as were the scalar invariance indices for invasive mechanical ventilation [CFI = 0.871; RMSEA = 0.058; χ2/gl = 20.519 (10)] and for gender, restricted invariance indices [CFI = 0.849; RMSEA = 0.068; χ2/gl = 23.302 (12)].

The Mexican version of the IPAT for people with cancer is a valid and reliable tool for use in oncology and critical care settings in Mexico. It is recommended for use at the time of discharge from the ICU, as it allows the identification of psychological distress for timely intervention. For future considerations, diverse clinical settings and patient populations should be explored to enhance the tool’s applicability and generalizability in the varied contexts of cancer in ICU.

Millions of people witnessing early, repeated media coverage of wars are at heightened risk of developing mental health conditions. However, most literature available on the field is based on measures with unverified psychometric qualities. This study aimed to design and validate a new self-report scale to measure the extent of exposure to media content related to war, the War-related Media Exposure Scale (WarMES).

A cross-sectional study based on 2635 community adults (73.1% females, mean age of 23.98 ± 7.55 years) from 5 countries (Tunisia, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Oman). To verify the factor structure, we carried out an Exploratory Factor Analysis in a first subsample (N = 859) then a Confirmatory Factor Analysis on the remaining subsample (N = 1777) using SPSS AMOS.

Based on an initial pool of 18 items, results showed that a 9-item one-factor model fits the data well. Support for internal consistency was provided by a Cronbach’s α = 0.96. The factor structure was equivalent across sex and country groups. Evidence for concurrent validity was provided by demonstrating that WarMES scores positively correlated with stress and depression.

Findings suggest that the WarMES is valid, reliable and allows to accurately measure the amount of time spent viewing war-content on media.

People with intellectual disability often face barriers accessing mainstream psychological services due to a lack of reasonable adjustments, including the absence of adapted versions of routine outcome measures. Adapted versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) have been created for adults with ID.

This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the adapted PHQ-9 and GAD-7.

The adapted PHQ-9 and GAD-7 and the Glasgow Depression and Anxiety Scales (GDS-ID, GAS-ID) were administered to 47 adults (n=21 clinical group; n=26 community group) with ID. Cross-sectional design and between-group analyses tested for discriminant validity. Concurrent and divergent validity was tested using correlational designs. Reliability was investigated by internal consistency and test–retest analysis.

The clinical group scored significantly higher on the adapted PHQ-9 (t45=–2.28, p=.03, 95% CI [–7.09, –.45]) and GAD-7 (t45=–3.52, p=.001, 95% CI [–7.44, –2.02]) than the community group, evidencing discriminant validity. The adapted PHQ-9 correlated with the GDS-ID (r47=.86, p<.001) and the adapted GAD-7 correlated with the GAS-ID (r46=.77, p<.001). The adapted PHQ-9 (Cronbach’s α=.84, ICC=.91) and GAD-7 (Cronbach’s α=.86, ICC=.77) had good internal consistency and test–retest reliability.

Preliminary research suggests the adapted PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are valid and reliable measures. They could provide a reasonable adjustment for the minimum dataset used in NHS Talking Therapies and can be easily administered in routine clinical practice. Further work to establish additional psychometric properties is now required.

Supporting family caregivers (FCs) is a critical core function of palliative care. Brief, reliable tools suitable for busy clinical work in Taiwan are needed to assess bereavement risk factors accurately. The aim is to develop and evaluate a brief bereavement scale completed by FCs and applicable to medical staff.

This study adopted convenience sampling. Participants were approached through an intentional sampling of patients’ FCs at 1 palliative care center in Taiwan. This cross-sectional study referred to 4 theories to generate the initial version of the Hospice Foundation of Taiwan Bereavement Assessment Scale (HFT-BAS). A 9-item questionnaire was initially developed by 12 palliative care experts through Delphi and verified by content validity. A combination of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability measures including items analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and inter-subscale correlations, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to test its psychometric properties.

Two hundred seventy-eight participants conducted the questionnaire. Three dimensions were subsequently extracted by EFA: “Intimate relationship,” “Existential meaning,” and “Disorganization.” The Cronbach’s alpha of the HFT-BAS scale was 0.70, while the 3 dimensions were all significantly correlated with total scores. CFA was the measurement model: chi-squared/degrees of freedom ratio = 1.9, Goodness of Fit Index = 0.93, Comparative Fit Index = 0.92, root mean square error of approximation = 0.08. CFA confirmed the scale’s construct validity with a good model fit.

This study developed an HFT-BAS and assessed its psychometric properties. The scale can evaluate the bereavement risk factors of FCs in clinical palliative care.

Pain is a frequent symptom in cancer patients (CP), and its multidimensional assessment is essential for a comprehensive approach and to establish clinical prognoses. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) is an internationally recognized tool for the multidimensional assessment of pain, both in clinical and research settings. However, no studies have been reported in Latin America that determine its psychometric properties in CP and chronic pain.

To determine the psychometric properties of the SF-MPQ in adult Mexican cancer patients with chronic pain.

An instrumental design was used with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 222 cancer patients treated at the pain clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Analyses were conducted to evaluate factorial structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]), reliability (internal consistency), measurement invariance, and criterion validity (concurrent and divergent).

CFA verified a 9-item structure divided into 2 factors: (1) Affective-Nociceptive and (2) Neuropathic. A global Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .82 and a global McDonald’s Omega index of .82 were identified. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance (ΔCFI ≤ .01; ΔRMSEA ≤ .015) were confirmed regarding the sex variable. Finally, the SF-MPQ showed a positive correlation with the Numerical Rating Scale (rho = .436, p< .01) and a negative correlation with the EORTC-QLQ C30 (rho = −.396, p< .01).

The Mexican version of the SF-MPQ presented adequate psychometric properties and fit indices, making it a valid and reliable instrument for use in clinical and research settings in Mexico. Its use is recommended for the comprehensive assessment of pain in oncology in Mexico, as it allows for the understanding of pain characteristics beyond intensity, guiding the establishment of clinical prognoses.

Stigma in lung cancer patients may be associated with various negative outcomes such as increased psychosocial symptoms, severity of physical symptoms, and may act as a barrier to medical help-seeking behavior. The Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale (CLCSS) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing health-related stigma in lung cancer patients.

To determine the psychometric properties of the CLCSS in a Mexican sample of lung cancer patients.

A non-experimental, instrumental design was employed, using non-probabilistic sampling based on availability. The sample included 265 lung cancer patients. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess construct validity, and Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega were used for internal consistency and test-retest reliability, respectively, through Pearson correlation coefficient.

The 17-item version yielded a model with 4 factors (stigma and shame, social isolation, discrimination, and smoking) explaining 50.74% of the variance, with adequate values of internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

The Mexican version of the CLCSS is culturally appropriate, brief, psychometrically valid, and reliable for assessing health-related stigma in Mexican lung cancer patients.

Despite the growing interest in the prevalence and consequences of loneliness, the way it is measured still raises a number of questions. In particular, few studies have directly compared the psychometric properties of very short measures of loneliness to standard measures.

We conducted a large epidemiological study of midwife students (n = 1742) and performed a head-to-head comparison of the psychometric properties of the standard (20 items) and short version (3 items) of the UCLA Loneliness Scales (UCLA-LS). All participants completed the UCLA-LS-20, UCLA-LS-3, as well as other measures of mental health, including anxiety and depression.

First, as predicted, we found that the two loneliness scales were strongly associated with each other. Second, when using the dimensional scores of the scales, we showed that the internal reliability, convergent-, discriminant-, and known-groups validities were high and of similar magnitude between the UCLA-LS-20 and the UCLA-LS-3. Third, when the scales were dichotomized, the results were more mixed. The sensitivity and/or specificity of the UCLA-LS-3 against the UCLA-LS-20 were systematically below acceptable thresholds, regardless of the dichotomizing process used. In addition, the prevalence of loneliness was strikingly variable as a function of the cut-offs used.

Overall, we showed that the UCLA-LS-3 provided an adequate dimensional measure of loneliness that is very similar to the UCLA-LS-20. On the other hand, we were able to highlight more marked differences between the scales when their scores were dichotomized, which has important consequences for studies estimating, for example, the prevalence of loneliness.

Developmental care for newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) improves cardiac and respiratory patterns. According to the American Heart Association, developmental care in newborns with CHD is important for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Developmental Care Scale for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease.

This was a methodological, descriptive study conducted with 169 nurses from a tertiary-level NICU. The Demographical Information Form and the Developmental Care Scale for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease were used to collect the data. The scales’ language and content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency were also assessed.

The scale consists of 31 items and four subscales. Factor loadings ranged from 0.44 to 0.82 and explained 65% of the total variance. Fit indices indicate that the model is acceptable. Cronbach’s α was 0.95 for the entire instrument, 0.91 for developing the external environment subscale, 0.94 for assessing family well-being, 0.86 for the caregiver activities toward the neonate, and 0.82 for the basic need subscale. Item–total correlations ranged between 0.34 and 0.75, according to the item analysis results.

The Turkish version of the Developmental Care Scale for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease is valid and reliable. The use of this scale could improve the performance of neonatal intensive care nurses in providing developmental care to newborns with CHD as well as the quality of care.