The aims of this study were to identify cross-sectional dietary patterns (DPs) in a representative sample of 7–10-year-old schoolchildren, to examine how scores for these DPs tracked over a time period of five years (from age 7–10 years to 12–15 years), and to investigate longitudinal associations between changes in DPs scores and changes in BMI (Body Mass Index) z-scores. Children aged 7–10-years were examined in 2007 (n = 1158) and a subset of the sample participated in a follow-up in 2012 (n = 458). Factor analysis (FA) was applied to derive DPs at baseline. The change in DP from childhood to adolescence was analyzed by comparing factor scores using the complete cases, in which factor loadings were the ones evaluated at baseline. Associations of BMI change with DP change were assessed by multivariate linear regression. At baseline, four DP were identified that explained 47.9% of the food intake variance. On average, the factor scores of “DP II” (salty snacks, French fries, fast-food, sugary beverages) decreased in follow-up, while no changes were observed for “DP I” (rice, cooked beans, beef/poultry, leafy vegetables), “DP III” (fruits, cooked and leafy vegetables, fruit juices, pasta, milk, cheese), and “DP IV” (milk, coffee with milk, cheese, breads/biscuits). No significant linear association was shown between changes in BMI z-scores and changes in DP scores from childhood to adolescence. In conclusion, three out of four DP scores identified at baseline tracked slightly in adolescence.

Purpose: This study aims at developing an instrument to measure the latent trait propensity to drop out in face-to-face higher education.Design/methodology/approach: Based on Tinto's student integration theory, a 27-item scale was created to measure student propensity to drop out of undergraduate programs. Item response theory was used to evaluate the psychometric analysis of the items. Furthermore, different methodologies were used to evaluate and provide evidence for content validity, response process validity, internal structure validity and criterion-related validity.Findings: With the support of specialists in the construct, the interpretation of the scores for the use of the scale was defined in four levels of propensity: high, moderate, low and very low.Research limitations/implications: The latent trait propensity to drop out in face-to-face higher education allows the inclusion of new items and aspects in the instrument. Thus, it can be adapted to distance education.Practical implications: The students' propensity to drop out score can be useful for researchers and administration units in colleges and universities in the planning of permanent institutional actions and programs to take preventive measures.Social implications: Minimize dropout in order to raise the educational level of the population and make better use of the resources invested in education.Originality/value: This study points out when, why and how propensity to drop out can be measured and how scores can be interpreted in the context of the problem.

Item response theory (IRT) is a psychometric method that provides probabilistic model-based measurements. Its use is relatively recent in the assessment of food consumption, especially through dietary assessment tools. This study aims (1) to develop a food-based diet quality scale for Brazilian schoolchildren using IRT, and (2) to apply the scale to a representative sample of schoolchildren from a Southern Brazilian city. The scale was developed with daily consumption frequency of foods from 835 students who completed the Food Intake and Physical Activity of Schoolchildren questionnaire. Questionnaire foods were grouped into 10 items according to their nutritional similarities and were evaluated by full-information factor analysis that indicated a dominant factor explaining 28% of the variance. Psychometric item analysis was performed using Samejima’s model. The scale covered all levels of diet quality, from “very poor” (scores < 95) to “very good” (scores ≥ 130). Children who had higher diet quality scores consumed beans, meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and water more frequently, while reducing the consumption of ultraprocessed sugary foods, ultraprocessed savoury snacks and sausages, and sugary drinks. Of 6323 children, an average of less than 10% consumed the highest diet quality scores (good or very good diet quality) and about 60% of children consumed low diet quality scores. The scale can be applied to other schoolchildren with the same measure precision.

This paper presents a study that aimed to identify the degree of internet addiction in young people aged 15-19 years studying the last year of high school, in public schools, in the cities São Miguel do Oeste, Maravilha and Pinhalzinho, in the state of Santa Catarina. This is a quantitative study with a non-probabilistic sample. The number of participants was 504, using a questionnaire containing the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). 8.9% of the participants experienced

A pesquisa buscou analisar a evasão recorrendo à identificação de Funcionamento Diferencial dos Itens no contexto do ensino superior presencial em instituições de ensino superior pública e privada comunitária com aplicação do instrumento WWH- -dropout scale. A avaliação das propriedades psicométricas dos itens foi realizada por meio da Teoria de Resposta ao Item e o estudo do viés, pelo Método de Regressão Logística, comparando instituições pública e privada. A análise do viés dos itens identificou dois itens com funcionamento diferencial e o reposicionamento desses itens na escala revelou que o desempenho discente influencia mais a evasão na instituição privada do que na pública e contribui para a atuação antecipada e diferenciada das instituições de ensino na prevenção à evasão.