Teachers in demanding work environments are prone to anxiety, depression, and stress. Validated measures across different cultural contexts are required. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and DASS-12 and DASS-8 among Spanish and Chinese primary school teachers. A total of 3930 primary school teachers were recruited, comprising samples from Spain (n = 1350) and China (n = 2580). Scale structure was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). Model comparisons were conducted to identify the best-fitting factor structure. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined, and concurrent validity was assessed using emotional exhaustion as a criterion variable. Optimal diagnostic thresholds were established through latent profile analysis (LPA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Among the tested factor structures (unidimensional, oblique three-factor, ESEM, bifactor, and bifactor ESEM models), the ESEM model demonstrated superior fit indices, supporting acceptable factorial validity among both Spanish and Chinese samples. The DASS versions in the ESEM structure exhibited strong convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity in the Spanish sample, while showing relatively weaker validity indices among the Chinese sample. Notably, the empirically derived cutoff scores for DASS-21 sub-dimensions among teachers were substantially higher than the originally recommended thresholds. The three DASS versions effectively assessed three types of psychological distress among Spanish teachers, while among the Chinese teachers, the DASS instruments appeared useful for assessing distress, though caution is recommended when using individual subscale scores.

This study examines the links between vaccination status, fear of vaccination (cognitive and somatic symptoms), anxiety, alexithymia, and type D personality (negative affect and social inhibition), to propose policies to increase vaccination rates. A sample of university students (n = 2535; mean age = 20.59, SD = 2.04; male: 26.75%, female: 73.25%) from Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, and Ukraine completed the Vaccination Fear Scale (VFS-6), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire—Short Form (PAQ-S), the Type D Scale (DS14), and also a question on vaccination status. Correlation, regression, and network analyses were applied. Cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination and negative affect were the most significant in the correlation and regression analyses. In the network analysis, negative affect showed the highest values in all centrality indices and positive relationships with other nodes. Vaccination status showed negative relationships with fear of vaccination, alexithymia, and social inhibition. The network structure is similar between the sexes but varies between cultures and sexes within cultures. The relationship between vaccination status and cognitive symptoms of fear of vaccination was the most consistent, allowing for interventions at this level to be advised across cultures. For more specific interventions, cultural context must be considered for optimal results.

Digital technologies are an integral part of everyday life, making a balanced digital life essential to avoid their negative impact on well‐being. This study is aimed at validating the Digital Life Balance (DLB) Scale in Urdu and examining its relationship with social media addiction, Internet addiction, and life satisfaction among Urdu‐speaking individuals. A sample of 332 participants (Mage: 26.75 years; SD = 7.12; 41.9% female) completed the DLB Scale along with the Social Media Addiction Scale (SMA), Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). The results demonstrated satisfactory to acceptable internal consistency for the DLB Scale ( α = 0.72), consistent with previous validations. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the unidimensionality of the scale. Correlation analysis revealed that higher DLB is positively associated with life satisfaction and negatively correlated with social media and internet addiction, particularly with avoidance behaviors and problematic social media use. Stepwise regression identified life satisfaction as the strongest predictor of DLB, followed by internet avoidance and problematic social media use. These findings underscore the importance of balancing digital and nondigital activities for maintaining psychological well‐being. The study highlights the need for culturally adapted tools to assess digital behaviors and provides critical insights for developing interventions aimed at promoting digital well‐being in diverse populations.

The relationship between empathy and aggression is inconclusive, with substantial evidence revealing moderator effects of factors such as age, sex, and personality. This study examines whether sex differences or sex similarities stem from the relationship between empathy, personality, and aggression. There were 197 adolescents enrolled in secondary education (89 males and 108 females), who completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Females scored higher than males in empathy factors (fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress), neuroticism, and in aggression (anger and hostility). Males and females showed similar outcomes in the association between perspective taking and personal distress with anger and hostility. Extraversion and neuroticism failed to explain additional variance in instrumental aggression (physical and verbal). Neuroticism, however, explained a meaningful larger amount of variance in the affective and cognitive components of aggression beyond empathy measures for both males and females, anger (9%) and hostility (15%), respectively. The findings suggest that, regardless of sex, empathy appears important for instrumental aggression (physical, verbal), whereas neuroticism is a robust predictor of affective and cognitive aggression (anger, hostility).

The aim of this study was to analyse the evidence of validity, invariance and reliability of the Catalan version of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) approach. Then, to reassess the best structure obtained in a different validation sample. The items tested correspond to those in the original version of the DASS-21, after transcultural adaptation. The questionnaire was applied to a non-clinical sample of adults (n= 716), of both sexes and a mean age of 40.94 years (SD= 15.21). For study, the sample was randomly-split into two groups: calibration sample, and cross-validation sample. In first subsample nine models were tested. As the first-order three-factor CFA model was the most parsimonious, with well-defined factors that were also supported in terms of their reliabilities (α and ω) and validities, it was selected as the preferred model. The invariance between genders was tested using the total sample. Considering all findings, the Catalan version of DASS-21 is invariant, reliable and shows construct validity, making it a suitable instrument for use in research in the Catalan adult population.