Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) describes maladaptive use of online resources and is recognized as a growing worldwide issue. Here, we refined the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) for use as a screening tool to measure generalized internet use problems in normative samples. Analysis of response data with parametric unidimensional item response theory identified 10 items of the IAT that measured most of the PUI latent trait continuum with high precision in a subsample of 816 participants with meaningful variance in internet use problems. Selected items may characterize minor, or early stages of, PUI by measuring a preoccupation with the Internet, motivations to use online activities to escape aversive emotional experiences and regulate mood, as well as secrecy, defensiveness, and interpersonal conflict associated with internet use. Summed scores on these 10 items demonstrated a strong correlation with full-length IAT scores and comparable, or better, convergence with measures of impulsivity and compulsivity. Proposed cut-off scores differentiated between individuals potentially at risk of developing PUI from those with few self-reported internet use problems with good sensitivity and specificity. Differential item function testing revealed measurement equivalence between the sexes, Caucasians and non-Caucasians. However, evidence for differential test functioning between independent samples drawn from South Africa and the United States of America suggests that raw scores cannot be meaningfully compared between different geographic regions. These findings have implications for conceptualization and measurement of PUI in normative samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).As the implementation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scales has increased, so has the number of studies linking legacy scale scores to PROMIS scale scores. Variability in linked scores for a given PROMIS score can be considerable, leading to potential bias. selleck chemicals llc An alternative method is imputation using a bridge study. We sought to compare linking to this alternative novel method in group-level analyses using linked legacy scores. Adult patients who completed PROMIS Depression and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were included. We randomly allocated data samples to be missing either PROMIS Depression or PHQ-9. We estimated PROMIS T scores using six methods Linking methods by Choi et al. (2014), linking in our internal data, imputation using bridge study data from external data and from our internal data, each with and without patient demographics. Estimated mean PROMIS T scores using the linking and imputation methods were compared to actual PROMIS T scores across varying proportions of missingness and sample size. We also compared regression coefficients for the six estimation methods to a model using actual PROMIS T scores. Mean estimated versus actual PROMIS T scores varied between 1 and 4 points for the linking methods and within 0.4 points for the imputation method using internal data with patient demographics. The imputation methods had estimated regression coefficients closer to that of the model using actual scores as compared to the linking methods. For group-level analyses, imputation using a bridge study may be a feasible alternative to using linked scores or can be used as a sensitivity analysis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).Interoception is essential for the maintenance of physical and mental health. Paradigms assessing cardioceptive accuracy do not separate sensitivity from bias or are very demanding. We present the piloting (study 1; N = 60) and psychometric evaluation and validation (study 2; N = 84) of a novel task for the assessment of cardiac interoceptive perception following the principles of signal detection theory. By disentangling sensitivity and response bias, we demonstrate that the previously used interoceptive accuracy score of the heartbeat mental tracking task represents an amalgam of sensitivity and response bias. The new task demonstrated adequate test-retest reliabilities for sensitivity (d') and response bias (c). Sensitivity was inversely related (β = -.36) to somatic symptom distress after statistically controlling for response bias. The novel cardiovascular signal detection task is easy to implement, feasible, and promising in terms of unraveling the role of (cardiac) interoceptive perception in psychopathology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).The goals of the current study were to (a) replicate the factor structure of the Social Information Processing Application (SIP-AP), (b) evaluate the measurement invariance of the SIP-AP across genders, socioeconomic (SES) levels, and forms of aggression, and (c) assess the convergent validity of the SIP-AP through associations with aggression, social competence, and rule-breaking behavior. Participants were 189 racially/ethnically diverse children (53% male; Mage = 8.50 years) who completed the SIP-AP. Parents reported on children's aggression and social competence, children reported on their aggression, and we observed children's rule-breaking behavior. A five-factor model including Hostile Cue Interpretations, Aggressive Goals, Aggressive Responses, Aggressive Response Evaluations, and Prosocial SIP replicated in this sample. The model was invariant across genders, SES levels, and forms of aggression (physical, relational, covert, property destruction). Girls reported more Aggressive Goals than boys. Children from more economically disadvantaged families reported higher levels of Hostile Cue Interpretations, Aggressive Goals, and Aggressive Response Evaluations. Aggression was related to all SIP constructs in expected directions, social competence was negatively associated with Hostile Cue Interpretations, and rule-breaking behavior was positively linked to Aggressive Goals, Aggressive Responses, and Aggressive Response Evaluations. Results are discussed in terms of the psychometric strengths of the SIP-AP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).