Validating a measure for eco-anxiety in Portuguese young adults and exploring its associations with environmental action.

BACKGROUND: Worsening environmental conditions may amplify people's emotional responses to an environmental crisis (eco-anxiety). In Portugal, young people seem to be especially concerned about climate change. However, this phenomenon needs to be interpreted using accurate instruments. Thus, this study aimed to validate the Portuguese version of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) in young adults and examine the associations among eco-anxiety, sociodemographic characteristics, and pro-environmental behaviours. METHODS: A survey was administered to 623 Portuguese university students aged between 18 and 25 years. The survey included our Portuguese translation of the HEAS (obtained through a back-translation and pretesting process), a sociodemographic assessment, and questions related to pro-environmental behaviours. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the construct validity of the Portuguese version of the HEAS, and global fit indices were used to assess whether the original four-dimensional structure of the scale was reproduced. The reliability of the Portuguese version of the HEAS was evaluated by Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Measurement invariance examined sex differences in scale interpretation. Linear regressions were used to detect whether sociodemographic variables predict eco-anxiety and whether eco-anxiety predicts pro-environmental behaviours. RESULTS: The factorial structure of the original scale was replicated in the Portuguese version of the HEAS, showing good internal consistency, reliability over time and strict invariance between men and women. A higher paternal education level predicted greater eco-anxiety in children. Two dimensions of eco-anxiety-namely, rumination and anxiety about personal impacts on the environment-predicted higher engagement in pro-environmental behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: The translated scale is an appropriate tool to measure eco-anxiety in the Portuguese context and should be used to collect evidence to drive environmental and health policies. An individual's education level should be considered a determinant of their emotional response to environmental conditions. Importantly, eco-anxiety can act as a protective emotional response to preserving the planet.

Validation of the Argentine version of the epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity questionnaire.

Epistemic trust refers to the trust in communicated knowledge, specifically an individual's ability to regard knowledge conveyed by others as meaningful, relevant to oneself, and applicable to other contexts. This area has received considerable attention in recent psychological literature, though predominantly from a theoretical perspective. The main objective of this study was to test the factorial validity of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) on an Argentine setting. Based on two studies (Study 1, n = 1018; Study 2, n = 559), the factorial structure of the instrument and its internal consistency were examined (S1 Appendix). In the second study, the factorial structure was confirmed, test-retest reliability was analysed, and associations between epistemic stances and sociodemographic variables, hypomentalisation, attachment styles, childhood traumatic experiences, and anxious-depressive symptomatology were explored. A satisfactory three-factor solution with 15 items and residual correlations was found in both studies, with stable scores over time. Significant positive correlations were found with anxious and fearful-avoidant attachment, hypomentalisation, childhood traumatic experiences, and psychopathological symptomatology. Post-hoc analysis revealed that, on the one hand, gender acts as a moderator in the relationship between hypomentalisation and epistemic mistrust. On the other hand, economic level and educational level moderate the relationship between hypomentalisation and epistemic credulity. Measurement invariance across gender was tested and found satisfactory, with significant differences subsequently observed in the epistemic trust factor. In conclusion, the Argentine version of the ETMCQ provides an empirical measure for use in non-clinical samples. Its application could facilitate clinically and theoretically relevant findings.

Mental health during ecological crisis: translating and validating the Hogg Eco-anxiety Scale for Argentinian and Spanish populations.

BACKGROUND: Eco-anxiety is increasingly recognized as a shared experience by many people internationally, encompassing fear of environmental catastrophe and anxiety about ecological crises. Despite its importance in the context of the changing climate, measures for this construct are still being developed in languages other than English. METHODS: To contribute to global eco-anxiety research, we translated the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) into Spanish, creating the HEAS-SP. We validated this measure in samples from both Argentina (n = 990) and Spain (n = 548), performing measurement invariance and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency of the scale and score stability over time were investigated through reliability analyses. Differences in eco-anxiety across sociodemographic variables were explored through Student's t-tests and Pearson's r tests. RESULTS: The four-factor model of the HEAS-SP comprising affective and behavioural symptoms, rumination, and anxiety about personal impact demonstrated excellent model fit. We found good internal consistency for each subscale, and established measurement invariance between Spanish and Argentine samples, as well as across genders and participants' age. Spanish participants reported higher scores on the affective symptoms and personal impact anxiety factors compared to the Argentinian sample. Also, men reported lower levels than women on the subscales of affective symptoms, rumination, and personal impact anxiety. It was found that the relationship between both age and personal impact anxiety and age and affective symptoms varies significantly depending on the gender of the individuals. Younger participants tended to report higher scores on most dimensions of eco-anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: These findings enhance the global initiative to investigate, explore and therefore comprehend eco-anxiety by introducing the first valid and reliable Spanish-language version of this psychometric instrument for its use within Spanish and Argentinian populations. This study augments the body of evidence supporting the robust psychometric properties of the HEAS, as demonstrated in prior validations for Australian, Turkish, Portuguese, German, French, and Italian populations.

Qualitative multi-centered study: Trustworthiness of the three-level model (3-LM) Part 1.

The 3-Level Model (3-LM) is proposed as a guide or heuristic for observing and describing patient change. Used since 2011 in the context of the International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA), its trustworthiness as a model still needs to be studied. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This study aimed to assess the trustworthiness of the 3-LM by comparing the output of three groups of IPA-certified analysts (Europe, North America and South America). The comparison was made using process and outcome measures as analytical tools. This objective was divided into specific objectives presented in two articles. Each group belonged to a different geographical region of the IPA. They all worked on the same clinical case and their output was analysed using the same structured qualitative methodology. To analyse levels 1 and 3 of the model, the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method was used. For level 2, the Operationalised Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD-2) was used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There was a predominance of convergence between each of the groups for each of the levels analysed, with some points of divergence. The implications of these results for the trustworthiness of the model, clinical practice, training and research in psychoanalysis are discussed.

A multicentre study: Comparison of 3-LM group output and therapeutic outcome measures. Adding to the trustworthiness of the 3-LM? Part 2.

This is the second report (part 2) of an investigation whose general objective was to provide evidence regarding the trustworthiness of the Three-Level Model (3-LM). Three groups of analysts from different IPA regions worked with this model on the same clinical case. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1) To analyze group output with the same structured qualitative methodology (part 1); 2) To compare the results of the 3-LM group output reported in the 3-LM forms with the process-outcome measures used in the clinical case (part 2); 3) To describe the presence-absence of anchor points in the groups, their similarities and differences (part 2); 4) To exemplify the interrelationship of the three levels of the 3-LM in relation to patient change and the analyst's interventions (part 2). SAMPLE: verbatim transcript of three 3-LM groups. MATERIALS: 3-LM forms, process and outcome measures (APS, DIS and PHI-RADIO) and Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis. RESULTS: Objective 2 found global convergence in the PHI, DIS and APS scores across sessions. Objective 3 showed convergences and divergences in the themes relating to the anchor points. Objective 4 showed how an anchor point corresponds to the focus of treatment and how this is present in the analyst's attitudes and interventions. DISCUSSION: The results offer preliminary support for the trustworthiness of the 3-LM.

Cambio climático, sostenibilidad y salud mental: revisión y estrategias para su abordaje / Climate Change, Sustainability and Mental Health: Revision and Strategies for its Approach

INTRODUCCIÓN: El cambio climático (CC) representa uno de los mayores problemas para la sociedad actual, cuyas consecuencias nocivas para la salud mental requieren del impulso de propuestas para un desarrollo sostenible. OBJETIVO: Explorar el estado del arte concerniente a las consecuencias del CC sobre la salud y salud mental, específicamente: a) describir los efectos nocivos del CC sobre la salud mental b) describir propuestas de instituciones dirigidas a su mitigación, c) identificar nuevos conceptos acuñados para describir el impacto del CC en la salud mental, d) describir el abordaje desde la psicología de las respuestas psicológicas frente al CC. METODOLOGÍA: Revisión literaria exploratoria, no sistemática. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron nuevos conceptos, tales como eco-ansiedad, acuñados para identificar la interrelación entre CC y salud mental. Se hallaron diversos aportes desde la psicología para comprender y mejorar las respuestas psicológicas frente al CC AU

INTRODUCTION: Climate change (CC) represents one of the major problems for today's society, whose harmful consequences for mental health require the development of proposals for sustainable development. OBJECTIVE: to explore the state of the art concerningthe consequences of CC on mental health specifically: a) to describe the harmful effects of CC on mental health, b) to describe proposals of institutions aimed at its mitigation, c) to identify new concepts coined to describe the impact of CC on mental health, d) to describe the approach from psychology of psychological responses to CC. METHODOLOGY: Exploratory, non-systematic literature review. RESULTS: New concepts were found, such as eco-anxiety, coined to identify the interrelation between CC and mental health. Several contributions from psychology to understand and improve psychological responses to CC were identified AU

Sentimientos de soledad y problemas internalizantes frente al distanciamiento social y confinamiento preventivo por el coronavirus COVID-19 / Feelings of Loneliness and Internalizing Problems as a Result of Preventive Social Distancing and Lockdown due to the Coronavirus COVID-19

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación entre sentimientos de soledad y problemas internalizantes producto del distanciamiento social y el confinamiento, para comprender el impacto psicológico en la población. Metodología: estudio de diseño mixto descriptivo-correlacional de alcance temporal transversal. Instrumentos: Perceptions of the Adult US Population regarding the Novel Coronavirus, Three-Item Loneliness Scale y el Adult Self Report. Muestra: 653 casos respondieron una encuesta online en marzo 2020. Resultados: mayores niveles de soledad y problemas internalizantes en sujetos jóvenes convivientes con sus padres y en adultos que viven solos. Hay correlaciones significativas entre sentimientos de soledad y problemas internalizantes: ansiedad-depresión (r =,636, p<.001) y quejas somáticas (r=,422, p<.001). Prevalencia de problemas internalizantes: preocupación general, inquietud por el futuro y trastornos del sueño. Discusión: los resultados del estudio identificaron dos grupos de riesgo: los jóvenes convivientes con sus padres y los adultos que viven solos(AU)

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between feelings of loneliness and internalizing problems as a result of social distancing and lockdown, in order to understand the psychological impact on the population. Methodology: mixed descriptive-correlational design study with a transversal temporal scope. Instruments: Perceptions of the Adult US Population regarding the Novel Coronavirus, Three-Item Loneliness Scale and the Adult Self Report. Sample: 653 individuals answered an online survey in March 2020. Results: higher levels of loneliness and internalizing problems in young adults living with their parents and in adults living alone. There are significant correlations between feelings of loneliness and internalizing problems: anxiety-depression (r = .636, p = .000) and somatic complaints (r = .422, p = .000). Prevalence of internalizing problems: general concern, concern about the future and sleep disorders. Discussion: the study identified two groups at risk: young people living with their parents and adults living alone(AU)