ObjectivesTo assess the internal consistency and factor structure of the abridged Spanish version of the Berger HIV Stigma Scale (HSS-21), to provide evidence for its convergent and discriminant validity, and to describe perceived stigma in an urban population from northeast Mexico.MethodsSeventy-five HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited. Participants answered the Spanish versions of three Likert-type scales: HSS-21, Robsenberg’s self-esteem scale, and the abbreviated version of the Zung’s Depression Scale.ResultsHSS-21 showed high reliability and validity; its factor structure included four components: concern with public attitudes; negative self-image; disclosure concerns; and enacted stigma. The level of stigma was high in 27 out of 75 (36%) participants; nevertheless, the score found in the component related to disclosure concerns indicated high level of stigma in 68% of participants. The score of HSS-21 was positively correlated with the score of depression and negatively correlated with the score of self-esteem.ConclusionResults demonstrated high reliability for the HSS-21; correlations with other scales supported its validity. This scale demonstrated to be a practical tool for assessing stigma among Mexican HIV-positive MSM. High level of stigma was found only in the factor related to disclosure concerns.Policy implicationsIdentifying HIV-associated stigma through a short, reliable, and validated instrument will allow the development of interventions that cope and manage stigma in HIV-positive MSM. HSS-21 distinguishes between different dimensions of stigma and will contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon.

This research was done to find if using maximum likelihood could reduce the Interactive Optimism Scale-Garcia to a new valid and reliable shorter version. There were 502 adults: 263 women and 239 men ( Mage = 34.67, SD = 12.27). It was used in confirmatory factor analysis. A four-item scale is obtained, having excellent goodness of fit: [χ2/ df = .609, GFI (Jöreskog and Sörbom’s Goodness-of-Fit Index) = .999, NFI (Normed Fit Index) = .999, CFI (Bentler’s Comparative Fit Index) = 1.000, RMSEA (Steiger–Lind root mean square error of approximation) = .000 (90% CI = .0001, .077); SRMR (standardized root mean square residual) = .007], as well as factorial invariance across sexes; the scale has good internal consistency (ω = .869, α = .858, ordinal α = .906). Brief Interactive Optimism Scale-G correlates significantly with self-esteem ( r = .779, p < . 01, 95% CI [.816, .736]), depression ( r = −.810, p < .01, 95% CI [.843, .772]), and psychopathy ( r = −.670, p < . 01, 95% CI [.723, .611]). In conclusion, Brief Interactive Optimism Scale-G is a good option for measuring optimism in Mexicans.

The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) aims to measure affect with high transcultural validity. The bifactor model is the best theoretical option to represent affective balance, although it is not typically used in validation studies. The objectives of this research were to test a bifactor model vis-à-vis the traditional model composed of two correlated factors, to prove its invariance across sexes, and to provide evidence of concurrent validity. A nonprobability sample composed of 600 Mexican students of psychology and medicine was recruit. One-group and multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were carried out. The SPANE and the scales selected to assess depression, perceived stress, and satisfaction with life were applied. The bifactor model showed better goodness-of-fit indices than the two correlated factors model: Δχ2(11) = 121.436, p <  .  001, Δχ2/Δ df =  11.04 > 5, Δ GFI =  .034, Δ NFI =  .025, Δ NNFI =  .022, and Δ CFI =  .023 >.01. The internal consistency for the general factor as well as for the factor of positive affect was excellent, whereas it was good for the factor of negative affect. The measurement model was valid across sexes. The general factor of affective balance had a very high correlation with depression, high with perceived stress, and medium with satisfaction with life. It is concluded that SPANE is reliable and shows evidence of validity among Mexican student of psychology and medicine, and the bifactor model is adequate to represent affective balance.

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Introduction. There is controversy regarding the structure of subjective well-being (SWB) and the possibility of calculating a SWB total score. Objective. To test and compare five models proposed for the description of SWB. Method. The study was implemented with a cross-sectional, ex-post-facto design using an incidental sampling method. The Positive and Negative Experience Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were applied to a sample composed of 600 students of health sciences from two universities of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Data were analyzed through a structural equation modeling, using Maximum Likelihood and Corrected-Bias Percentile methods. Results. The bifactor model comprising three specific factors, vis-à-vis the model composed of three correlated factors, had the best data fit (Δχ2/Δdf = 8.166 > 5, ΔNFI = .018, ΔNNFI = .015, and ΔCFI = .016 > .01), and all its fit indices were close; however, the specific factor related to positive affect had a poor contribution. Nevertheless, the model composed of three correlated factors had the greatest parsimony (PR = .853, PNFI = .804, PNNFI = .813, PCFI = .819, and PGFI = .706) and its three factors showed convergent validity, discriminant validity, and internal consistency reliability. Discussion and conclusion. The two models with the best properties justify the use of a composite score of SWB based on the scores of positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction with life, as well as scores for these three specific domains of content. From a psychometric perspective, the model composed of three correlated factors yielded the best result.