Understanding the factor weighting in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) may help to predict the progression for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a confirmatory model to describe and explain the direct and indirect effect of each component in MetS status change. A total of 3581 individuals diagnosed with MetS, aged 18–102 years, were selected between January 2019 and December 2020 from a community-representative sample of Portuguese adults in a north-eastern Portuguese region to test the model’s goodness of fit. A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach and a two-way ANOVA (age × body composition) were performed to compare the relative contribution of each MetS component using joint interim statement (JIS). Waist circumference (β = 0.189–0.373, p < 0.001), fasting glucose (β = 0.168–0.199, p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (β = 0.140–0.162, p < 0.001) had the highest direct effect on the change in MetS status in the overall population and concerning both sexes. Moreover, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) had a low or non-significant effect. Additionally, an indirect effect was reported for age and body composition involving the change in MetS status. The findings may suggest that other components with higher specificity and sensitivity should be considered to empirically validate the harmonised definition of MetS. Current research provides the first multivariate model for predicting the relative contribution of each component in the MetS status change, specifically in Portuguese adults.

This article analyzes the relationship between successful dealing with deviant acts (i.e., acts of corruption) and social cohesion. We conducted an experimental research with 148 university students based on the subjective group dynamics theory. We informed the research participants of some corruption cases in Chile (ingroup) and Argentina (outgroup) during the last year, with two modes of efficiency in their legal control: high efficiency (95% of the cases were judged and sanctioned) and low efficiency (5% of the cases were judged and sanctioned). The mediational analysis shows that the induced ingroup effectiveness causes a better emotional climate, greater perceived collective efficiency in dealing with deviance, increases confidence in social control and reinforces national identification. We conducted a comparative analysis with a sample of Portuguese university students, finding that Chilean students have a more critical view of collective effectiveness in dealing with deviance and a moderate level of national identification. The results are related to the assumptions of the subjective group dynamics theory and show the psychosocial effects of uncontrolled and unsanctioned corruption.