Predictive model of suicide risk in Colombian university students: quantitative analysis of associated factors.

Introduction: The risk of suicide and completed suicides among young university students presents critical challenges to mental and public health in Colombia and worldwide. Employing a quantifiable approach to comprehend the factors associated with these challenges can aid in visualizing the path towards anticipating and controlling this phenomenon. Objective: Develop a predictive model for suicidal behavior in university students, utilizing predictive analytics. Method: We conducted an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytical research study at the University of Manizales, with a focus on predictive applicability. Data from 2,436 undergraduate students were obtained from the research initiative "Building the Future: World Mental Health Surveys International College Students." Results: The top ten predictor variables that generated the highest scores (ranking coefficients) for the sum of factors were as follows: history of sexual abuse (13.21), family history of suicide (11.68), medication (8.39), type of student (7.4), origin other than Manizales (5.86), exposure to cannabis (4.27), exposure to alcohol (4.42), history of physical abuse (3.53), religiosity (2.9), and having someone in the family who makes you feel important (3.09). Discussion: Suicide involves complex factors within psychiatric, medical, and societal contexts. Integrated detection and intervention systems involving individuals, families, and governments are crucial for addressing these factors. Universities also play a role in promoting coping strategies and raising awareness of risks. The predictive accuracy of over 80% in identifying suicide risk underscores its significance. Conclusion: The risk factors related to suicidal behavior align with the findings in specialized literature and research in the field. Identifying variables with higher predictive value enables us to take appropriate actions for detecting cases and designing and implementing prevention strategies.

Multidimensional Scales of Perceived Self-Efficacy (MSPSE): Measurement invariance across Italian and Colombian adolescents.

Multidimensional Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale for Children has been developed as an important tool to measure Self-Efficacy in school contexts. The present study assesses the measurement invariance of the MSPSE across two samples of Italian and Colombian adolescents using Multi-sample Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Participants were Italian (N = 564) and Colombian (N = 645) students attending the 7th grade (age 12-13) drawn from a residential community near Rome and three Colombian cities: Medellin, Manizales and Santa Marta. Findings from gender invariance provide high support for full and partial invariance among Colombian and Italian adolescents respectively. Cross-national comparison showed partial scalar invariance between Italy and Colombia, with Italian students perceiving themselves as more efficacious on Academic, Social and Self-Regulatory dimensions. MSPSE's structural validity has been confirmed, along with its three-factor-structure across gender, for the Italian and Colombian samples. The findings support the invariance and the validity of this scale to measure Self-Efficacy in school contexts from a cross-cultural perspective.

Motivaciones prosociales y desconexión moral en adolescentes desvinculados de grupos armados ilegales / Prosocial motivations and moral disengagement in adolescents disengaged from illegal armed groups

Resumen El artículo se propone describir las principales motivaciones prosociales y los mecanismos cognitivos de desconexión moral, así como analizar la relación entre ambos constructos en adolescentes desvinculados de grupos armados ilegales, ubicados en la modalidad Hogar Sustituto Tutor del Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF), en Manizales, Colombia. Es una investigación cuantitativa, diseño no experimental de tipo transversal; estudio de alcance descriptivo-correlacional. Se realizó con una muestra no probabilística, compuesta de 35 adolescentes. Se utilizaron los instrumentos Escala de Tendencias Prosociales-revisada (PTM-R) y el Cuestionario de Mecanismos de Desconexión Moral (MMDS). Se obtuvo como resultados que las tendencias prosociales con mayor valor medio fueron complacencia y emergencia; los mecanismos de desconexión moral más utilizados fueron atribución de culpa, justificación moral y distorsión de las consecuencias. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres. Se encontraron correlaciones significativas, de signo negativo, entre las tendencias prosociales por complacencia y altruista con la desconexión moral. El desplazamiento de la responsabilidad disminuye en un 34 % la probabilidad de que los adolescentes asuman un comportamiento pro-social. La deshumanización de la víctima disminuye la probabilidad en un 45 % de comportamientos prosociales orientados a la complacencia u obediencia, y en un 61 % la probabilidad de conductas prosociales con motivación altruista.

Abstract The articles aims to describe the main prosocial motivations and cognitive mechanisms of moral disconnection, and to analyze the relationship between the two constructs in adolescents separated from illegal armed groups, located in the form of a substitute home Tutor of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), in Manizales, Colombia. It is a quantitative research, non-experimental cross-sectional design; descriptive-correlational scope study. A non-probabilistic sample composed of 35 adolescents was used. The instruments used were Revised Prosocial Trends Scale (PTM-R) and the Moral Disconnection Mechanisms Questionnaire (MMDS). As results it was determined that the prosocial trends with the highest average value were complacency and emergence. The most commonly used mechanisms of moral disconnection were attribution of guilt, moral justification and distortion of consequences. No significant differences were found between men and women. It was found significant correlations, of a negative sign, between the prosocial tendencies of complacency and altruism and the moral disconnection. Displacement of responsibility decreases by 34 % the likelihood that adolescents will engage in prosocial behaviour. Dehumanization of the victim decreases the probability by 45 % of prosocial behaviors oriented to complacency or obedience and, by 61 % the probability of prosocial behaviors with altruistic motivation.

Prosocialidad en niños, niñas y adolescentes desvinculados de grupos armados ilegales: retos y reflexiones para la investigación social

Resumen Este articulo constituye una primera reflexión teórica de la investigación titulada "Conductas prosociales en niños, niñas y adolescentes desvinculados de grupos armados ilegales, pertenecientes a la modalidad Hogar Sustituto Tutor del Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar, en la ciudad de Manizales". Se busca, en primer lugar, hacer un rastreo de la categoría prosocialidad, sus principales referentes históricos, conceptuales e investigativos. Posteriormente, se plantean hipótesis y propuestas alternativas, ubicando la categoría de potencial prosocial como eje central para la investigación y el trabajo con niños, niñas y adolescentes desvinculados de grupos armados ilegales que están en procesos de reincorporación a la vida civil.

Abstract This article is a first theoretical reflection of a study entitled "Prosocial behaviors in children and adolescents separated from illegal armed groups" carried out at Hogar Tutor of the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, in Manizales. It aims to trace prosociality, its main historical, conceptual and research antecedents, and then hypotheses and alternative proposals are set forth, placing the category of prosocial potential as the central axis for research and work with children and adolescents who are not related to illegal armed groups, and who are in the process of reincorporation into civilian life.