Quantifying cannabis problems among college students from English and Spanish speaking countries: Cross-cultural validation of the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R)

Objective: The Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test - Revised (CUDIT-R) is a broadly employed measure of cannabis-related problems. However, minimal research has tested the measurement invariance of the CUDIT-R among youths from different countries, hindering cross-national comparisons. Thus, the present study aimed to test the measurement invariance of the CUDIT-R between seven countries and gender groups, and provide different sources of reliability and validity evidence of the scale. Methods: A sample of 4,712 college student lifetime cannabis users (mean age = 20.57, SD = 3.97; 70.4% females) from seven countries completed the CUDIT-R. Last 30-day cannabis users (n = 2402; mean age = 20.09, SD = 3.18; 67.7% females) additionally completed another measure of cannabis-related problems, and measures of cannabis frequency, quantity and motives. Results: Multigroup analysis showed configural (equal number of factors and pattern of factor-indicator relationships), metric (equal factor loadings) and scalar (equal thresholds) invariance of the CUDIT-R across five countries and across gender in the sample of lifetime cannabis users. Cronbach’s alphas and ordinal omegas ranked from .72 and .85. Large correlations were found between the CUDIT-R and another cannabis-related problem scale. Small to large associations were found between the CUDIT-R and other criterion variables (frequency and quantity of consumption and cannabis-related motives) providing convergent and discriminant validity evidence. Only a few differences in the magnitude of the correlations across countries were found. Conclusions: The results suggest that the CUDIT-R is a suitable measure to assess cannabis-related problems among college student from the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Spain, and Argentina and across gender groups.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Preliminary validity and reliability evidence of the Brief Antisocial Behavior Scale (B-ABS) in young adults from four countries

The present research built on the Self-Reported Delinquency interview and the Antisocial Behavior Scale to develop an updated brief instrument to measure antisocial behavior. College students (n = 3188, 67.75% women) from the USA, Argentina, the Netherlands and Spain completed an online survey. Analyses that combined approaches from the Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory were conducted to select the items for the brief version. Findings suggested that a 13-item Brief Antisocial Behavior Scale (B-ABS) fulfilled the high-quality criteria: salient factor loadings, adequate discrimination, variability in response endorsement, adequate fit based on infit/outfit values, nondifferent item functioning across the four participating countries, and Cronbach?s alpha and ordinal omega coefficients higher than .70. The B-ABS scores generally significantly correlated with personality scores, mental health and marijuana outcomes, showing criterion-related validity evidence. Our overall findings suggest that B-ABS adequately assesses antisocial behavior in young adults from different countries/cultures.Fil: Mezquita, Laura. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Bravo, Adrian J.. College of William and Mary; Estados UnidosFil: Pilatti, Angelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; ArgentinaFil: Ortet, Generós. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Ibáñez, Manuel I.. Universitat Jaume I; Españ

Historia de uso del suelo y contenido de micronutrientes en Argiudoles del centro de la provincia de Santa Fe (Argentina)

67-73The studies related to the concentration and bioavailability of soil micronutrients are very limited for the central region of Santa Fe province, reason for which the objectives of the current research were: a) to determine the decrease of the micronutrient contents in Argiudolls of Santa Fe as a consequence of soil use, and b) to correlate the micronutrient bioavailability with soil properties that were affected by the intensification of productive systems (organic matter, pH). The study was carried out in Argiudolls of Las Colonias county (Santa Fe). Composite soil samples were collected from 20 fields under pristine conditions (CP), 22 fields under milk production history (G), 24 fields under agricultural-livestock history (AG) and 20 fields under a long agricultural history (A). These samples were used to determine: pH, organic carbon (OC), boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). The results indicate that the pH did not vary among the studied situations; the values of OC diminished 40 percent with the intensification of agriculture; the concentration of B and Zn in fields with a long agricultural history decreased 50 percent with respect to the pristine condition; the Cu concentration was not altered; Fe and Mn did not show a clear tendency to change as a function of the soil use. Zinc deficiencies could occur in some cases, therefore, its concentration should be routinely controlled, especially in intensive systems, to assure an appropriate supply of nutrients according to the crop demand

Historia de uso del suelo y contenido de micronutrientes en Argiudoles del centro de la provincia de Santa Fe (Argentina)

67-73The studies related to the concentration and bioavailability of soil micronutrients are very limited for the central region of Santa Fe province, reason for which the objectives of the current research were: a) to determine the decrease of the micronutrient contents in Argiudolls of Santa Fe as a consequence of soil use, and b) to correlate the micronutrient bioavailability with soil properties that were affected by the intensification of productive systems (organic matter, pH). The study was carried out in Argiudolls of Las Colonias county (Santa Fe). Composite soil samples were collected from 20 fields under pristine conditions (CP), 22 fields under milk production history (G), 24 fields under agricultural-livestock history (AG) and 20 fields under a long agricultural history (A). These samples were used to determine: pH, organic carbon (OC), boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). The results indicate that the pH did not vary among the studied situations; the values of OC diminished 40 percent with the intensification of agriculture; the concentration of B and Zn in fields with a long agricultural history decreased 50 percent with respect to the pristine condition; the Cu concentration was not altered; Fe and Mn did not show a clear tendency to change as a function of the soil use. Zinc deficiencies could occur in some cases, therefore, its concentration should be routinely controlled, especially in intensive systems, to assure an appropriate supply of nutrients according to the crop demand

Cross-cultural examination of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire: Measurement invariance testing and associations with mental health

The present study examined the measurement invariance of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire (BFPTSQ) across language (Spanish and English), Spanish-speaking country of origin (Argentina and Spain) and gender groups (female and male). Evidence of criterion-related validity was examined via associations (i.e., correlations) between the BFPTSQ domains and a wide variety of mental health outcomes. College students (n = 2158) from the USA (n = 1117 [63.21% female]), Argentina (n = 353 [65.72% female]) and Spain (n = 688 [66.86% female]) completed an online survey. Of the tested models, an Exploratory Structural Equation Model (ESEM) fit the data best. Multigroup ESEM and ESEM-within-CFA generally supported the measurement invariance of the questionnaire across groups. Internalizing symptomatology, rumination and low happiness were related mainly to low emotional stability across countries, while low agreeableness and low conscientiousness were related chiefly to externalizing symptomology (i.e., antisocial behavior and drug outcomes). Some correlational differences arose across countries and are discussed. Our findings generally support the BFPTSQ as an adequate measure to assess the Big Five personality domains in Spanish- and English-speaking young adults

Motives to play videogames across seven countries: Measurement invariance of the Videogaming Motives Questionnaire

Introduction. Gaming motives appear to be an important predictor of time spent gaming and disordered gaming. The Videogaming Motives Questionnaire (VMQ) has shown adequate psychometric properties to assess gaming motives among Spanish college students. However, the utility of this measure has not yet been explored in other cultures. This research aimed to examine the structure and measurement invariance of the VMQ across seven countries and gender groups, and to provide criterion-related validity evidence for VMQ scores. Method. College students who reported having played videogames in the last year (n = 5192; 59.07 % women) from the US, Canada, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, England, and Uruguay completed an online survey to measure time spent gaming, disordered gaming, and the VMQ. Results. Findings support a 24-item 8-intercorrelated factor model structure for the VMQ in the total sample. Our results also support configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the VMQ across gender groups and countries. Students from North America (US and Canada) scored higher on most gaming motives (except recreation and cognitive development) than students from the other countries. The correlations between VMQ and non-VMQ variables were similar across gender and countries, except in England where VMQ correlations with time spent gaming were stronger. Discussion. These results suggest that the VMQ is a useful measure for assessing gaming motives across young adults from different countries.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

A cross-national examination of cannabis protective behavioral strategies’ role in the relationship between Big Five personality traits and cannabis outcomes

Background: Problematic cannabis use is common among young adults across the world. However,limited research has examined whether etiological models predicting negative consequences areuniversal.Objective: The present study examined whether the Five-Factor Model of personality (openness,conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) relates to cannabis outcomes viause of cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) in a cross-national sample of college studentcannabis users (i.e., used cannabis in the last 30 days).Method: Participants were 1175 university students (63.27% female) across five countries (UnitedStates, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, and the Netherlands) recruited to complete an online survey.Results: PBS use mediated the associations between personality traits and cannabis consequences,such that higher conscientiousness (β = .20), agreeableness (β = .11), and lower emotional stability[i.e., higher neuroticism] (β = −.14) were associated with more PBS use. Higher PBS use was, in turn,associated with lower frequency of cannabis use (β = −.32); lower frequency of use was thenassociated with fewer cannabis consequences (β = .34). This sequential pathway was invariantacross sex, but not countries. Notably, there were a number of differences in links between PBS andcannabis outcomes when comparing countries (e.g., negative associations in the US sample, butpositive associations in the Argentina sample).Conclusions: Cannabis PBS mediates the relationship between personality traits and cannabis outcomes, but there are nuanced differences across countries (i.e., relationship between PBS andcannabis outcomes). Overall, students that are low in conscientiousness, agreeableness, andneuroticism and/or report low rates of PBS use may benefit from cannabis PBS-focused interventions that promote utilization of PBS.Fil: Herchenroeder, Luke. No especifíca;Fil: Mezquita, Laura. Instituto de Salud Carlos III; España. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Bravo, Adrian J.. No especifíca;Fil: Pilatti, Angelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Prince, Mark A.. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Ibáñez, Manuel I.. Universitat Jaume I; EspañaFil: Pearson, Matthew R.. University of New Mexico; Estados UnidosFil: Pilatti, Angelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; ArgentinaFil: Read, Jennifer P.. University at Buffalo; Estados UnidosFil: Roozen, Hendrik G.. University of New Mexico; Estados UnidosFil: Ruiz, Paul. Universidad de la República; Urugua

Depressive symptoms, ruminative thinking, drinking motives, and alcohol outcomes: A multiple mediation model among college students in three countries

Background: Recent research suggests that ruminative thinking (specifically problem-focused thoughts) may explain why individuals engage in drinking to cope (DTC) when dealing with depressive symptoms; which in turn leads to increased negative alcohol-related consequences. Cross-cultural studies addressing these phenomena are scarce. Objectives: The present study cross-culturally tested whether four rumination facets (problem -focused thoughts, counterfactual thinking, repetitive thoughts, and anticipatory thoughts) uniquely mediate the relationships between depressive symptoms and drinking motives/alcohol outcomes in a multicultural sample of college student drinkers (n = 1429) from Spain, Argentina, and the U.S. Method: Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the models, controlling for sex. Further, we conducted invariance testing to determine whether our models were culturally-specific or culturally-universal. Results: Within both proposed models, no rumination facet uniquely mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and drinking motives. However, an exploratory model with a second -order latent factor of ruminative thinking did significantly mediate these associations (exception was conformity motives). Further, there were two significant double-mediated associations that suggested that increased depressive symptoms is associated with increased ruminative thinking, which is associated with higher DTC motives, which in turn is associated with higher alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences. All models were found to be invariant across countries and sex, suggesting that these associations may be relatively universal. Conclusions: Rumination is relevant to understand the increased vulnerability of college drinkers to exhibit greater alcohol consumption and negative consequences via DTC motives when dealing with depressive symptoms