Importance of Social Support of Parents of Children with Cancer: A Multicomponent Model Using Partial Least Squares-Path Modelling.

The purpose of the present study is to build a model combining some variables that have been previously studied separately to improve our understanding on how they relate in parents of children with cancer. A total of 112 parents with an average age of 41 completed the self-assessment questionnaires containing the factors studied: social support received, social support provided, stress, adjustment of parents and life satisfaction. Two models were developed: one for social support received and one for social support provided. Structural equation models based on the variance estimated through partial least squares were used to analyze factors involved in quality of life based on an exploratory model of second order. The estimated model was robust in terms of quality of measurement (reliability and validity). According to results from the structural model, in the model of social support received, the impact of social support received on stress was considerable (ß = -0.26; p = 0.02) and it explained 16% of the variance. The impact of social support received by parents on their adjustment (ß = -0.56; p < 0.001) was also considerable, explaining 32% of the variance. Finally, adjustment of parents also showed an effect on life satisfaction (ß = -0.33; p < 0.001) and it explained 26% of the variance. However, the relation between social support received (ß = 0.15; p = 0.11) and life satisfaction, the relation between stress (ß = -0.15; p = 0.08) and life satisfaction, and the relation between adjustment of parents (ß = 0.20; p = 0.07) and stress were not significant. In the model of social support provided by parents, social support provided (ß = 0.35; p < 0.001), and adjustment of parents (ß = -0.31; p < 0.01) impacted life satisfaction, explaining 36% of the variance. Social support provided (ß = -0.34; p < 0.01) impacted adjustment of parents and it explained 12% of the variance. Adjustment of parents (ß = 0.28; p < 0.05) also impacted parents' perception of stress, explaining 14% of the variance. However, the relation between social support provided (ß = -0.17; p = 0.06) and stress, and the relation between stress (ß = -0.13; p = 0.08) and life satisfaction, were not significant. Social support received showed a strong connection with stress and parents' adjustment. Additionally, social support received showed a decrease in stress and parents' adjustment. Social support provided by parents and the adjustments they experience are linked to their life satisfaction. Additionally, social support provided showed a decrease in adjustment and an increase in parents' life satisfaction. The models can be used to improve parents' situations and it has strong practical implications.

The Importance of Social Support, Optimism and Resilience on the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients.

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to carry out a multidimensional analysis on the relation between satisfaction with social support received, resilience and optimism in cancer patients and their quality of life. Materials and Methods: Data were gathered through questionnaires fulfilled by 142 cancer patients. Data relate to sociodemographic, health, quality of life, social support, resilience and optimism. Results: Satisfaction with the sources and types of support, resilience and optimism relates positively with quality of life. Predictive models show that informational support from friends is the variable that most increases patients' general health, while emotional support from the partner is the one that best improves how patients cope with the disease. In the same line, emotional support from the partner, together with informational support from family are the ones that most contribute to reduce patients' symptoms. Resilience improves general health and functioning, and reduces symptoms. Patients' optimism and resilience also reduce symptoms. Gender differences were found, with females showing lower quality of life than males, mainly in how they cope with cancer. Patients in the stage of treatment showed lower quality of life and higher symptoms. Such increase was observed in patients who received hormonotherapy or chemotherapy. Discussion: Important practical implications can be drawn from results, which could help improve cancer patients' quality of life through intervention strategies aimed at increasing their resilience, optimism and the social support provided by their closer sources.

Psychosocial and Sociodemographic Determinants Related to Chronic Diseases in Immigrants Residing in Spain.

The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of the psychosocial determinants of satisfaction with social support, resilience and satisfaction with life, and the sociodemographic determinants of age, gender and length of residence on chronic diseases in immigrants living in Spain. The sample was composed of 1131 immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia. 47.1% were men and 52.9% were women. Most relevant results point to age as the sociodemographic variable with the highest predictive effect in the six chronic diseases analyzed. Gender, in this case female, predicts arthrosis, chronic back pain and migraine, whereas length of residence was only significant in the case of chronic allergies. Regarding psychosocial variables, resilience is a good predictor of hypertension, chronic allergies and arthrosis. However, satisfaction with social support appears to be the best predictor for chronic back pain in the regression equation, satisfaction with life being a significant variable in migraine, arthrosis, allergies and high cholesterol. Results are notably relevant for the design of preventive health programs in immigrants, as well as in ensuring their appropriate access to the health system so that their chronic diseases can be diagnosed. Given the relevance and incidence of the chronic diseases analyzed in immigrants, preventive strategies should be improved to tackle chronic diseases that can have a serious impact on immigrants' health.

Perceived Discrimination, Psychological Distress and Cardiovascular Risk in Migrants in Spain.

The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of discrimination and psychological distress on the cardiovascular health of immigrants, as well as to analyse potential differences based on age, gender, length of residence in host country and geographic origin. The sample was formed by 1714 immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Of the sample, 48.7% were men and 51.3% were women. Most relevant results show that discrimination (t = 4.27; p = 0.000) and psychological distress (t = 4.35; p = 0.000) experienced by immigrants predict their cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, psychological distress mediates the relation between discrimination and risk (t = 4.03; p = 0.000). Significant differences between men and women were found, as well as differences based on ethnicity, although to a lesser extent. Age affects the relation between discrimination, psychological distress and arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Results are notably relevant for the design of preventive health programmes for immigrants and intervention strategies in order to prevent diseases that may imply cardiovascular risks and seriously affect immigrants' health.

Positive Influences of Social Support on Sense of Community, Life Satisfaction and the Health of Immigrants in Spain.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the association of social support and the sense of community (SOC) with satisfaction with life (SWL) and immigrant health. We propose a model in which perceived social support from close sources (family and friends), as mediated by SOC and life satisfaction, would be positively associated with mental and physical health. Limited evidence exists from multivariate models that concurrently examine the association of both factors with SWL and health-related outcomes. We investigate the hypothesized association in a structural equations model (SEM) analysis. The participants consisted of 1131 immigrants (49% men and 51% women) (age 18-70, M = 33). The study was conducted in Malaga (Spain). Cross-sectional data were collected using a random-route sampling and survey methodology. In this model, greater social support from native friends was associated with a greater SOC. Social support from family and native friends was associated with greater SWL. Also, a greater SOC was associated with greater SWL. No association was found between SOC and mental health symptoms, whereas, greater SWL was associated with fewer mental health and illness symptoms. These results suggest that among immigrants, support networks involving family and native friends, and integration into the community are important influences for immigrants to achieve life satisfaction. These results are widely applicable and have implications that are relevant to the design of health promotion interventions.

Dimensiones de integración social en población colombiana y cubana que vive en Quito, Ecuador / Dimensions of Social Integration in the Colombian and Cuban Population Living in Quito, Ecuador

Resumen La integración social (IS) se presenta como un fenómeno clave en la complejidad de las sociedades actuales. Son escasas las investigaciones que consideran una perspectiva psicosocial para evaluar la IS. En el presente trabajo, se plantea una propuesta que tiene en cuenta tales dimensiones en población colombiana con desplazamiento forzado y cubana con migración económica, residentes en Quito (Ecuador). Participaron 255 personas a quienes se evalúan la anomia y arraigo social. Se encuentra que, en ambos grupos de participantes, la presencia o ausencia de trabajo condiciona la anomia o arraigo social. Estos resultados presentan implicaciones sobre diversas políticas de inmigración, en las cuales la integración social requeriría incorporar dimensiones psicosociales para abordar tal proceso.

Abstract Social Integration (SI) is presented as a key phenomenon in the complexity of today's societies. There are few investigations that considered psychosocial perspective to evaluate SI and here we propose a proposal that considers such dimensions in Colombian population with forced displacement and Cuban with economic migration residing in Quito, Ecuador. 255 persons participated who are evaluated anomia and social roots. The models of mediation show that in both groups of participants, the presence or absence of work conditions the social anomia or rootedness. These results have implications for various immigration policies, in which social integration requires incorporating psychosocial dimensions to address such a process. Keyword social integration; forced and economic migration in Ecuador; integration policies Introducción

[Adaptation to Spanish of the "Scale of perceived social support specific to the disease" of Revenson et al., 1991]. / Adaptación al español de la "Escala de apoyo social percibido específico para la enfermedad" de Revenson et al., 1991.

This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Scale of Perceived Social Support Specific to the Illness of Revenson et al. 1991. A sample of 202 patients with chronic conditions was used. After making several factor analysis of the scale on all four versions (partner, family, friends and doctors), it was found a structure formed by two factors involving positive social support and not functional or problematic social support. The results obtained with Cronbach's alpha show that all scales have acceptable and adequate internal consistency. In this sense, this scale may be appropriate to identify properly perceived social support for chronic patients on the four sources of support studied.

Repercusiones psicosociales del cáncer infantil: apoyo social y salud en familias afectadas / Psychosocial consequences of childhood cancer, social support and health in families affected

El propósito de esta investigación es analizar las repercusiones psicosociales que genera el cáncer infantil en los progenitores. Para ello, se han estudiado variables ligadas a síntomas físicos y psicológicos y el papel del apoyo social percibido sobre la salud. La muestra está compuesta por 51 padres pertenecientes a una asociación de familias afectadas de Almería (España), que respondieron a un cuestionario semiestructurado enviado por correo postal. Aunque los progenitores manifiestan fundamentalmente síntomas de cansancio, dolores de cabeza y nerviosismo, no se observan valores especialmente negativos respecto a su salud percibida y su satisfacción con la vida. Existen relaciones significativas entre el estrés ante situaciones asociadas a la enfermedad y la salud y el bienestar de los participantes. El apoyo social percibido del núcleo familiar incide significativa-mente en la salud. Los análisis de regresión permiten contrastar la relevancia de las variables asociadas al estrés y el apoyo de la pareja y de los hijos sobre la percepción de síntomas y bienestar. Estos resultados destacan la importancia de seguir analizando los factores psicosociales que afectan a las familias afectadas con la finalidad de favorecer su adaptación a la enfermedad y minimizar el impacto que esta puede tener en la salud. © 2015, Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the psychosocial impact on parents generated by childhood cancer. An evaluation was carried out in variables related to physical and psychological symptoms, and the role of perceived social support in their health. The sample consisted of 51 parents that belonged to an association of affected families from Almeria (Spain), who answered a semi-structured questionnaire sent by post. Although these parents showed fatigue, headaches and nervousness, they did not particularly give negative scores for perceived health and satisfaction with life. There are significant differences between stressful situations related to this illness and health and well-being of participants. Perceived social support of the family unit has a significant impact on health. Regression analyses allow contrasting the relevance of the variables associated with stress and social support of the parents and children on the perception of symptoms and well-being. These results indicate the importance of continuing to analyze in depth the psychosocial factors that have an impact on the families affected, in order to facilitate their adaptation to the disease and minimize the impact it may have on health. © 2015, Konrad Lorenz University Foundation.

Monitoring of Official Degree Qualifications: The Key Role of Academic Quality Assurance Systems (AQAS) / El proceso de seguimiento de los títulos oficiales: El papel "clave" de los Sistemas de Garantía de Calidad

The purpose of this article is focused on the development of a protocol designed to facilitate the monitoring process of the official degrees of a Spanish university. In response to the criteria and guidelines established in the Royal Decree 1393/2007, this proposal seeks to make available to the focus groups a useful and flexible tool, tailored to the different existing regulations, which assesses progress in the development of the curriculum, ensures the effective implementation of the degrees, and publishes the information available, relevant and appropriate. It also helps to identify weaknesses, potential improvements and best practices for dissemination. All this, with the ultimate aim of assuring the accreditation of Official Degrees. The monitoring protocol articulates the assessment, as a Check-List, in fulfillment of an annual series of indicators set out in the Academic Quality Assurance Systems (AQAS) included in the Proceedings of Degrees. Finally, the monitoring of new degrees comes up as a result of adaptation to the requirements of the European Higher Education Area.

El propósito de este artículo se centra en el desarrollo de un protocolo diseñado para facilitar el proceso de seguimiento de las titulaciones oficiales en las Universidades Españolas. En respuesta a los criterios y directrices establecidos en el Real Decreto 1393/2007, la presente propuesta tiene por objeto poner a disposición de los grupos de interés una herramienta útil y flexible, adaptada a las diferentes regulaciones existentes, que evalúa el progreso en el desarrollo del plan de estudios, asegura la aplicación efectiva de los grados, y publica la información disponible, relevante y apropiada. También ayuda a identificar los puntos débiles, las posibles mejoras y las prácticas más adecuadas para su difusión. Todo esto, con el fin último de garantizar la acreditación de los Títulos Oficiales. El protocolo de seguimiento articula la evaluación, así como una lista de control, en cumplimiento de una serie de indicadores establecidos en los Sistemas de Garantía de Calidad (SGC) incluidos en los Procedimientos de Grado. Por último, el seguimiento de los nuevos Títulos de Grado surge como resultado de la adaptación a los requerimientos del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior.