Derrota – conceito e avaliação: Características psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala de Derrota (Defeat Scale)

Abstract

The social rank theory, in the perspective of evolutionary psychopathology, suggests that defeat is an adaptive psychobiological response especially in agonistic conflicting situations. Animal and human studies showed the neurobiological negative impact of defeat situations. In human being, the defeat state is an expression of feelings resulting from loss in struggles of life generally with loss of social rank. Gilbert and Allan (1998) developed the defeat scale (DS) with the objective of evaluate the defeat severity. The psychometric properties of DS were assessed in a group of students (n = 609), a group from general population (n = 406) and another of patients with major depression (n = 106). The scale revealed a one-dimensional structure in factor analysis and a good internal consistency between .89 and .93 in the three groups and in both genders. The test-retest stability, the convergent validity with depressive symptomatology, the divergent validity with social support and optimism, as well as the construct validity showed to be adequate. The present Defeat Scale version showed adequate psychometric qualities to be applied in clinical and in healthy populations.