Inattention is partially independent of modality. In contrast, response inhibition is modality-specific. Although ADHD is defined regardless of modality, hyperactive students may exhibit deficits in the auditory modality but not in the visual modality or vice versa.

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Auditory parameters in the inattention domain (OE and VRT) can discriminate ADHD from controls. For the hyperactive/impulsive domain (CE), the two modalities are equally important.

Handedness is associated with cerebral hemispheric differences. Normal patterns of brain asymmetries are needed for the neural processing of attention. In order to identify ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) children, the use of checklists allows a greater level of accuracy. Here, we will review our data on this subject. Our first study investigated the psychometric properties of a scale developed to assess attention disorders. Our second study investigated the relationship between handedness and attention disorders using the factors derived from the scale. Our third study included the use of a continuous visual test of attention (CVAT) and examined the relationship between handedness and CVAT variables. For the first and second study, 239 students were included. From this sample, 42 students were selected to participate in the third study. Forty-five teachers rated the children. Four factors were extracted: hyperactivity/impulsivity (explained variance = 36.3%); inattention (11.4%); social isolation (5.2%) and self-confidence (explained variance = 3.3%). Sixty-eight children were included in the ADHD group. We found a higher number of consistent left-handers in the ADHD group as compared to the normal group and a significant effect of handedness on factor hyperactivity/impulsivity. This indicated that left-handers showed greater problems in the hyperactivity-impulsivity domain as compared to right-handers. Considering the data derived from CVAT, a significant handedness effect was found only for the variable commission errors. Left-handers with attention problems showed the greatest number of errors and normal dextrals the lowest number of errors. Normal left-handers made significantly more errors than normal dextrals. Commission error is a parameter that is commonly viewed as a measure of impulsivity. Our data show that hyperactivity/impulsivity is related to handedness, because left-handers present more problems in impulsive behavior than right-handers and suggest that consistent left-handed subjects show greater probability to develop ADHD as compared to right-handed subjects.

ResumoA satisfação conjugal é um construto relevante para o estudo na Psicologia, dada sua importância no desenvolvimento deste relacionamento interpessoal. Esta investigação revisou a estrutura fatorial da Escala de Satisfação Conjugal (ESC). A ESC, frequentemente, tem sido utilizada na pesquisa brasileira, inclusa como medida convergente para gerar evidências de validade de critério no desenvolvimento de novas medidas psicológicas. Por outro lado, suas propriedades psicométricas não são verifi cadas há 25 anos. Participou deste estudo uma amostra não probabilística de 249 pessoas do Rio de Janeiro, com idades entre 21 e 77 anos (M = 45,3; DP = 13,26), casadas ou em uniões estáveis há 19,5 anos em média (DP = 12,88). Os dados coletados foram submetidos às Análises Fatorial Exploratória e Confi rmatória. O exame revelou alguns itens com desempenhos psicométricos insatisfatórios. Contudo, uma versão reduzida da ESC apresentou simplicidade e índices de ajuste estimados muito bons. Evidências de validade da existência de um fator de segunda ordem também foram produzidas. A fi dedignidade estimada para os fatores e a escala toda variou de 0,93 a 0,85. Palavras-chave:Satisfação conjugal, relação conjugal, propriedades psicométricas. Review of the Marital Satisfaction Scale's Factor Structure AbstractMarital satisfaction is a construct that is relevant to psychology research due to its signifi cance in terms of establishing this interpersonal relationship. The present study examines the factor structure of the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS). The MSS has frequently been employed in Brazilian studies, incorporated as a convergent measure for producing criterion validity evidence in the elaboration of new 1 Endereço para correspondência: