Mohammadreza Kordbagheri

Objective: The current study was aimed at translating and validating the Persian version of the 52‐item Executive Functioning Scale (EFS) for Iranian children. Method: The Persian EFS was administered online to a total of 600 Iranian children aged 2–17 years and their parents (48 with autism spectrum disorder, 162 with other neurodevelopmental/functional disorders and 390 typically developing). Construct validity was evaluated via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) using the weighted least squares estimator. Four competing models were compared: a first‐order six‐factor model, a higher order model, a bifactor model and a six‐factor ESEM model with target rotation. Measurement invariance across gender and age was tested. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α, McDonald's ω and 3‐week test–retest intraclass correlations. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined through composite reliability (CR), average variance extracted (AVE) and correlations with the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Results: The six‐factor ESEM model provided the best fit (CFI = 0.974; TLI = 0.951; RMSEA = 0.059; WRMR = 0.717), outperforming the first‐order (CFI = 0.903; TLI = 0.897) and bifactor solutions (CFI = 0.947; TLI = 0.926). Full configural, metric and scalar invariance held across gender and age (ΔCFI < 0.01). Subscale internal consistencies ranged from α = 0.70 to 0.84 and ω = 0.71 to 0.84; test–retest ICCs exceeded 0.80 for all scales. CR values exceeded 0.79, AVE values ranged from 0.41 to 0.56 and EFS–BRIEF correlations supported convergent and discriminant validity. Discussion: The Persian EFS demonstrates robust factorial validity, measurement invariance, reliability and convergent/discriminant validity in Iranian samples.

Early diagnosis and control of risk factors affecting frailty syndrome (FS) in older adults may lead to changes in the health/disease process, prevention of disability and dependency in the older adults, and reduction of health care costs and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of CVD risk factors and FS in community-dwelling older adults of Amirkola city in Iran. This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study is part of the second phase of the Amirkola Health and Aging Project (AHAP) cohort study conducted since 2011 on all individuals ≥ 60 years in the city of Amirkola in northern Iran. Totally, 1000 older adults were included in the study and divided into three groups: frail (n = 299), pre-frail (n = 455), and non-frail (n = 246) older adults. In the present study, age ≥ 60 years, female sex, fasting blood sugar (FBS) ≥ 126 mg/dl, affected diabetes mellitus (DM), body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m², waist circumference (WC) or abdominal obesity > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) > 100 mg/dl, triglyceride > 150 mg/dl, cholesterol > 200 mg/dl, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 40 mg/dl and blood pressure (BP) > 90/140 mmHg, uric acid > 7 mg/dl and a positive smoking history were considered CVD risk factors. The results showed that with each centimeter increase in WC, the odds of frailty compared with non-frailty was 79% higher, and the odds of frailty compared with pre-frailty was 1.43 times higher in older adults. In addition, the prevalence of pre-frailty compared with non-frailty, pre-frailty, and non-frailty was 10.59 times, 6.08 times, and 73.83 times higher in older individuals > 84 years old, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that the prevalence of pre-frailty compared with non-frailty, frailty compared with pre-frailty, and frailty compared with non-frailty was 2.86 times, 3.01 times, and 14.83 times higher in older adults women, respectively. The comparison between frail and non-frail groups represented that in DM older adults, the prevalence of frailty compared with non-frailty was 1.84 times higher and that of frailty compared with pre-frailty was 98% higher. The older adults with an FBS ≥ 126 mg/dl were 53% more likely to become frail, and with each unit increase in uric acid, the odds of becoming frail increased 2.05 times compared with non-frail older adults, and pre-frail compared with non-frail increased 99%. The results demonstrated that CVD risk factors predictive of FS included central obesity, age > 84 years, female sex, DM, FBS ≥ 126, and uric acid > 7. This problem highlights the need for preventive strategies in the older adults who are simultaneously vulnerable to CVD and frailty. Frailty syndrome (FS) is an important health challenge for older adults in various dimensions. Studying the health problems of the older adults such as FS and the factors affecting them in the growing older adults in countries such as Iran is one of the priorities of research. Few population-based studies have described cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors that influence FS. This study was conducted on 1000 community-dwelling older adults. The results showed that CVD risk factors such as abdominal obesity, age over 84 years, female sex, DM, FBS ≥ 126, and URIC acid > 7 were predictors of FS. Screening for CVD risk factors during visits of older adults to clinics and health centers can help identify older adultsat risk of frailty and pre-frailty. Management of CVD risk factors can lead to evidence-based interventions and reduce the burden of care for these individuals.

The current paper aimed to investigate the network structure and centrality indexes of hypersensitive narcissism using the hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSN). Additionally, we aimed to explore its relationships with dark triad personality aspects. A globally diverse sample of “53,981” participants (47.9% non-United States responders) completed the HSN and Dark Triad Dirty Dozen scale (DTD). We estimated the network structure across genders to determine the core characteristics of hypersensitive narcissism. Additionally, bridge and central nodes (characteristics) were identified. All analyses were performed using R-Studio programming software. The network comparison test indicated significant differences in the network structures between males and females (Network-Invariance: 0.0489, P < 0.01; Global Strength Invariance: 0.101, P < 0.01). In the network of HSN for male participants, characteristics with the highest strength centrality were “Highly affected by criticism” (HSN.2, strength = 1.08) and “Self-absorbed in personal pursuits” (HSN.8, strength = 1.28). For female participants, “Self-absorbed in personal pursuits” (HSN.8, strength = 1.32) and “privately annoyed by others’ needs” (HSN.10, strength = 1.21) were the highest central characteristics. The assessment of bridge strength indicated that nodes HSN.2 (Highly sensitive to criticism), scoring 0.42, and DTD.1 (Tendency to manipulate for gain, a component of Machiavellianism), scoring 0.428, showed the highest bridge strength values. The current study identified core characteristics of hypersensitive narcissism and its correlation with dark triad personality, revealing gender-specific patterns and bridging symptoms between the two constructs. These findings showed that focusing on these core characteristics may be advantageous in treating individuals exhibiting elevated levels of narcissism.