Psychology Hub

The ID-RAS: A Reliable Tool for Measuring Relational Aggression in Indonesia

2024-04-16T10:09:37+00:00

The development of the relational aggression scale is based on the fact that relational aggression can damage interpersonal relationships, impact the mental health of individuals, and even contribute to broader societal conflicts. Therefore, it is crucial to have the proper measurement instruments for relational aggression in Indonesia. The primary objective of this research is to assess the validity and reliability of the Indonesian Version of the Relational Aggression Scale (ID-RAS) as a tool for measuring relational aggression in the Indonesian context. The study involved the collection of data from a substantial sample of respondents, comprising a total of 846 participants located in Indonesia. To scrutinize the scale's unidimensional structure and its psychometric characteristics, we employed Rasch analysis, a robust statistical technique in analysis of validity and reliability. The outcomes of this rigorous analysis underscore the significance of the ID-RAS as a valuable instrument in both research and measurement within the realm of relational aggression in Indonesia. The findings confirm that the ID-RAS demonstrates sound psychometric properties, which contribute to its credibility and utility.

Lunch Break Autonomy Benefits Employee Creativity: The Mediating Role of Positive Affect

2025-08-16T16:41:19+00:00

Experiencing control over lunch breaks has been found to reduce fatigue and promote the well-being of employees. However, the relationship between lunch break autonomy (LBA) and creativity and the underlying mechanism remains to be discovered. Based on the self-determination theory and broaden-and-build theory, we hypothesized that LBA is positively related to employees’ creativity, and the relationship is mediated by positive affect. The present study investigated the hypothetical mediation model among working adults in Malaysia utilizing a cross-sectional design. Regression-based mediation analysis of the 191 responses to the Autonomy and Psychological Detachment subscales of the Recovery Experience Questionnaire, Positive Affect subscale of the short-form Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Self-Rated Creativity Scale support that LBA was indirectly associated with creativity through positive affect. These findings offer insights into the importance of effective lunch break policies that encourage autonomy and a potential way to cultivate employees’ creativity for organizations to consider.

The Breakup Distress Scale for Adolescents: Validation of the Italian Version

2025-11-19T15:25:34+00:00

Breakup distress refers to the emotional suffering experienced after the end of a romantic relationship, a phenomenon particularly relevant during adolescence. However, few validated tools exist to assess breakup-related distress in this population. This study presents a validation of the Italian version of the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS) for adolescents through two studies. In Study 1, we adapted the adult’s version of the BDS for the adolescent population (BDS-A) testingits unidimensional structure through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in a sample of 164 adolescents. Findings supported the unidimensional structure, showing strong internal consistency and an acceptable model fit. In study 2, a revised scale (BDS-AR) was developed and administered to 323 youths using a 5-point Likert scale and adding time references to address the nuances of distress perception over time. Both studies confirm the validity of a single-factor structure for the BDS-AR in adolescents. Besides, the possibility to measure the level of stress in reference to two different periods after the breakup constitutes an improvement in the field of the post-break up stress measurement. In conclusion, the Italian BDS-AR offers a psychometrically sound tool for assessing breakup distress in adolescents. It facilitates early identification of at-risk youth and provides a solid foundation for future research on the longitudinal evolution of distress and its correlates in this developmental period.

Relationship Between Peer Delinquency And Juvenile Problematic Behaviour: Self-Control As A Mediator

2026-02-26T12:41:59+00:00

According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics (2020), the reported juvenile criminal offences were 4,833 cases in 2019. This figure is still considered as high even though it had decreased compared with previous years. Therefore, this study aims to examine the association between peer delinquency, self-control and juvenile problematic behaviours, as well as to determine the mediating role of self-control.
Method: A total of 206 juveniles from six juvenile rehabilitation residential schools, commonly known as Sekolah Tunas Bakti in Malaysia (89.1 % male and 10.9% female), participated in this cross-sectional quantitative survey. A Malay version of the Self-Control Scale (Grasmick et al., 1993), The Peer Delinquency Scale (Loeber et al., 1998) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) were used to examine the relationships among social factors of peer delinquency, self-control and juvenile problematic behaviours.
Findings: The direct effect of current findings found that peer delinquency is positively associated with juvenile problematic behaviours. Also, a direct effect of current findings proved that self-control is negatively associated with juvenile problematic behaviours. The key findings revealed that self-control mediates the association between peer delinquency and juvenile problematic behaviours since the relationship between peer delinquency and juvenile problematic behaviours has been widely researched in past studies.
Conclusion: In terms of theoretical implications, this study has filled a knowledge gap on the connections between social factors of peer delinquency, self-control factors, and problematic behaviours among juveniles in Malaysia. The findings of this study can be taken into consideration by the Malaysian government and Sekolah Tunas Bakti to improve their policy and to design suitable prevention or intervention programmes that may reduce juvenile offences in the future.

Applying the MOST Framework for a More Systematic Approach to Research Using Virtual Reality

2026-04-10T09:50:45+00:00

This article introduces the application of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to virtual reality (VR) research, aiming to enhance the design, efficiency, and scalability of immersive interventions. MOST is a systematic, iterative framework that guides researchers through a multi-phase process of developing, testing, and refining experimental components. Its structured approach is particularly well suited to the complexity of VR studies, where multiple environmental, technical, and user-related variables interact. By applying MOST, researchers can isolate and optimize the most effective elements of a virtual intervention, allowing for tailored, resource-efficient, and replicable designs. The article discusses the methodological advantages of MOST in managing design complexity and promoting large-scale implementation, while also acknowledging its potential limitations and areas for future development.

The psychometric properties of the Italian Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWL-3): Relationship to mental well-being and distress

2026-01-08T08:53:32+00:00

Background: Happiness and life satisfaction are core dimensions of subjective well-being. The 3-item Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS-3) was developed as a brief alternative to the original 5-item SWLS (SWLS-5) but lacks validation in Italian samples.
Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties, reliability, and construct validity of the Italian SWLS-3 versus the SWLS-5.
Methods: A community sample of 504 Italian adults (Mage = 35.15, SD = 12.31; ~82% female) completed the SWLS-5, SWEMWBS, and DASS-12 online. Confirmatory factor analyses examined unidimensionality; internal consistency employed Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω. Convergent and discriminant validity were tested via correlations and HTMT ratios.
Results: Both scales showed excellent fit; the SWLS-3 was slightly superior (CFI = 0.972, RMSEA = 0.069) to the SWLS-5 (CFI = 0.963, RMSEA = 0.070). Reliability was high for both (α = 0.881–0.897; ω = 0.876–0.896). The SWLS-3 correlated strongly with the SWLS-5 (r = .949), positively with mental well-being (r = .654), and negatively with distress (r = −.483). HTMT values supported discriminant validity.
Conclusion: The Italian SWLS-3 demonstrates excellent psychometric performance and is recommended as a time-efficient screening tool in clinical and large-scale epidemiological research, though some researchers may still prefer the full version.

Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) in a Mozambican Sample: Evidence on Internal Structure and Reliability

2026-04-18T09:28:30+00:00

The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is a widely used self-report instrument for assessing psychological distress, particularly symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although the scale has been extensively validated in Western populations, evidence from sub-Saharan African contexts remains limited. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary psychometric evaluation of the K10 in a Mozambican sample, focusing on its factor structure and score reliability. A total of 224 participants, including medical students, trainees, and residents, completed the K10. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted using the WLSMV estimator for ordinal data to test different measurement models, including a unidimensional model, a correlated two-factor model, a second-order hierarchical model, and a bifactor model. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. The unidimensional model showed poor fit, whereas the correlated two-factor model provided the most interpretable representation of the data. The second-order model showed comparable fit but presented estimation problems, and the bifactor model did not converge. Reliability analyses indicated good internal consistency for the total score and adequate-to-good reliability for the subscales. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the K10 is a reliable instrument with a meaningful internal structure in this Mozambican sample. Further research is needed to examine external validity and to confirm these results in more diverse populations.

Parents’ trust in upper secondary school teachers: development and psychometric properties of the Parental Trust in Teacher Questionnaire (PTTQ)

2026-05-09T10:00:25+00:00

Introduction. Parental trust in teachers is a relational variable that supports the educational alliance between family and school and bears on adolescents’ psychological adjustment. Despite its relevance, no Italian psychometric instrument exists to assess this construct in the upper secondary school context. Method. This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Parental Trust in Teacher Questionnaire (PTTQ), a 13-item self-report scale, in a sample of 237 parents (70.5% female; M age = 52.59, SD = 4.84) of upper secondary school students. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, hierarchical cluster analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis using the MLR estimator. Results. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure with adequate fit (RMSEA = .076; CFI = .942; SRMR = .047). Internal consistency was excellent (α = .95; ω = .96). Standardized factor loadings ranged from .557 to .876, and corrected item-total correlations from .579 to .824. Conclusions. The PTTQ shows adequate preliminary psychometric properties for assessing parental trust in teachers in Italian upper secondary schools. Further studies on larger and more diverse samples will allow consolidation of external validity and examination of its predictive value for student outcomes.

Mapping Moral Dimensions in Italy: Psychometric Adaptation and Predictive Insights from the Morality-as-Cooperation Questionnaire

2026-03-08T11:23:35+00:00

The study of morality has a long-standing tradition in Italy, yet existing tools, such as the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ), face notable challenges. This research bridges the gap by introducing and adapting the Morality-as-Cooperation Questionnaire (MAC-Q) in an Italian sample. Grounded in the Morality-as-Cooperation (MAC) Theory, which conceptualizes morality as evolved solutions to cooperation problems, the MAC-Q identifies seven moral dimensions: Obligations to Family, Group Loyalty, Reciprocity, Heroism, Respect for Authority, Fairness, and Respect for Property Rights.
A total of 693 participants completed an online survey including the MAC-Q, which assessed the relevance and judgment of moral considerations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) supported the seven-factor structure across both the Relevance and the Judgment subscales, confirming the validity of the theoretical framework in the Italian context. Convergent validity was established through significant correlations between the MAC-Q and the Italian version of the MFQ. Predictive validity analyses indicated that MAC-Q dimensions significantly predicted political orientation, immoral behavioral intentions, and ingroup morality, with differentiated patterns depending on the specific moral dimensions considered. The findings suggest the potential of the MAC-Q as a tool capable of capturing moral dimensions and their correlates in the Italian context.