Cross-cultural effects of reminiscence therapy on life satisfaction and autobiographical memory of older adults: a pilot study across Mexico and Spain.

BACKGROUND: There are increasing reports on the cognitive and emotional benefits of positive reminiscence therapy in older people. The objective of this study is to assess the differential improvement of the quality of life for older people in different vital situations (three different types of aging) and from different countries by implementing a positive reminiscence therapy program (REMPOS). METHODS: The participants were 144 older adults above the age of 65, 77 participants from Spain (45 experimental groups, 32 control groups) and 67 from Mexico (34 experimental groups, 33 control groups). The participants were recruited from nursing and retirement homes. A factorial randomized design with pre-post measurement with three independent variables: country (Mexico, Spain), condition (experimental, control), and types of aging (healthy aging, HA., mild cognitive impairment, MCI., Alzheimer's disease, AD). The experimental groups received REMPOS therapy and control groups received standard cognitive stimulation program. The quality of life was measured with the Life Satisfaction Inventory for adults (LSI-A) and autobiographical memory test (AMT) before and after REMPOS therapy. RESULTS: The REMPOS intervention showed significantly higher positive effects than the control condition on the recall of specific positive memories across countries and types of aging, except for the Spanish MCI group. Life satisfaction in the Alzheimer's and MCI group only improved with REMPOS in the Mexican sample. CONCLUSIONS: The REMPOS effects showed generalizable effects across countries, but the cross-cultural differences shown highlight the necessity of running studies to test those differential effects.

Tele neuropsychological exploratory assessment of indicators of mild cognitive impairment and autonomy level in Mexican population over 60 years old.

Due to the cognitive decline associated with aging, it is necessary to determine the variables involved in this process to implement preventive actions to avoid or help slow the progression of cognitive decline to dementia in older adults. This is a priority in the current pandemic situation, due to the consequences of periods of confinement due to COVID-19. To address these challenges, this study was conducted through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), by adapting an in-person assessment protocol into an online Tele neuropsychological consultation. The correlation between autonomy and cognitive performance variables is analyzed in 47 Mexican subjects over 60 years of age. The results of the statistical analyses suggest a moderate correlation between the level of autonomy and cognitive performance (with MOCA and Clock Drawing Test), significant correlation values are outlined in some of the variables reviewed, and interesting data were found in the correlation of cognitive reserve with cognitive decline and the educational level from the participants. Finally, future analysis is proposed of the sensitivity of screening tests (CDT) to find indicators of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in this population that is not detected in classical tests (MOCA). Developing ICT-based screening protocols for the elderly may be a key tool in these coronavirus times or under any given circumstances.

Mitos sobre la Agresión Sexual: Validación de una Escala en Universitarios en México / Myths about Sexual Aggression: Validation of a Scale in University Students in Mexico

Resumen La agresión sexual es un problema psicosocial muy poco reconocido debido a los mitos a su alrededor, graduados y media-tizados por la cultura del grupo social (Caballero, 2006). En el presente estudio se asume la agresión sexual como la base para todo tipo de violencia de tipo sexual. Se realizaron dos estudios, el primero valida la escala AMMSA, en versión mexicana, originalmente desarrollada en Alemania (Gerger, Kley, Bohner, & Siebler, 2007); el segundo, determina el grado de aceptación de los mitos de agresión sexual en estudiantes universitarios del Norte de México. La muestra no probabilística fue de 128 y 400 estudiantes para cada estudio, respectivamente. Los resultados del primer estudio indican una consistencia interna de la versión mexicana del AMMSA (α = .93), concordantes con los resultados de la prueba original (α entre .90 y .95); y la externa, presenta una correlación positiva alta y significativa con la versión mexicana del Inventario de Sexismo Ambivalente (r = .68, p < .001), demostrando propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. Se encontró mayor aceptación de los mitos de agresión sexual entre los hombres en comparación a las mujeres, y el menor grado de aceptación de estos en la Facultad de Medicina y Psicología.

Abstract Sexual aggression is a psychosocial and public health problem rarely recognized socially as such, due to the myths around it, graded and mediated by culture of social group in which the phenomenon occurs (Caballero, 2006). In the state of Baja California, Art. 180 of the criminal code defines sexual abuse as the act "that without the consent of a person executes in it or makes it execute a sexual, without the purpose of reaching copulation" (p. 48). In the present study we assume, like the authors of the AMMSA, originally developed in Germany (Gerger, et al., 2007) that sexual aggression is the basis for all types of sexual violence. Two studies were carried out, the first with the purpose of validating the AMMSA scale in the Mexican version; and the second, to determine the degree of acceptance of the sexual aggression myths in students of a public university in Northern Mexico. A sample of 128 students was obtained for the first study and 400 students for the second, a non-probabilistic method was used. The results of the first study indicate an internal consistency of the Mexican version of AMMSA (α = .93), which agrees with the results of the original test (α between .90 and .95); and external presents a high and significant positive correlation with the Mexican version of the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (r = .68, p <.001). It is demonstrated that the psychometric properties of AMMSA were adequate during its application in university students of the northwest of Mexico, obtaining a high degree of reliability and validity. It is important to note the fact that men tend to accept the myths of sexual assault. This coincides with the popular belief that, within the role of men, one must be tough, aggressive and dominant in their interpersonal relationships (Herman, 1988, Hirigoyen, 2006). This is shown when reviewing that men are, by a wide margin, the biggest aggressors when it comes to issues of sexual violence. When comparing the degree of acceptance among the Faculties under study, the lowest average was observed in the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology.