Open Access
Psychometric properties of the 28-item General Health Scale (GHQ-28): analysis from the classical test and item response theories in Ecuadorian university students
(Sapienza Università Editrice, 2024-12-16) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Mascialino, Guido; Castro-Ochoa, Fabián; Narváez-Pillco, Viviana; Caycho-Rodríguez, Tomás; Mayorga-Lascano, Marlon; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Monitoring mental health in the university population is essential to be able to meet the demands and needs of this segment. For this, it is essential to have properly calibrated instruments to adequately describe reality and enerate adequate decision making. Aim: Confirm bi-factor model and measurement invariance by gender of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ- 28) in universitystudents in Ecuador according to Classical Test Theory (CTT). In addition, analyze the discrimination parameters, item difficulty and global reliability according to the Item Response Theory (IRT). Participants and procedure: A descriptive and instrumental design of the GHQ-28 from a bi-factor model was used with 476 participants, of whom 61.5% were women and 38.5% men, aged 17 to 47 years (M = 21.2; SD = 3.7), from 34 higher education centers in Ecuador. Results: The factorial validity of the GHQ-28 was confirmed based on a bi-factor model. In addition, it showed measurement invariance across gender of the participants according to the CTT. The items of the scale present adequate discrimination and difficulty, and the global reliability of the measure is correct based on IRT. Conclusions: The GHQ-28 is a valid test that can be applied to a university population in Ecuador. The scale is essentially unidimensional in its assessment of psychological distress and the contribution of the IRT broadens and complements the information on the known items of the scale previously collected by the CTT.
Open Access
Validation of the Purpose in Life Scale-Short Form in an ecuadorian sample: factor analysis, reliability and graded response model
(UCOPress, 2023) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Mascialino, Guido; Caycho-Rodríguez, Tomás; López-Calle, Claudio; Gallegos, Miguel; Cervigni, Mauricio; Martino, Pablo; Vilca, Lindsey W.; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Introducción: El propósito de vida se analiza dentro del bienestar psicológico, se trata del sentido de vida que tienen las personas, lo que tiene implicaciones en áreas como la salud mental. Actualmente se requiere instrumentación precisa para su valoración de la población ecuatoriana, la cual por el momento es limitada. Objetivo: corroborar la estructura unidimensional de la Escala de Propósito en la Vida-Versión Corta (PIL-SF), la equivalencia de medida según género, la confiabilidad y los parámetros de discriminación y dificultad en una muestra de adultos ecuatorianos. Métodos: Estudio instrumental del PIL-SF bajo los preceptos de la Teoría Clásica de Test y la Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem. Participantes: 743 adultos ecuatorianos (64.2% mujeres y 45.8% hombres) de 18 a 73 años (M = 24.7, DT = 7.9). Resultados: Se confirmó la estructura unifactorial del PIL-SF con ajuste adecuado. Además, el PIL-SF es invariante a nivel fuerte en función del género y no se presentan diferencias a nivel de medias latentes. La confiabilidad de la consistencia interna es aceptable por grupo y los parámetros de discriminación y dificultad de los ítems son adecuados. Conclusión: El PIL-SF es una herramienta válida, confiable y precisa para medir el constructo Propósito en la Vida en adultos ecuatorianos.
Open Access
Family functionality as predictor of alcohol and substance abuse in adolescents in Ecuador
(Psychological Society of Northern Greece, 2024) Castro-Ochoa, Fabián; Narváez-Pillco, Viviana ; Chuqui-Nieto, Valeria; Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Mascialino, Guido; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study aimed to examine the relationship between family functionality and alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents in Ecuador. The study used a descriptive, correlational, and explanatory methodology using structural modeling (SEM) techniques. The sample comprised 416 adolescents. Females constituted 61.2% of the sample, with their age ranging from 12 to 18 years (M = 16.33; SD = 0.95) from Ecuador. The findings revealed that the participants exhibited a moderate degree of family functionality, paralleled by a low level of alcohol consumption and substance misuse. Structural equation modeling revealed a relationship between family functionality and both alcohol and substance use. The data indicated that family functionality explained 13% of the observed variability in alcohol use and 22% of the variability in substance misuse. Overall, family functionality proved to be a significant predictor of alcohol consumption and drug misuse among adolescents, but caution should be drawn to the interpretation of the findings as the sample comprised adolescents who did not have major problem with either alcohol or drug abuse.
Open Access
Theory of planned behavior and alcohol use in adolescents in Ecuador: structural linear regression analysis
(Elsevier, 2024-02-13) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Córdova-Sánchez, Sheyla; Jaramillo-Zambrano, Ana ; Paredes-Proaño, Ana ; Mascialino, Guido; Rojas-Jara, Claudio ; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The general aim is to identify the explanatory potential of alcohol use intentions in drinking behaviors in a sample of adolescents in Ecuador. The method consists of a descriptive, explanatory, and cross-sectional study using SEM techniques. The participants were 384 adolescents (57% male and 43% female), aged 14–18 years (M = 16.51; SD = 2.64), who are students attending between the 1st and 3rd year of high school in a public educational institution in Ambato, Ecuador. Like principal results, the presence of alcohol use intention is moderate; the practice of alcohol use is low and mostly does not represent a risk, although 3.9% of the participants could report significant problems with consumption. Intentionality and drinking covary positively with low and moderate intensity. Drinking Intentionality explained 15.3% of the variance of drinking. We conclude that the Alcohol Use Intentions are a predictor of adolescent drinking behaviors.
Open Access
Psychometric properties of the Escala de Gravedad de Síntomas Revisada del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (EGS-R) in adults in Ecuador after the Covid-19 pandemic
(Elsevier, 2024) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Núñez-Núñez, Mauricio; Lascano-Arias, Giovanni; Mascialino, Guido; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objective: This study aims to assess the validity of the Escala de Gravedad de Síntomas Revisada del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (EGS-R) among adults in Ecuador within the post-pandemic context of Covid-19. Methods: Descriptive and instrumental design. Participants: 537 participants from Ambato, Ecuador, comprising 44.1% men and 55.9% women, aged 18 to 65 years (M = 24.36; SD = 8.87). Among the participants, 64.6% had experienced Covid-19, while 35.4% had not. Results: The EGS-R exhibits a hierarchical factorial structure, demonstrating measurement equivalence between participants who experienced Covid-19 and those who did not. Significant differences emerged between the groups, with individuals who had contracted Covid-19 displaying a higher symptom burden, thereby establishing the discriminant validity of the measure. The scale also exhibits validity concerning other variables, such as stress perception, and demonstrates satisfactory internal consistency among its scores. Conclusions: The EGS-R proves to be a valuable tool for assessing adults in Ecuador for potential indicators of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) given the robust evidence of validity and reliability, affirming its utility and evaluative capacity in this population.
Open Access
Psychometric properties of the 16-item Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS-16) in Ecuadorian teenagers
(AITANA Investigación, 2024) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Vaca-Quintana, Diego; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Salinas-Palma, Alexandra; Moya-Solís, Adriana; López-Barrionuevo, Carlos; Jaimes, Freddy; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Dificultades en la Regulación Emocional (DERS-16) de 16 ítems en adolescentes ecuatorianos. Las dificultades de regulación emocional corresponden a un atributo importante en la salud mental de los adolescentes. Sin embargo, la disponibilidad de herramientas de medición validadas dificulta el seguimiento de este fenómeno. Este estudio tiene como objetivo validar un modelo factorial jerárquico de la Escala de Dificultades en la Regulación Emocional (DERS-16) de 16 ítems, la invarianza de medición por sexo y la confiabilidad en una muestra de adolescentes ecuatorianos. Se empleó un diseño descriptivo e instrumental para evaluar el DERS-16 en una muestra transversal de 904 adolescentes (53.5% mujeres, 46.5% hombres) de edades comprendidas entre 15 y 18 años (M = 16.6 años; DE = 1.15) de nueve ciudades. Los hallazgos proporcionan evidencia que respalda la validez factorial de DERS-16, utilizando un modelo de ajuste jerárquico que comprende cinco factores de primer orden y un factor general de segundo orden. Se encontró que el modelo era invariante entre sexos, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las medias latentes (p < 0.05), lo que indica que las mujeres experimentan más dificultades en la regulación emocional (DER) que los hombres. Además, el DERS-16 demostró una alta consistencia interna en general. En conclusión, estos resultados sugieren que el DERS-16 es una herramienta válida para evaluar las dificultades de regulación emocional en adolescentes de Ecuador. Lo que implica un aporte relevante al estudio psicométrico de esta medida en Ecuador y América Latina.
Open Access
The psychometric properties of the mental health continuum-short form (MHC-SF) for Ecuadorian teenagers
(Wiley, 2025-07-17) Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo; Rodríguez Lorenzana, Alberto; Santillán, Nazuri; Jiménez-Borja, Micaela; Jiménez Mosquera, Carlos José; Oriol Granado, Xavier; Domínguez-Lara, Sergio; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The aim of this study is to find evidence of factorial validity, measure equivalence by gender, and internal consistency of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) in a sample of Ecuadorian teenagers. The study uses a psychometric design to explore the validity and reliability of the measure. Participants of the study were 1154 teenagers between 14 and 19 years of age (mean = 15.69 years; sd = 1.06). In total, 67.7% of participants were women and 32.3% were men. Participants came from 21 cities across Ecuador. This study found that the most appropriate fit for the factorial structure of the MHC-SF is a hierarchical factorial structure with three first-order factors and one second-order factor. The questionnaire presented strict measure invariance amongst women and men and showed differences (p < 0.05) for the latent variables related to the emotional well-being factor. Additionally, the study found that the MHC-SF has high internal consistency. The MHC-SF is a valid measure to evaluate the well-being of Ecuadorian teenagers.