Measuring social problem solving using the Spanish version for Hispanics of the Social Problem Solving...

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Cross-cultural psychology
• Mental health research

Background:

• The Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) is a key tool for measuring social problem-solving skills.
• Adapting and validating psychological instruments for diverse linguistic and cultural groups is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the internal consistency, factor structure, and concurrent validity of the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Spanish Version for Hispanics (SPSI-R-Hispanic).
• To examine the relationship between SPSI-R-Hispanic scores and psychological well-being.
• To investigate potential gender differences in social problem-solving among Spanish-speaking Hispanics.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 325 Spanish-speaking Hispanics in North America completed the SPSI-R-Hispanic.
• Reliability was assessed using internal consistency measures.
• Factor structure was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis.
• Concurrent validity was determined through multiple regression analysis predicting psychological well-being.

Main Results:

• The SPSI-R-Hispanic demonstrated good internal consistency reliability across its scales.
• The hypothesized factor model of the SPSI-R showed a good fit to the data.
• SPSI-R-Hispanic scores significantly predicted psychological well-being, explaining 32% of incremental variance.
• Gender differences were observed, with men scoring higher on positive problem orientation and rational problem solving, and women scoring higher on negative problem orientation.

Conclusions:

• The SPSI-R-Hispanic is a reliable and valid measure for assessing social problem-solving skills in Spanish-speaking Hispanic populations.
• The inventory effectively correlates with psychological well-being.
• The findings confirm existing gender differences in problem-solving styles within this demographic.