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Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) explains academic performance as a function of conceptually distinct and interrelated cognitive variables. We aimed at extending SCCT's performance model by examining the direct and indirect-through sociocognitive variables-contribution of personality traits on mathematics academic performance. Argentine youths (N ¼ 543) were assessed in mathematics self-efficacy, outcome expectations, performance goals, and skills. Personality traits were assessed through the Big Five Questionnaire for Children. Path analyses indicated that the contribution of personality on academic performance was mediated by sociocognitive mechanisms. The results suggested that (a) students who exhibited higher Conscientiousness scores had higher self-efficacy beliefs and more positive outcome expectations and set more demanding performance goals and (b) students who had higher Openness/Intellect scores exhibited higher self-efficacy beliefs. Gender did not moderate the relations among cognitive variables but influenced the association between personality traits and cognitive variables. Implications for teachers and guidance counselors are discussed.

The results obtained from this study support previous research devoted to the study of eating disorders and obesity. This situation favors the valid and relevant nature of the study of personality traits as factors that contribute to explaining behavior disorders associated with eating pathologies. This is a preliminary and necessary step for future research to examine the risky combination of personality traits and anorexia, bulimia, and obesity in the local context using a larger and more generalized sample.

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Con esta finalidad se administraron las escalas de autoeficacia para el rendimiento en matemática (Pajares, 1996), expectativas de resultados en matemática y metas de rendimiento en matemática (Fouad, Smith y Enochs, 1997) a una muestra de 288 adolescentes de ambos sexos, y con edades comprendidas entre 13 y 15 años. Se utilizó un path análisis para identificar con mayor precisión la interrelación entre las variables y sus efectos directos e indirectos. Los resultados permiten concluir que el modelo explica parcialmente el rendimiento académico en Matemática, ya que algunas de las hipótesis propuestas no fueron corroboradas. Se sugieren mejoras en las definiciones operacionales en algunas de las variables con la finalidad de mejorar la precisión de los constructos. Palabras clave: Autoeficacia, expectativas de resultados, metas de rendimiento, rendimiento académico.

La Escala Breve de Autocontrol (BSCS, por sus siglas en inglés) es un instrumento de autoinforme ampliamente utilizado para evaluar el autocontrol. Sin embargo, existen desacuerdos respecto a su estructura interna. En este trabajo se realizaron una serie de análisis factoriales confirmatorios (AFC) con el fin de comparar estructuras uni y bidimensionales en una muestra de 848 estudiantes universitarios argentinos (663 mujeres y 185 varones), con un rango etario comprendido entre 18 y 30 años. De manera complementaria, se evaluó la consistencia interna, el ajuste de los modelos teóricos propuestos sobre la estructura interna de la escala, y se realizó un estudio de evidencia de validez de grupos contrastados. A partir de los resultados, se concluyó que el modelo post hoc unidimensional propuesto por Tangney, Baumeister y Boone (2004) es la opción que mejores propiedades psicométricas presentó para ser utilizado con fines de investigación en muestras de estudiantes universitarios argentinos. Palabras clave: autocontrol, Escala Breve de Autocontrol (BSCS), modelos rivales, análisis factorial confirmatorio, consumo de sustancias.

Introduction: Cognitive distortions are related to gambling frequency and gambling severity. Having a culturally sensitive measure to assess cognitive distortions will facilitate the early detection of people who might be at risk of developing problematic gambling behaviors. The Gamblers' Beliefs Questionnaire was translated into Spanish (GBQ-S) but no previous study explored the structure of the GBQ-S in a non-US sample with different levels of gambling involvement. Aim: The present study examined the factor structure of the GBQ-S in a community sample of gamblers from Argentina. It also analyzed the association between cognitive distortions and type of gambling activity and frequency of gambling behaviors and the predictive utility of the GBQ-S on gambling severity. Participants: 508 youth and adults completed the GBQ-S. Results: The CFA showed an overall acceptable fit to the data confirming the proposed two-factor model. Scores of the two GBQ sub-scales were positively and significantly correlated with scores on gambling severity. Cognitive distortions have a significant effect on gambling severity after controlling for frequency of engagement in gambling activities. Luck and perseverance, but not illusion of control, was positively related to gambling severity. Discussion: scores measured by the GBQ-S exhibit adequate psychometric properties for the accurate assessment of cognitive distortions across adults and youth from the general community of Argentina.

College women in Argentina with problematic alcohol drinking can be distinguished from those drinking moderately.