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13 pages, 345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parenting Sense of Competence: Psychometrics and Invariance among a Community and an At-Risk Samples of Portuguese Parents

by Cristina Nunes, Lara Ayala-Nunes, Laura Inês Ferreira, Pedro Pechorro, Délia Freitas, Cátia Martins and Rita Santos

Healthcare 2023, 11(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11010015 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3683

Abstract

Parenting sense of competence refers to parents’ perception about their ability to perform the parenting role, one of the key dimensions in family dynamics. This construct is even more important in families at psychosocial risk, where the exercise of parenting can be more challenging. The Parenting Sense of Competence scale (PSOC) is a self-report measure that aims to assesses one’s perceived efficacy and satisfaction with parenting. In this cross-sectional and instrumental study, we aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the PSOC among a Portuguese sample of community (n = 205) and at-psychological-risk (n = 273) parents. Participants completed the PSOC, the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Parenting Stress Index, and the Parenting Alliance Inventory. Results from confirmatory factor analysis showed that a two-factor revised model obtained the best fit, with some items being removed. Our data confirmed that the PSOC has good psychometric properties, with acceptable reliability and validity and measurement invariance across the community and the at-risk samples. Findings of this psychometric exploration provided evidence that the PSOC is a reliable measure of easy application and interpretation for assessing the perceived competence of Portuguese parents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges for Research in Family Relationships and Child Well-Being)

14 pages, 913 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dark Triad Psychopathy Outperforms Self-Control in Predicting Antisocial Outcomes: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

by Pedro Pechorro, Shelby Curtis, Matt DeLisi, João Maroco and Cristina Nunes

Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2022, 12(6), 549-562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12060041 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5426

Abstract

Dark Triad traits and self-control are considered viable causal precursors to antisocial and criminal outcomes in youth. The purpose of the present study is to concurrently compare how Dark Triad traits and self-control differ in terms of predicting self-reported juvenile delinquency, CD symptoms, proactive overt aggression, and crime seriousness. The sample consisted of 567 (M = 15.91 years, SD = 0.99 years, age range = 14–18 years) Southern European youth from Portugal. Structural-equation-modelling procedures revealed that the psychopathy factor of Dark Triad traits presented the strongest significant hypothetical causal associations with the antisocial/criminal outcomes, followed by self-control. Machiavellianism and narcissism presented the lowest causal associations. Our findings indicate that psychopathy, as operationalized in the Dark Triad, concurrently surpasses self-control and the remaining factors of the Dark Triad in terms of predicting antisocial/criminal outcomes in youth. This suggests that behavioral disinhibition, or a core incapacity to regulate one’s conduct, is central for understanding delinquency and externalizing psychopathology. Comparatively, the interpersonal component of dark personality features, such as Machiavellianism and narcissism, are secondary for understanding crime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Variables Related to Well-Being in Adolescence)

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11 pages, 344 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale: A Psychometric Study in a Sample of Portuguese Parents

by Cristina Nunes, Cátia Martins, Andreia Leal, Pedro Pechorro, Laura Inês Ferreira and Lara Ayala-Nunes

Soc. Sci. 2022, 11(3), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11030107 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 17984

Abstract

Marital satisfaction is a key construct in the assessment of a couple’s relationship, and it encompasses aspects such as the feelings of affection, trust, and companionship that arise from the exchanges between spouses. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale has been widely used as a reliable measure to assess marital satisfaction. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the psychometric properties and the factor structure of the EMS Scale in a sample of Portuguese parents. A total of 205 mothers and fathers participated; 107 were women (52%), and 98 were men (48%), and the mean age was 38.39 years (SD = 5.85). The majority were two-parent families (89.3%), with children between the ages of 1 and 13 years (M = 6.90), 53% of whom were boys. The participants completed the EMS Scale together with the Parenting Stress Index Short Form and the Parenting Alliance Inventory. The results from a confirmatory factor analysis corroborate the two-dimensional structure of the instrument, with internal validity and reliability values that were suitable for application in the Portuguese population. The EMS Scale can be an important resource, with good psychometric quality, for professionals and researchers, which can be used in assessment and intervention programs, both at the individual and couple levels. Full article

12 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examination of the SUPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale among Male and Female Youth: Psychometrics and Invariance

by Pedro Pechorro, Rebecca Revilla, Victor H. Palma, Cristina Nunes, Cátia Martins and Melissa A. Cyders

Children 2021, 8(4), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8040283 - 7 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5023

Abstract

The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale is one of the most used and easily administered self-report measures of impulsive traits. The main objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the shorter SUPPS-P scale among a school sample of 470 youth (M_age = 15.89 years, SD = 1.00) from Portugal, subdivided into males (n = 257, M_age = 15.97 years, SD = 0.98) and females (n = 213, M_age = 15.79 years, SD = 1.03). Confirmatory factor analysis results revealed that the latent five-factor structure (i.e., Negative urgency, Lack of perseverance, Lack of premeditation, Sensation seeking, and Positive urgency) obtained adequate fit and strong measurement invariance demonstrated across sex. The SUPPS-P scale also demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, discriminant and convergent (e.g., with measures of youth delinquency, aggression) validities, and criterion-related validity (e.g., with crime seriousness). Findings support the use of the SUPPS-P scale in youth. Given the importance of adolescence as a critical period characterized by increases in impulsive behaviors, having a short, valid, reliable, and easily administered assessment of impulsive tendencies is important and clinically impactful. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Well-Being in Children)

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12 pages, 400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Brief COPE: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties among Community and At-Risk Portuguese Parents

by Cristina Nunes, Javier Pérez-Padilla, Cátia Martins, Pedro Pechorro, Lara Ayala-Nunes and Laura I. Ferreira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 2806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062806 - 10 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5111

Abstract

Parenting generally brings about high internal and external demands, which can be perceived as stressful when they exceed families’ resources. When faced with such stressors, parents need to deploy several adaptive strategies to successfully overcome these challenges. One of such strategies is coping, an important cognitive and behavioural skill. In this study, we intended to examine the psychometric properties of Carver’s (1997) Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced), extending its cross-cultural validity among a Portuguese sample of community and at-risk parents. The sample comprised community (n = 153) and at-risk (n = 116) parents who completed the brief COPE, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales and the Parenting Stress Index—Short Form. Confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, cross sample invariance, convergent and discriminant validity were analysed. Data from the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the 14-factor model obtained the best fit. The results provided evidence that the Brief COPE is a psychometrically sound instrument that shows measurement invariance across samples and good reliability. Our findings demonstrated that the Portuguese version of brief COPE is a useful, time-efficient tool for both practitioners and researchers who need to assess coping strategies, a relevant construct in family context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Support and Children’s Health and Wellbeing)

11 pages, 1485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Low Self-Control as a Mediator between Trauma and Antisociality/Criminality in Youth

by Pedro Pechorro, Matt DeLisi, Rui Abrunhosa Gonçalves and João Pedro Oliveira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020567 - 12 Jan 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4914

Abstract

Trauma exposure and low self-control are robustly associated with youth antisocial/criminal problems, but the interrelation of these constructs is unclear when taking into account both traumatic events and reactions. The objective of the present study is to examine self-control mediation effects related to trauma and juvenile delinquency, conduct disorder, crime seriousness, and aggression outcomes. The sample consisted of N = 388 male youth from Portugal (age, M = 16.01 years, SD = 1.03, age range = 13–18 years). Path analysis procedures revealed that self-control partially mediates the relation between trauma events and the examined outcomes and fully mediates the relation between trauma reactions and the examined outcomes. Research on youth trauma should examine both trauma events and trauma reactions because they have differential effects on low self-control and antisocial/criminal outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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16 pages, 329 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties among Portuguese Youths

by Pedro Pechorro, Diana Ribeiro da Silva, Henrik Andershed, Daniel Rijo and Rui Abrunhosa Gonçalves

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13(9), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13090852 - 26 Aug 2016

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 9231

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory (YPI) among a mixed-gender sample of 782 Portuguese youth (M = 15.87 years; SD = 1.72), in a school context. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed the expected three-factor first-order structure. Cross-gender measurement invariance and cross-sample measurement invariance using a forensic sample of institutionalized males were also confirmed. The Portuguese version of the YPI demonstrated generally adequate psychometric properties of internal consistency, mean inter-item correlation, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity of statistically significant associations with conduct disorder symptoms, alcohol abuse, drug use, and unprotected sex. In terms of known-groups validity, males scored higher than females, and males from the school sample scored lower than institutionalized males. The use of the YPI among the Portuguese male and female youth population is psychometrically justified, and it can be a useful measure to identify adolescents with high levels of psychopathic traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Youth Psychology and Crime)

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