Risk of suicide in households threatened with eviction: the role of banks and social support.

BACKGROUND: One of the greatest effects of the financial crisis in Spain has been the enormous increase in the number of evictions. Several studies have shown the association of evictions with different aspects of the physical and mental health. Furthermore, evictions have been associated with an increased risk of suicide. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of suicide among victims of eviction and investigate whether it is associated with specific characteristics of households and interviewees, the eviction process and social support, and health needs. METHODS: A total of 205 participants from households threatened with eviction in Granada, Spain, and 673 being the total number of members of these households, were interviewed in one-on-one sessions between April 2013 and May 2014. Through a questionnaire, information was obtained on physical and mental health, characteristics of their eviction process and support networks, and the use of health services. RESULTS: Almost half of the sample (46.7%) were at low (11.8%), moderate (16.9%), or high suicide risk (17.9%). Household and interviewee features had a limited association with suicide risk. On the contrary, the risk of suicide is greater with a longer exposure to the eviction process. In addition, threatening phone calls from banks increased significantly the risk of suicide, especially among men. Suicide risk was also associated with low social support, especially among women. Interviewees at risk of suicide received more help from nongovernmental organizations than those who were not at risk. In interviewees at risk, the main unmet needs were emotional and psychological help, especially in men. A high percentage of those at risk of suicide declare having large unmeet health needs. Finally, there was a tendency among the evicted at risk of suicide to visit emergency room and primary care more often than those not at risk, especially among women. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that when banks adopt a threatening attitude, suicide risk increases among the evicted. As hypothesized, when the evicted felt socially supported, suicide risk decreased. Emotional help was the main mediator of suicide risk and the main unmet need, especially among men.

Associations between Home Foreclosure and Health Outcomes in a Spanish City.

The financial crisis has caused an exponential increase of home foreclosures in Spain. Recent studies have shown the effects that foreclosures have on mental and physical health. This study explores these effects on a sample of adults in the city of Granada (Spain), in terms of socio-demographic, socio-economic and process characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was administered to obtain information on self-perceived changes in several indicators of physical and mental health, consumption of medications, health-related behaviors and use of health services. A total of 205 persons, going through a foreclosure process, participated in the study. 85.7% of the sample reported an increase of episodes of anxiety, depression, and stress; 82.6% sleep disturbances; 42.8% worsening of previous chronic conditions, and 40.8% an increase in consumption of medication. Women, married persons and persons already in the legal stage of the foreclosure process reported higher probability of worsening health according to several indicators, in comparison with men, not married, and individuals in the initial stages of the foreclosure process. The results of this study reveal a general deterioration of health associated with the foreclosure process. These results may help to identify factors to prevent poor health among populations going through a foreclosure process.

Diferencias por sexo en la motivación, la dependencia y el ansia por el consumo de cigarrillo en estudiantes universitarios / Differences Between Genders in Motivation, Dependence and Craving for Cigarette Smoking in University Students / Diferencias por sexo na motivação, dependência e ânsia pelo consumo de cigarro em estudantes universitários

Objetivo. Identificar las relaciones y las diferencias por sexo en la motivación al cambio, el nivel de dependencia y el ansia (craving) por el consumo de cigarrillo en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios. Método. Participaron 936 estudiantes, seleccionados en un muestreo aleatorio estratificado por carreras y semestres, a los que se les evaluó la historia de consumo de tabaco, el nivel de dependencia, el ansia por el consumo, la motivación y los procesos de cambio. Resultados. El 25.9% de la muestra que reportó consumir tabaco, presentó bajos niveles de motivación al cambio y de dependencia. Se identificó un mayor uso de procesos cognitivos experienciales en las primeras etapas de cambio (ps < 0.03) y un mayor uso de procesos conductuales en las fases finales del cambio (ps < 0.02). La correlación entre nivel de dependencia y de motivación al cambio fue negativa y significativa (r = -0.321, p < 0.01), y positiva entre nivel de dependencia y de ansia por el consumo (r = 0.417, p < 0.01). No hubo correlaciones significativas entre ansia por el consumo y la etapa motivacional. En ninguna de las variables se encontró diferencia entre sexos. Conclusión. La construcción de la motivación al cambio se caracteriza por el uso de procesos cognitivos y la consolidación de la motivación por el uso de procesos conductuales.

Objective. Identify gender relations and differences in motivation for change, dependency level, and craving for cigarette smoking in a sample of college students. Method. A total of 936 students were selected, randomly stratified by races and semesters, who were evaluated for history of tobacco use, dependency level, craving, motivation and change processes. Results. 25.9% of the sample that reported consuming tobacco, showed low levels of motivation for change and dependence. We identified greater use of experiential cognitive processes in the early stages of change (ps <0.03) and increased use of behavioral processes in the final stages of change (ps <0.02). The correlation between level of dependence and motivation to change was negative and significant (r = -0.321, p <0.01), and positive between dependence level and consumer craving (r = 0.417, p <0.01). There were no significant correlations between craving for consumption and motivational stage. No difference was found between the sexes in any of the variables. Conclusion. The construction of motivation to change is characterized by the use of cognitive processes and the consolidation of motivation by the use of behavioral processes.

Escopo. Identificar as relações e diferencias de sexo na motivação pela mudança, o nível de dependência e ânsia (craving) pelo consumo de cigarro numa amostra de estudantes universitários. Metodologia. Participaram 936 estudantes, selecionados numa amostragem aleatória estratificada por carreiras e semestres os que foram avaliados segundo sua história de consumo de tabaco, nível de dependência, ânsia pelo consumo, motivação e processos de mudança. Resultados. O 25.9% da amostra que reportou consumir tabaco, mostrou baixos níveis de motivação à mudança e de dependência. Foi identificado um maior uso de processos cognitivos experienciais nas primeiras etapas de mudança (ps < 0.03) e um maior uso de processos comportamentais nas fases finais da mudança (ps < 0.02). A correlação entre o nível de dependência e motivação à mudança foi negativa e significativa (r = -0.321, p < 0.01), e positiva entre nível de dependencia e ânsia pelo consumo (r = 0.417, p < 0.01). Não teve correlações significativas entre ânsia pelo consumo e etapa motivacional. Em variável nenhuma foi encontrada diferencia entre sexos. Conclusão. A construção da motivação à mudança é caraterizada pelo uso de processos cognitivos e a consolidação da motivação pelo uso de processos comportamentais.

[The health of adults undergoing an eviction process]. / La salud de las personas adultas afectadas por un proceso de desahucio.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze perceived health status and other health-related indicators in the adult population in Granada (Spain) undergoing an eviction process from their homes, whether rented or owned, in comparison with health indicators in the general adult population in Andalusia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was administered by trained staff. The survey included instruments from the Andalusian Health Survey 2011 for measuring variables related to physical and mental health, as well as health-related habits. We compared the results with those obtained from the Andalusian general population through the Andalusian Health Survey. A bivariate analysis using the χ2 test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: We obtained a total sample of 205 people in the process of eviction. A total of 59.5% (n=122) were women, and 40.5% (n=83) were men. Participants were more likely to have poor health (odds ratio [OR]: 12.63, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 8.74-18.27), have cardiovascular diseases (OR: 3.08; 95%CI: 1.54- 6.16), or to smoke (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.21-2.33) compared with the Andalusian general population. Most of the health indicators analyzed showed a worse outcome for women undergoing an eviction process. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, in the current context of economic crisis, people undergoing a process of eviction in Granada and its metropolitan area show poorer health than the Andalusian general population. Further research is needed on health and evictions from different methodological approaches, for a better understanding of the topic.

Validación colombiana del sistema internacional de imágenes afectivas: evidencias del origen transcultural de la emoción / Colombian validation of the international affective picture system: evidence of cross-cultural origins of emotion / Validação colombiana do sistema internacional de imágens afetivas: evidências da origem transcultural da emoção

En Colombia no existen instrumentos validados para medir de forma fiable las dimensiones de la emoción basados en el uso de imágenes afectivas. Por esta razón, el objetivo de esta investigación fue validar en la población colombiana cuatro conjuntos de imágenes del International Affective Picture System (IAPS), y comparar los resultados con los de la población española y estadounidense con el fin de contribuir a la validación transcultural del instrumento. Los participantes fueron 404 personas (175 hombres y 229 mujeres) que evaluaron, mediante el Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), 238 imágenes pertenecientes a los conjuntos 13, 14, 19 y 20 del IAPS. Los resultados muestran una distribución de las imágenes en el espacio afectivo delimitado por las dimensiones de valencia y arousal en forma de boomerang similar a lo encontrado en países como Estados Unidos, España y Bélgica. Se observa una mayor dispersión y menor inclinación en el polo positivo que en el polo negativo y diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en la dimensión de arousal, siendo mayor la activación en ellas. Por último, se comparan estos resultados con los encontrados en otros países, y se identifican diferencias en las dimensiones de arousal y dominancia, pero no en valencia, lo cual apoya el modelo bioinformacional en el cual se afirma que la valencia es la dimensión principal sobre la cual se organizan las emociones. Con esta investigación se demuestra que el IAPS es un instrumento válido y fiable para medir las emociones.

There is a lack of validated instruments in Colombia for measuring the dimensions of emotional states in a reliable way. For this reason, this study was aimed at validating four sets of images of the International Affective Picture System (IAPS)in a Colombian sample and comparing the results with those found in Spanish and American samples in order to contribute to the instrument's cross-cultural validation. Participants were 404 people (175 men and 229 women) who assessed, through the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), 238 images belonging to sets 13, 14, 19 and 20 of the IAPS. Results showed the classical boomerang-shaped distribution of the pictures within the affective space, demarcated by the valence and arousal dimensions. These results are consistent with those found in other countries such as the United States, Spain, and Belgium. There is a greater dispersion and less inclination in the positive pole than in the negative pole and significant differences between men and women in the arousal dimension, showing a greater activation in women. Finally, these results are compared with those found in other countries and differences are identified in the dimensions of arousal and dominance, but not in valence. This supports the bio-informational model which states that valence is the main dimension around which emotions are organized. This research shows that the IAPS is a valid and reliable instrument to measure emotions.

Na Colômbia não existem instrumentos validados para medir de forma confiável as dimensões da emoção baseados no uso de imagens afetivas. Por esta razão, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi validar na população colombiana quatro conjuntos de imagens do International Affective Picture System (IAPS), e comparar os resultados com os da população espanhola e estadunidense com o objetivo de contribuir à validação transcultural do instrumento. Os participantes foram 404 pessoas (175 homens e 229 mulheres) que avaliaram mediante o Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM), 238 imagens pertencentes aos conjuntos 13, 14, 19 e 20 do IAPS. Os resultados mostram uma distribuição das imagens no espaço afetivo delimitado pelas dimensões de valência e arousal em forma de bumerangue similar ao encontrado em países como Estados Unidos, Espanha e Bélgica. Observa-se uma maior dispersão e menor inclinação no polo positivo que no polo negativo e diferenças significativas entre homens e mulheres na dimensão de arousal, sendo maior a ativação nelas. Por último, comparam-se estes resultados com os encontrados em outros países, e identificam-se diferenças nas dimensões de arousal e dominância, mas não em valência, que apoia o modelo bioinformacional no qual se afirma que a valência é a dimensão principal sobre a qual se organizam as emoções. Com esta pesquisa demonstra-se que o IAPS é um instrumento válido e confiável para medir as emoções.

[Emotional processing in people with obsessive-compulsive symptomatology]. / Procesamiento emocional en personas con sintomatología obsesivo-compulsiva.

The present study was aimed at assessing obsessive-compulsive symptomatology based on visualization of affective pictures, elaborated following Peter Lang's dimensional model of emotion. Participants were 370 psychology students at Malaga University, selecting those with high and low scores in obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. All participants assessed a set of pictures containing obsessive-compulsive cues using the three scales of the Self-Assessment Manikin: affective valence, arousal, and control/dominance. The results show that participants with high scores in obsessive-compulsive symptomatology experience reduced control over the affective pictures and rate as more unpleasant the neutral and obsessive-compulsive pictures.

[Effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle]. / Efecto del tiempo de subida del estímulo acústico sobre la respuesta cardíaca de defensa y el reflejo motor de sobresalto.

Effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle. The risetime is a parametric characteristic of the eliciting stimulus frequently used to differentiate among psychophysiological reflexes. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle. 100 participants underwent a psychophysiological reactivity test to five presentations of an intense acoustic stimulus (105 dB white noise) under one of five risetime conditions: 0, 24, 48, 96, and 240 ms. Total energy of the stimulus was controlled by increasing the base duration of the stimulus (1000 ms) by one third of the risetime. Results showed that risetime significantly affected motor startle but not cardiac defense. Startle amplitude decreased linearly with increasing risetime after 24 ms. On the other hand, repetition of the stimulus significantly affected cardiac defense but not motor startle. These results question the traditional differentiation between startle and defense based on risetime.