Cooperative behavior in adolescents: a contribution of empathy and emotional regulation?

Aim: This study aims to identify different levels of empathy and emotional regulation along adolescent years and their relationship with cooperative behavior. Methods: Eighty healthy males were divided into four age groups: 20 Early Adolescents, 20 Middle Adolescents, 20 Late Adolescents and 20 Adults. Participants responded to empathic and emotional regulation scales, then were assigned to an unknown partner to perform the prisoner's dilemma paradigm. Results: The statistical analyses allowed to distinguish the groups on the basis of the components making up the two scales: scores on the Perspective Taking component were higher for Adults and Late Adolescents participants than for Middle Adolescents and Early Adolescents groups (p < 0.05); scores on the Personal Distress component were higher for Early Adolescents group than for Late Adolescents and Middle Adolescents groups (p < 0.05); scores on the Difficulties engaging in goal directed behavior component were higher for Middle Adolescents and Early Adolescents groups than for Adults group (p < 0.05). We observed differences between groups (p < 0.001) with higher number of cooperation responses in Adults compared to Middle Adolescents (p < 0.05) and Early Adolescents groups (p < 0.001). Discussion: These findings suggest that the cooperative behavior changes during the different stages of adolescence seem to be related to the development of empathy and emotional regulation components.

Climate change increases threat to plant diversity in tropical forests of Central America and southern Mexico.

Global biodiversity is negatively affected by anthropogenic climate change. As species distributions shift due to increasing temperatures and precipitation fluctuations, many species face the risk of extinction. In this study, we explore the expected trend for plant species distributions in Central America and southern Mexico under two alternative Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) portraying moderate (RCP4.5) and severe (RCP8.5) increases in greenhouse gas emissions, combined with two species dispersal assumptions (limited and unlimited), for the 2061-2080 climate forecast. Using an ensemble approach employing three techniques to generate species distribution models, we classified 1924 plant species from the region's (sub)tropical forests according to IUCN Red List categories. To infer the spatial and taxonomic distribution of species' vulnerability under each scenario, we calculated the proportion of species in a threat category (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered) at a pixel resolution of 30 arc seconds and by family. Our results show a high proportion (58-67%) of threatened species among the four experimental scenarios, with the highest proportion under RCP8.5 and limited dispersal. Threatened species were concentrated in montane areas and avoided lowland areas where conditions are likely to be increasingly inhospitable. Annual precipitation and diurnal temperature range were the main drivers of species' relative vulnerability. Our approach identifies strategic montane areas and taxa of conservation concern that merit urgent inclusion in management plans to improve climatic resilience in the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot. Such information is necessary to develop policies that prioritize vulnerable elements and mitigate threats to biodiversity under climate change.

Propiedades psicométricas del Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) en mexicanos universitarios / Psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) in university Mexicans

La empatía es una habilidad relevante en la conducta humana, ya que permite entender y actuar conforme a los estados emocionales de los demás. La empatía puede ser evaluada a través de medidas de auto informe como el Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Objetivo: El presente estudio tuvo como propósito analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del IRI (Pérez-Albéniz, de Paúl, Etxeberría, Paz, & Torres, 2003) en universitarios, para su adaptación al contexto mexicano. Material y Método: El IRI se aplicó a 729 estudiantes de pregrado de diversas facultades de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla. Resultados: Los resultados indican que la adaptación del IRI muestra una adecuada consistencia interna (α=.81), y el análisis confirmatorio corroboró la estructura teórica de cuatro factores, similar a la adaptación española y la versión original. Asimismo, se presentaron diferencias de género en las cuatro dimensiones. Conclusión: El estudio proporciona una adecuada consistencia interna del IRI para ser utilizado en población mexicana con características similares a los de esta investigación. Sin embargo, se sugiere corroborar su validez externa y ampliar la muestra en otras zonas del país para generalizar su adaptación en todo el territorio mexicano

Empathy is a relevant skill in human behavior, since it allows us to understand and act according to the emotional states of others. Empathy can be evaluated through self-report measures such as the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the IRI (Pérez-Albéniz, de Paúl, Etxeberría, Paz, & Torres, 2003) in university students, for their adaptation to the Mexican context. Material and Method: The IRI was applied to 729 undergraduate students of various faculties of the Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla. Results: The results indicate that the IRI adaptation shows an adequate internal consistency (α = .81), and the confirmatory analysis corroborated the theoretical structure of four factors, similar to the Spanish adaptation and the original version. Likewise, there were gender differences in the four dimensions. Conclusion: The study provides an adequate internal consistency of the IRI to be used in the Mexican population with characteristics similar to those of this research. However, it is suggested to corroborate its external validity and expand the sample in other areas of the country to generalize its adaptation throughout the Mexican territory

Nuevas dinámicas de desigualdad y exclusión sociolaboral de las personas con discapacidad durante la crisis económica en España / New dynamics of inequality and labor exclusion of persons with disabilities during the economic crisis in Spain

La crisis económica y las sucesivas reformas laborales están implicando cambios sustantivos en el mercado de trabajo en España. Este artículo pretende analizar el impacto que están teniendo dichas transformaciones socioeconómicas y del mercado de trabajo en el acceso al empleo del colectivo de personas con discapacidad, desde el prisma de la teoría sociopolítica de la ciudadanía, evaluando el papel que tienen las políticas de empleo dirigidas a este colectivo para minimizar los efectos de la crisis en un contexto de recorte del gasto público y debilitamiento de los derechos sociales. Para ello mediante el análisis de datos estructurales y coyunturales del mercado de trabajo en España analizaremos cómo están afectando la crisis económica y las nuevas tendencias del mercado laboral en la estructura ocupacional del colectivo así como la influencia de las políticas de empleo dirigidas al colectivo para amortiguar el impacto de la crisis en su inserción laboral. Ese análisis cuantitativo se complementa con un estudio cualitativo mediante historias de vida de una muestra de personas con discapacidad en edad de trabajar, que nos permite profundizar en los mecanismos articuladores de la discriminación del colectivo y la desigualdad en el acceso al empleo. Los datos muestran que la crisis está afectando muy negativamente tanto en el acceso al empleo de las personas con discapacidad como en las condiciones laborales de aquellos que se encuentran trabajando, agudizando su precariedad, segmentación y sectorización, así como una mayor dualización laboral dentro del colectivo.

The economic crisis and the successive labor reforms are involving substantial changes in the labor market in Spain. This article analyzes the impact they are having these socio-economic and labor market access to employment of the group of persons with disabilities, from the perspective of the socio-political theory of citizenship changes, assessing the role that employment policies aimed this group to minimize the effects of the crisis in the context of public spending cuts and dwindling social rights. To do this by analyzing structural and economic data of the labor market in Spain will discuss how they are affecting the economic crisis and the new labor market trends in the occupational structure of the group and the influence of employment policies aimed at collective to cushion the impact of the crisis on the labor market. This quantitative analysis is complemented by a qualitative study life histories of a sample of persons with disabilities of working age, which gives us insight into the mechanisms of articulating the collective discrimination and inequality in access to employment. The data show that the crisis is negatively affecting both access to employment for people with disabilities and the working conditions of those who are working, sharpening its precariousness, segmentation and zoning, as well as higher labor dualization within the collective.