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Sexual prejudice is a complex, multidimensional and change-resistant phenomenon which represents a pervasive problem both in Brazil and in other countries. In the light of this situation, the present study is aimed at understanding the relationships between sexual prejudice and attitudes towards gays and lesbians, verifying, in addition, whether prejudice could constitute an explanatory variable for such attitudes. For this, 430 university students (M = 23.5 years; SD = 7.90; 72.5% women) from a public institution in João Pessoa/PB who responded to the Multidimensional Scale of Sexual Prejudice, the Multidimensional Scale of Attitudes towards Gays and Lesbians and demographic questions. The results showed that sexual prejudice positively predicted attitudes of homopathologization, rejection of proximity and heterosexism, and negatively predicted supportive attitudes toward homosexuals. These findings indicate that sexual prejudice is a major explanatory mechanism for attitudes towards gays and lesbians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to confirm the multifactorial structure of the Beliefs Toward Cure of Homosexuality Scale (BTCHS) - (ECCH in Portuguese) and to verify evidence of its validity based on external variables. To this end, two studies were carried out. In Study 1, there were 214 university students, with an average age of 24 years (SD = 9.15). These students answered the HCBS and demographic questions. The results indicated a satisfactory fit for multifactorial modeling. Study 2, in turn, presented 430 university students with an average age of 23 years (SD = 7.90). In addition to the HCBS, the participants responded to the measures of sexual prejudice (MSP) and attitudes towards gays and lesbians (ATGL) questionnaires. Performing correlation analyses between the variables, we found significant correlations between the HCBS and the MSP and ATGL. In conclusion, the HCBS presented an adequate data-model fit for its multifactorial structure and evidence for its validity based on external variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to develop the General Conspiracy Belief Scale (ECGC), seeking evidence of its factorial validity and internal consistency. For this, two studies were carried out. In Study 1 (n=229) an analysis of the main components identified a five factor structure, each composed of three items: pharmaceutical manipulation (a=.74), global conspiracies (a=.80), manipulation by secret groups (a=.80), extraterrestrial contact cover ups (a=.92) and information control (a=.60). In Study 2 (n=229) the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the bifactor model best fitted the data (CFI=.96, TLI=.94, RMSEA=.06). The final version of the ECGC, composed of 15 items, presents adequate psychometric evidence to evaluate beliefs in conspiracy theories, which can be used in research in the Brazilian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to understand the predictive role of human values, procrastination and general health in relation to smartphone dependence. Participated 390 people from the general, with ages ranging from 18 to 69 years old (M = 27, SD = 8.91), mostly female (71%). They answered the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS, reduced version), Tuckman's Procrastination Scale, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Basic Values Survey (BVS) and demographic questions. The results indicating that smartphone dependence is positively related to procrastination, resulting in damage to general health, such as higher levels of anxiety and depression. It was concluded that values, procrastination and anxiety levels were shown to be important predictors for smartphone-dependent behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop the Disposition to Nostalgia Scale (DNS) and to investigate evidence for its factorial validity, convergent validity and internal consistency. The aim was to assemble 20 items that were in the literature or were designed with the purpose of describing nostalgic experiences. Participants were 208 undergraduate students (Mage=22.8 years, SD=6.13, ranging from 18 to 60), the majority male (50.7%), single (86.5%), and from the middle social class (54.1%). They answered the initial items of the DNS and two other measures that assess the same construct: The Nostalgia Inventory (NI) and the Southampton Nostalgia Scale (SNS), in addition to demographic questions. Factorial analysis (PAF) was performed, identifying a general factor that accounted for 42.3% of the total variance, presenting adequate reliability (a=.84). Corroborating evidence for its convergent validity, the DNS scores correlated positively with the two other nostalgia measures (NI and SNS). In conclusion, the DNS presents adequate psychometric properties and can be used to assess the disposition to nostalgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to adapt the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) to the brazilian context, gathering evidence of its factorial and convergent validity, item analysis and reliability. Two studies were performed with a sample of university students. In Study 1, 211 people participated (Mage = 25 years, DPage = 9.18, 58.8% men), and the results suggested a unifactory structure consisting of 14 items that were discriminatory. In Study 2, 208 people participated (Mage = 25 years, DPage = 7.79, 79% women), confirming the unifatorial structure, which proved to be invariant in relation to sex, showing converging validity with indicators of general health and confidence to speak in public. It was concluded that the brazilian version of the PSAS gathered adequate psychometric evidence, supporting its use in research evaluating public speaking anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, there are no investigations into the psychological and sociodemographic correlates of greed. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between greed and human values. In addition, we tested the mediating effect of greed on gender differences in the endorsement of values. Participants answered the Dispositional Greed Scale, Basic Values Survey and demographic questions. The value correlates indicated that greed people, although materially motivated (existence values), express higher-order needs of aesthetics (suprapersonal values). However, greed personality was a more important predictor of the personal values. There were differences between the sexes only regarding greed and personal values, in which men had higher scores. Finally, the greed partially mediated the gender difference in the endorsement of personal values which suggests that men have an egocentric orientation because are greedier. The results are discussed taking into account the Functional Theory of Human Values, personality of individual differences and evolutionary psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies with university students were conducted with the objective of adapting to the Brazilian context the Rape Causes Perception Scale (RCPS), gathering evidence of its factorial and convergent validities and reliability. Study 1 had 220 people with a mean age of 23.5 years old (SD = 7.56; ranged from 18 to 63 years) (64.5% female), while in Study 2 participants were 203 individuals with a mean age 21.4 years old (SD = 5.17; ranged from 18 to 51 years) (54.2% female), all having answered demographic questions, the RCPS and a measure of negative attitudes towards rape victims. The analyzes corroborated its theoretical structure of five components, presenting reliability coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.92. In addition, a positive correlation between RCPS and negative attitudes towards victims was observed (convergent validity). In conclusion, this scale showed evidence of factorial and convergent validity, as well as reliability, supporting its use in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to identify to what extent the values of fathers/mothers and children are correlated, taking into account the type of transmission (direct or indirect) and its predictive potential. Participants were 204 pairs of parents and children. Most of the children were female (54.7%), and their average age was 11 (de=1.01). In the case of the parents, the majority were mothers (69.6%), and their average age was 38 (de =7.82). The fathers/mothers answered the Basic Values Survey corresponding to their age group and socio-demographic aspects. Results show that children's values are more heavily influenced by the values they perceive in their fathers/mothers, than by the values the fathers/mothers give priority to and wish to convey to their children, according to significant indicators in the six valuation sub-functions. The study concludes that, through the socialization process, children apprehend the values transmitted by their fathers/mothers by observing their conduct. Therefore, we emphasize that parents' behavior is the best way to educate children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gather evidence of construct and convergent validity and internal consistency of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). A total of 441 students, mostly female (54.6%), with a mean age of 16 years (SD = 1.14), answered the ERQ and demographic questions. They were randomly distributed in two databases, which were submitted to exploratory (sample 1) and confirmatory factor analysis (sample 2). The exploratory results indicated a three-factor structure: Cognitive Reappraisal, Redirection of Attentional Focus and Emotional Suppression, which together explained 59.3% of the total variance (α = 0,67; α = 0,63; α = 0,64). For the confirmatory analyses, the following goodness-of-fit indices were found: χ² (24) = 67.02, p <0.001; χ² / df = 2.79, GFI = 0.93; AGFI = 0.88; CFI = 0.88 and RMSEA = 0.08 (IC 90% = 0.064-0.100). Thus, it is concluded that the ERQ possesses satisfactory psychometric indices, being the promising instrument for evaluation of emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to adapt the Intentions Toward Infidelity Scale (IIS) to the Brazilian context, knowing its psychometric parameters. Two studies were carried out with people who were in a romantic relationship. Study 1 included 161 participants (mean age = 24.9), who responded to the IIS and demographic questions. Results indicated the one-factor solution for this scale (α = 0.85), whose items showed reasonable discriminative power (theta ranging from -0.5 to 3.0). Study 2 included 236 participants (mean age = 25.5), who answered the same instruments. Results supported the one-factor structure (e.g., CFI = .95 and TLI =.93), which showed invariant across sex (ΔCFI and ΔRMSEA < 0.01). In conclusion, the findings supported the adequacy of the IIS items, but also indicated evidence of its factorial validity and internal consistency, favoring its use in studies looking to investigate the correlates of infidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across two studies we aimed to provide evidences of validity and reliability for the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) in Brazil. In study 1, 171 individuals participated (Age M = 21.9, SD = 6.59) and 232 in Study 2 (Age M = 26.3, SD = 7.06). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the predicted one-factor solution, with five items and satisfactory internal consistence (α = 0.76). A multi-group CFA revealed partial measurement equivalence between our and the original (USA) versions of the BRS. The BRS correlated significant with positivity and personality traits. The composite reliability was satisfying; the convergent validity, measured with the average variance extracted, was slightly below the recommendations. Overall, the results show that the measure is psychometrically suitable for research in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]