Emotional and behavioural symptoms, risk behaviours and academic success in Chilean Mapuche and non-Mapuche adolescents.

Introduction: There is controversy over the real existence of differences in mental health and academic performance between the Mapuche ethnic minority male adolescents and the male adolescents not belonging to this ethnicity in Chile.Objective: In consequence, the aim of this study was to investigate the differences in emotional and behavioural symptoms, risky behaviours and academic success on the Chilean Mapuche and non-Mapuche adolescents.Design: The sample consisted of 233 adolescents of which 119 were Mapuche adolescents and 114 were non-Mapuche adolescents.Results: The results showed that the Mapuche adolescents do not have more anxiety problems and depression than the non-Mapuche adolescents. Furthermore, the Mapuche adolescents present less drug consumption and behavioural problems. Moreover, there were no differences in academic performance.Conclusions: This study provides social interest data of the adolescents' mental health, which can be useful for the country's socio-sanitary and political decisions. Future studies should investigate these and other variables related to the mental health of minorities in greater depth.

Subjective Sexual Well-Being in Chilean Adults: Evaluation of a Predictive Model.

Research on sexuality has traditionally focused on sexual satisfaction, with studies into subjective sexual well-being being a recent phenomenon. This study sought to evaluate the relationship between sexual behavior, happiness, health, and subjective sexual well-being. The data were collected from 862 people aged between 18 and 50 years in Santiago, Chile, and were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The results showed that sexual behavioral indicators (sexual frequency, sexual caresses, and touching), happiness, and perception of health taken as a whole predicted 47.4% of subjective sexual well-being (SSWB). Analysis of the four items of subjective sexual well-being separately showed that the dimension of physical satisfaction was associated with three variables of sexual behavior indicators with a prediction percentage of 33.5%, whereas emotional satisfaction was associated with three variables of sexual behavior indicators and happiness, with a percentage of prediction of 43.3%. Satisfaction with sexual function was associated with perception of health and one sexual behavior indicator, with a prediction percentage of 29.2% of this variable. The importance of sex was associated with three sexual behavior variables that predicted 26.2% of this variable. The results confirm that subjective sexual well-being can be predicted and that its four dimensions present a different behavior compared to the study predictors.

[Evaluation of the SF-12: usefulness of the mental health scale]. / Evaluación del cuestionario SF-12: verificación de la utilidad de la escala salud mental.

BACKGROUND: The SF-12 is one of the most used questionnaires to evaluate the multidimensional health related quality of life, worldwide. However, the factor structure does not match the structure of the original instrument. Besides, most studies centered in the physical dimension paying less attention to mental health related quality of life. AIM: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the SF-12 and to validate the mental health dimension of this questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two studies were conducted, the first consisting of 840 people aged between 18 and 60 years, who answered the SF-12. In the second study, 970 people aged between 18 and 60 years answered the SF-12 questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) was analyzed, along with construct and criterion validity for the mental health dimension. RESULTS: The reliability estimate using Cronbach's alpha in both studies was higher than 0.74 in both dimensions (physical and psychological). Construct validity analysis yielded a three factor complex solution. Finally the criterion validity analysis showed appropriate and significant correlations with depression and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-12 and its mental health scale are suitable for epidemiological characterization studies.

Happiness and health behaviours in Chilean college students: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Happiness has been associated with a range of favourable health outcomes through two pathways: its relationship with favourable biological responses to stress and with healthy lifestyles and prudent health behaviours. There are a substantial number of cross-cultural studies about happiness, but none of them has studied the association of happiness with perceived stress and health behaviours in Latin American samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between general happiness and these variables in a Latin American sample. METHODS: We conducted a survey to examine the status of 3461 students aged between 17 and 24 years old (mean age = 19.89; SD = 1.73) who attended University of Santiago de Chile during 2009. The healthy behaviours indexes assessed were the frequency of daily physical exercise, fruits/vegetables intake, breakfast and lunch intake, smoking, alcohol and other drugs consumption. We also included the assessment of perceived stress and Body Mass Index. All of them were evaluated using a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: The univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses showed that being female and younger was related to a higher happiness, as well as that people self-reporting daily physical activity, having lunch and fruits and vegetables each day had a higher likelihood (OR between 1.33 and 1.40) of being classified as "very happy". Those who informed felt stressed in normal circumstances and during tests situations showed a lower likelihood (0.73 and 0.82, respectively) of being considered "very happy". Regarding drug consumption, taking tranquilizers under prescription was negative related to "subjective happiness" (OR = 0.62), whereas smoking was positive associated (OR = 1.20). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study mainly support the relationship between happiness and health outcomes through the two pathways previously mentioned. They also underscore the importance of that some healthy behaviours and person's cognitive appraisal of stress are integrated into their lifestyle for college students. Additionally, highlight the importance of taking into account these variables in the design of strategies to promote health education in university setting.

Chilean validation of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) after the earthquake on February 27, 2010.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder in which an individual re-experiences a traumatic event, avoids situations related to it, and shows excessive arousal. The disorder appears after experiencing a life-threatening event, such as a war or a natural disaster. Thus, the validation of tests which assess the disorder after the earthquake on February 27, 2010, in Chile is crucial for its evaluation and subsequent intervention. The present study includes psychometric data for the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) on a sample of 509 survivors of the disaster. Values indicate good psychometric properties of the questionnaire.

Psychometric update of the Social Anxiety Screening Scale (SASS/EDAS) in a Spanish adolescent population.

The aim of this work was to update the validation of the Social Anxiety Screening Scale (SASS/EDAS) in a sample of Spanish adolescents. To achieve this, one study with a sample of 1489 students in secondary education, of ages 14 to 17 years, were carried out. The psychometric properties of EDAS were examined through confirmatory factor analysis, reliability (Cronbach's alpha), temporal stability (test-retest), and concurrent criterion validity. The results supported the three-independent-factor structure (avoidance, distress and interference), that showed best fit indices compared to alternative models. They also showed that the scores of participants on EDAS scales were reliable in terms of internal consistency (alpha > .80) and moderately reliable concerning temporal stability (r = .48-.60) over a five-week period. The correlations between the EDAS factors and other social anxiety measures were positive and significant. Data provide empirical evidence of the estimation of reliability and validity of this scale. Future work should extend the validation of the EDAS in clinical samples.

Chilean experimental version of the State-Trait Depression Questionnaire (ST-DEP): State subscale (S-DEP).

Depression is the most prevalent mental disorder and one of the most important health problems in Chile. The current study shows data for validity and reliability of the State subscale (S-DEP) of the Chilean experimental version of the State-Trait Depression Questionnaire (ST-DEP). The procedure conducted with the original version of the questionnaire was replicated on a sample of 300 university students. The utilized measures were the State Depression Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and neutral depressive, mild depressive, and moderate depressive vignettes. Results indicated that the factor structure was replicable, the internal consistency was good, and the situations were ranked as expected. The scale distinguishes intensities of depression. Clinicians and researchers in Chile are provided with a new measure for state depression.

Correction: Rooting mediates the effect of stress by acculturation on the psychological well-being of immigrants living in Chile.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219485.].

Rooting mediates the effect of stress by acculturation on the psychological well-being of immigrants living in Chile.

Migration is a social phenomenon that has an impact both on the lives of the people who migrate, and on the societies who receive them; with psychological well-being being one of the most affected variables. The objective of this research is to analyze the possible mediating role of rooting in the host location on the negative effect that acculturation stress has on the level of well-being. Data for this study were collected using 699 Colombian and Peruvian immigrants who have been permanently residing in Chile for more than six months. Participants were assessed by using Riff's Psychological Well-being Scale, rooting of Torrente et al., and Ruiz et al. scales of stress. The results demonstrated the mediating role of settling down within the host country in relation to stress and psychological well-being, except for the sub-dimension of autonomy. It is concluded that the need for rooting in the host country is a protective factor against the negative effects of stress on perceived well-being.

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): Psychometric Properties and Discriminative Capacity in Several Chilean Samples.

We evaluated the factor structure, reliability, and discriminative capacity of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) questionnaire in four different samples: two general adult populations (N = 1,548, N = 964), one adolescent population (N = 1,044), and young people with depressive symptomatology (N = 307). Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) were performed with subsamples from Studies 1 (n = 773) and 2 (n = 527), finding that the two- and three-factor solutions had a good fit. In a confirmatory factor analysis, the two-factor solution resulted in an adequate fit in a second set of subsamples from both studies (n = 775, n = 517). In Study 3, we found good convergent and divergent validity with adequate and significant correlations found for depression (Beck's Depression Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and neuroticism and extroversion (Big Five Inventory). In Study 4, the results of an EFA performed in a subsample (n = 154) found that the two- and three-factor solutions were appropriate with the former solution being confirmed in a second subsample (n = 153). Reliability was α = .85 for positive affect and α = .87 for negative affect. The PANAS questionnaire showed adequate indicators of validity and reliability in adult and adolescent populations as well as in a sample with depressive symptoms.

Distress in response to emotional and sexual infidelity: evidence of evolved gender differences in Spanish students.

The authors studied gender differences in response to hypothetical infidelity in Spanish students. Using a forced-choice methodology, the authors asked a sample of 266 participants to indicate which kind of infidelity would be more distressing: emotional or sexual. Men were significantly more distressed by sexual infidelity than were women, and women were significantly more distressed by emotional infidelity than were men. Results supported the hypothesis that particular infidelity types, which resemble adaptive problems that human beings faced in the past, contribute to the psychology of jealousy. The results are consistent with previous cross-cultural research.

Affectivity as mediator of the relation between optimism and quality of life in men who have sex with men with HIV.

Background/Objective: Increased life expectancy has made quality of life the primary objective in the care of chronic patients and people living with HIV. It found evidence of the link between optimism, quality of life and well-being. This article aimed to determine whether affectivity in its two dimensions (positive and negative) played a mediating role in the association between optimism and quality of life in men living with HIV. Method: 116 men living with HIV (the average age was 36.8 years (SD=9.06), and the average time from the diagnosis was 8.2 years) responded to three instruments: Life Orientation Test revised version (LOT-R), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref). Results: The results showed that positive affect had no mediating effect, whereas negative affect mediated the relation of optimism with two quality-of-life dimensions (overall quality of life and environment). Conclusion: In conclusion, negative affect was found to participate only partially, acting as a mediating variable.

Antecedente/Objetivos: El aumento de la esperanza de vida ha hecho de la calidad de vida (CV) el objetivo fundamental en el cuidado de pacientes crónicos y en personas que viven con VIH. Se ha encontrado evidencia del vínculo entre optimismo, calidad de vida y bienestar. El propósito del presente estudio fue determinar si la afectividad en sus dos dimensiones (positiva y negativa) desempeña un rol mediador en la asociación entre optimismo y calidad de vida en hombres viviendo con VIH que tienen sexo con hombres. Método: Cientodieciséis hombres con VIH (edad promedio fue de 36,8 años; DT = 9,06; tiempo medio desde el diagnóstico de 8,2 años) contestaron tres instrumentos: Life Orientation Test Revised Version (LOT-R), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) y World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQoL-Bref). Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el afecto positivo no tuvo efecto mediador, mientras el afecto negativo medió la relación entre optimismo y dos dimensiones de la calidad de vida (calidad de vida general y ambiente). Conclusiones: Se encontró que el afecto negativo participa parcialmente como una variable mediadora entre el optimismo y calidad de vida.

Perception of Safety and Liking Associated to the Colour Intervention of Bike Lanes: Contribution from the Behavioural Sciences to Urban Design and Wellbeing.

The perception of colour and its subjective effects are key issues to designing safe and enjoyable bike lanes. This paper addresses the relationship between the colours of bike lane interventions-in particular pavement painting and intersection design-and the subjective evaluation of liking, visual saliency, and perceived safety related to such an intervention. Utilising images of three real bike lane intersections modified by software to change their colour (five in total), this study recruited 538 participants to assess their perception of all fifteen colour-design combinations. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with the Bonferroni post hoc test was performed to assess the effect of the main conditions (colour and design) on the dependent variables (liking towards the intervention, level of visual saliency of the intersection, and perceived safety of the bike lane). The results showed that the colour red was more positively associated to the outcome variables, followed by yellow and blue. Additionally, it was observed that the effect of colour widely outweighs the effect of design, suggesting that the right choice and use of colour would increase the effectiveness on bike-lanes pavement interventions. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

La Psicología en la prevención y manejo del COVID-19: aportes desde la evidencia inicial / Psychology in the prevention and management of COVID-19: contributions from the initial evidence

Resumen En diciembre de 2019, se informaron casos de neumonía potencialmente mortal en Wuhan, provincia de Hubei, China (COVID-19). Esta enfermedad se ha extendido rápidamente por todo el mundo con miles de casos confirmados y muertes, transformándose en pandemia y desafiado los sistemas de salud pública. No existe aún vacuna ni tratamiento científicamente probado, sin embargo, se ha identificado los comportamientos exactos que pueden evitar el contagio y propagación. El presente artículo sistematiza información disponible inicial sobre psicología y COVID-19. Se discute que gran parte del problema de la enfermedad se puede evitar cambiando los comportamientos de las personas y que la psicología puede ayudar a explicar, prevenir e intervenir para su solución. La psicología cuenta con evidencia científica disponible que explica todos estos fenómenos, evidencia que debe ser puesta en relieve por los mismos actores de las disciplinas a disposición de otras áreas del conocimiento y sobre todo para los tomadores de decisión.

Abstract In December 2019, highly lethal cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (COVID-19). This disease has spread rapidly around the world with thousands of confirmed cases and deaths, becoming a pandemic and challenging public health systems. There is no vaccine or scientifically proven treatment yet, but the exact behaviours that can prevent transmission and spread have been identified. This article systematizes initial available information on psychology and COVID-19. It is discussed that much of the problem of the disease can be avoided by changing people's behaviors and that psychology can help explain, prevent and intervene to solve it. Psychology has scientific evidence available that explains all these phenomena, evidence that should be highlighted by the same actors in the disciplines available to other areas of knowledge and especially for decision makers.

Psychometric Properties of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Child Version (OCI-CV) in Chilean Children and Adolescents.

In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the development of assessment tools for obsessive-compulsive symptomatology in children and adolescents. The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version (OCI-CV) is a well-established assessment self-report, with special interest for the assessment of dimensions of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This instrument has shown to be useful for clinical and non-clinical populations in two languages (English and European Spanish). Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the OCI-CV in a Chilean community sample. The sample consisted of 816 children and adolescents with a mean age of 14.54 years (SD = 2.21; range = 10-18 years). Factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent/divergent validity, and gender/age differences were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a 6-factor structure (Doubting/Checking, Obsessing, Hoarding, Washing, Ordering, and Neutralizing) with one second-order factor. Good estimates of reliability (including internal consistency and test-retest), evidence supporting the validity, and small age and gender differences (higher levels of OCD symptomatology among older participants and women, respectively) are found. The OCI-CV is also an adequate scale for the assessment of obsessions and compulsions in a general population of Chilean children and adolescents.

Differences between men and women in self-reported body mass index and its relation to drug use.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a public health problem of alarming proportions, including among the university population in Latin America. The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between the self-reported body mass index and the associated drug use and health-risk behaviors. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive study of 3,311 Chilean university students (17-24 years). The variables weight, height, frequency of physical activity, diet quality index, and drug use were evaluated by way of a self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: 16.7% of students were overweight and 2.1% were obese. Higher rates of overweight and obesity were observed in the men compared to women. There was a significant but moderate association between self-perceived obesity and being men and higher age, and just low with greater use of analgesics and tranquilizers with or without a prescription. CONCLUSIONS: The punctual prevalence rates of self-reported obesity, in this sample, are consistent with other Latin American studies. The risk behaviors associated with perceived obesity in terms of gender, particularly the different pattern of drug use, highlight the importance of considering gender when designing strategies to promote health in a university setting.

Propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de bienestar sexual subjetivo en jóvenes y adultos chilenos / Psychometric properties of the sexual subjetive well-being scale in young and adults Chilean

El presente estudio evalúa las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario de bienestar sexual subjetivo en jóvenes y adultos chilenos residentes en Santiago de Chile. Se aplicó la versión de la escala traducida al español a una muestra de 661 jóvenes y adultos con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 54 años que no reportaron alguna enfermedad mental o física. El 49% de la muestra estuvo conformada por mujeres y el 51% por hombres. Las propiedades psicométricas y confiabilidad fueron evaluadas mediante análisis factorial exploratorio y alpha de Cronbach. La estructura factorial óptima del cuestionario fue la de un factor con 4 ítems y presenta una confiabilidad adecuada (α= .73), aunque el ítem 4 presenta cargas factoriales bajas. Los resultados indican que la versión chilena del cuestionario de bienestar sexual subjetivo es un instrumento autoadministrado válido y confiable para evaluar el bienestar en el ámbito sexual de mujeres y hombres sin reporte de enfermedad física o mental.

The present study evaluates the psychometric properties of subjective sexual well-being questionnaire in young and adult Chileans who residing in Santiago. The version of the scale translated into Spanish, was applied to a sample of 661 young and adults people between the ages of 18 and 54 who did not report any mental or physical illness. 49% of the sample was women and 51% of men. The psychometric properties and reliability were evaluated by exploratory factorial analysis and Cronbach's alpha. The optimal factorial structure of the questionnaire was one factor with 4 items and had adequate reliability (α = .73), although item 4 had low factor loadings. The results indicate that the version of the subjective sexual well-being questionnaire is a valid and reliable self-administered instrument to evaluate the sexual well-being of women and men without reports of physical or mental illness.

Relación entre optimismo y salud bajo la influencia de las creencias religiosas en dos muestras latinoamericanas / Relationship between optimism and health under the influence of religious beliefs in two Latin American population samples

Resumen El estudio del bienestar ha cobrado creciente relevancia dada su relación con estados psicológicos como la ansiedad, depresión, estrés y también la salud. Sin embargo, se cuenta con pocas propuestas explicativas del bienestar, así como validación empírica transcultural de estos. El presente estudio evaluó el efecto de la inclusión de una variable contextual cultural sobre un modelo explicativo de bienestar, específicamente si las creencias religiosas moderan el efecto mediador de los afectos positivos sobre la relación optimismo y salud. La muestra de este estudio consistió en 529 participantes de dos países latinoamericanos (285 de Chile y 244 de Colombia). Los resultados indican que en ambos países hay un efecto significativo del optimismo sobre la percepción de salud mediado por los afectos positivos. Sin embargo, las creencias religiosas no ejercen un efecto significativo sobre la intensidad de las relaciones entre las variables del modelo de base. La importancia de los factores culturales y de los estudios transculturales sobre el bienestar son presentados y discutidos.

Abstract The study of well-being has gained increasing relevance given its relationship with psychological states such as anxiety, depression, stress, as well as health. Nonetheless, there are few explanatory proposals on well-being, or any empirical cross-cultural validation of these. The present study evaluated the effect of the inclusion of a cultural contextual variable on an explanatory model of well-being, specifically on whether religious beliefs moderate the mediating effect of the positive affects on the relationship between optimism and health. The sample of this study consisted of 529 participants from two Latin American countries (285 from Chile and 244 from Colombia). The results indicate that, in both countries, there is a significant effect of optimism on the perception of health mediated by positive affects. However, religious beliefs do not exert a significant effect on the intensity of the relationships between the variables of the base model. The importance of cultural factors and cross-cultural studies on well-being are presented and discussed.

Construcción y validación de una escala para evaluar salud sexual y reproductiva en adolescentes mujeres de la Región Caribe Colombiana / The Development and Validation of a scale to measure Reproductive and Sexual Health of young women in the Colombian Caribbean region

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo el diseño y validez de una escala para evaluar salud sexual y reproductiva. Participaron 919 estudiantes mujeres entre 11 a 19 años quienes respondieron el cuestionario, que evalúa actitudes y normas subjetivas, basado en planteamientos de la teoría de comportamiento planeado. Con el objetivo de comprobar la fiabilidad y validez del instrumento, se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y un análisis de componentes principales con rotación VARIMAX. Esta investigación incluye dos estudios independientes, en el estudio 1 (prueba piloto) la versión del pilotaje inicialmente constaba de 172 ítems y disminuyó a 78 en la muestra final. Para el estudio 2, en la escala de actitud se reporta una media de 3.68 (D.E. = 1.21) y un a= 0.91. Se extrajeron dos factores agrupados en dos dimensiones que explican un 67.10%; en la escala de normas subjetivas se obtuvo media de 3.80 (D.E. = 1.10) y un a= 0.97. Los ítems se adecuan a la matriz factorial. Se extrajeron 11 factores de los cuales son interpretables 9 y se explican en un 75.89%. En conclusión, el instrumento confirma una confiabilidad adecuada y estabilidad estructural de gran utilidad para la comprensión e implementación de estrategias de acción en sexualidad reproductiva en mujeres adolescentes.

This article describes the design and validation of a scale for evaluating reproductive and sexual health. 919 young females from 11 to 19 years in five Caribbean- Colombian cities were administered the questionnaire that assesses attitudes and subjective norms about the reproductive sexuality, based on the planned behavior theory (Ajzen & Fishbein, 2000). The reliability and validity of the instrument was analyzed through exploratory factorial analysis with principal components and VARIMAX rotation. The methodology includes two independent studies; in study 1 (pilot test) the first questionnaire consisted of 172 items and decreased to 78 in the final sample. For study 2, the attitude scale reported (Mean = 3.68, ED = 1.21) and Cronbach's alpha reliability was 0.91. Two factors were extracted and grouped into two dimensions that explain 67.10% of the variance. For the subjective norms scale (Mean = 3.8, ED = 1.1) Cronbach's alpha reliability was 0.97 and eleven factors were extracted and grouped into nine dimensions, which explain 75.89% of the variance. The scale showed good reliability and structural stability for the analysis and design of programs for sexual and reproductive health in adolescent girls.