Experiential Avoidance and Hyperreflexivity as Variables Associated with Depression: A Process-Based Approach

La depresión es un problema importante de salud pública que afecta a una proporción significativa de adultos jóvenes, como los estudiantes universitarios. Para su estudio se ha propuesto un enfoque basado en procesos, que busca identificar variables psicológicas transdiagnósticas que puedan ser objeto de cambio en las intervenciones psicoterapéuticas. El propósito de este trabajo fue analizar la interrelación entre un conjunto de variables de proceso (fusión cognitiva, rumia y evitación experiencial), así como examinar la relación entre cada una de estas variables y la depresión en 368 estudiantes universitarios de entre 18 y 29 años (M = 21.35, DE = 2.36, 77.7 % mujeres). Se halló que la fusión cognitiva y la rumia conformaban una variable global denominada hiperreflexividad, mientras que la evitación experiencial constituía un constructo diferente. Al analizar un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales, se encontró que solo la hiperreflexividad predecía significativamente la depresión. Se discuten estos resultados y sus posibles implicaciones para la práctica clínica. Se recomienda seguir estudiando la hiperreflexividad como una variable supraordinada de relevancia para la psicopatologia.

Depression is a major public health problem that affects a significant proportion of young adults, such as college students. A process-based approach has been proposed for its study, which seeks to identify transdiagnostic psychological variables that can be the target of change in psychotherapeutic interventions. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the interrelation between a set of process variables (cognitive fusion, rumination, and experiential avoidance), as well as to examine the relationship between each of these variables and depression in 368 college students aged 18-29 years (M = 21.35, SD = 2.36, 77.7% female). Cognitive fusion and rumination were found to comprise an overarching variable termed hyperreflexivity, while experiential avoidance constituted a different construct. By analyzing a structural equation model, it was found that only hyperreflexivity predicted depression significantly. These findings and their possible implications for clinical practice are discussed. Further study of hyperreflexivity as a superordinate variable of relevance to psychopathology is recommended.

Pandemic grief in El Salvador: factors that predict dysfunctional grief due to a COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults

Abstract Thousands of people have died of COVID-19 in El Salvador. However, little is known about the mental health of those who are mourning the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the dysfunctional grief associated with COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults. A sample of 435 Salvadorans ( M = 29 years; SD = 8.75) who lost a family member or loved one to COVID-19 completed a digital survey using the Google Forms platform, during April 2 and 28, 2022. The results revealed that 35.1% reported clinically elevated symptoms of dysfunctional grief and among those mourners, and 25.1% also exhibited clinical levels of coronavirus anxiety. A binary logistic regression revealed that predictor variables such as COVID-19 anxiety ( p = .003), depression ( p = .021), and COVID-19 obsession ( p = .032) were significant ( χ 2 = 84.31; Nagelkerke R 2 = .242) and predict a 24.2% chance of dysfunctional bereavement.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID--19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. Methods A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. Results The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. Conclusion The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Psychometric analysis of a simplified version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in Mexican adults: The ERQ-CA-9

Background: The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is the most widely used measure of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, two core emotion regulation strategies. However, the original ERQ has complex wording, which may make it difficult for readers of lower educational levels. Objective: We aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a simplified version of the ERQ, initially designed for children and adolescents: the ERQ-CA. Method: A sample of 397 Mexican adults was studied (77.3% women, 22.7% men; mean age = 22.84). A confirmatory factor analysis, as well as a graded response model, were used to study the internal functioning of the instrument. In addition, its associations with three psychopathological variables (anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation) were examined. Results: A 9-item version of the ERQ-CA showed adequate fit (CFI = .95, RMSEA = .06), as well as good reliability (ωreappraisal = .76; ωsuppression = .75). Both subscales performed better at levels closer to the mean of their respective constructs. Finally, significant correlations were found between both subscales and the psychopathological variables. Conclusion: The 9-item ERQ-CA constitutes a promising alternative to measure cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression in the Mexican adult population.

Antecedentes: El Cuestionario de Regulación Emocional (ERQ) es la medida más utilizada para la reevaluación cognitiva y la supresión expresiva, dos estrategias centrales de regulación emocional. Sin embargo, el ERQ original tiene una redacción compleja, lo que puede dificultar su lectura a los lectores de menor nivel educativo. Objetivo: Se buscó examinar las propiedades psicométricas de una versión simplificada del ERQ, inicialmente diseñada para niños y adolescentes: el ERQ-CA. Método: Una muestra de 397 adultos mexicanos fue estudiada (77.3% mujeres, 22.7% hombres; edad promedio = 22.84). Se utilizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, así como un modelo de respuesta graduada, para estudiar el funcionamiento interno del instrumento. Además, se examinaron sus asociaciones con tres variables psicopatológicas (ansiedad, depresión e ideación suicida). Resultados: Una versión de 9 ítems del ERQ-CA mostró un ajuste adecuado (CFI = .95, RMSEA = .06), así como una buena fiabilidad (ωreevaluación = .76; ωsupresión = .75). Ambas subescalas se comportaron mejor en los niveles más cercanos a la media de sus respectivos constructos. Finalmente, se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre ambas subescalas y las variables psicopatológicas. Conclusión: El ERQ-CA de 9 ítems constituye una alternativa prometedora para medir la reevaluación cognitiva y la supresión expresiva en la población adulta mexicana.

Creencias en teorías conspirativas sobre vacunas COVID-19 en la Comunidad Andina de Naciones / Beliefs in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines in the Andean Community of Nations

El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en describir el grado de aceptación o no a ciertas creencias de conspiración sobre las vacunas contra la COVID-19 en una muestra de países miembros de la Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN): Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú. Se diseñó un estudio transversal descriptivo en el que participaron 1835 personas de Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador y Perú. Para la evaluación de estas creencias se utilizó la Escala de Creencias de Conspiración de Vacunas COVID-19 (ECCV-COVID, Caycho-Rodríguez et al., 2022a). Los resultados indican que, el Perú presenta el mayor puntaje promedio de creencias de conspiración sobre las vacunas contra la COVID-19. Además, en los 4 países el menor grado de aceptación es con la creencia sobre "Vacunar a los niños contra la COVID-19 es perjudicial y este hecho está ocultado". En Colombia, Ecuador y Perú el mayor grado de aceptación está referida a la creencia conspirativa referida a que "La información sobre la seguridad de las vacunas contra la COVID-19 a menudo se inventan". Finalmente, en Bolivia, el mayor grado de aceptación es con la creencia de que "Las empresas farmacéuticas ocultan los peligros de las vacunas contra la COVID-19". Los resultados presentados en este estudio son los primeros que se conoce de forma genérica en población latinoamericana, y particularmente, en la población Andina(AU)

Studies on the acceptance and rejection of vaccines, as well as the belief in conspiracy theories, and the lack of trust in governments and science, have been important to analyze the vaccination process against COVID-19 worldwide, but they have been quite limited, so far, in the case of Latin America. In this sense, the objective of this work is to describe the degree of acceptance or not of certain conspiracy beliefs about vaccines against COVID-19 in a sample of countries members in the Andean Community of Nations (CAN): Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed in which 1835 people from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru participated. To evaluate these beliefs, the COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Belief Scale (ECCV-COVID, Caycho-Rodríguez et al., 2022a) was used. The results indicate that Peru has the highest average score of conspiracy beliefs about vaccines against COVID-19. In addition, in the 4 countries, the lowest degree of acceptance is with the belief that "Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is harmful and this fact is hidden". In Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, the highest degree of acceptance is related to the conspiratorial belief that "Information on the safety of vaccines against COVID-19 is often invented." Finally, in Bolivia, the highest degree of acceptance is with the belief that "Pharmaceutical companies hide the dangers of vaccines against COVID-19". The results presented in this study are the first known generically in the Latin American population, and particularly in the Andean population(AU)

Initial psychometric evaluation of the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire in Peruvian undergraduates / Evaluación psicométrica inicial del Cuestionario de Pensamiento Perseverativo en universitarios peruanos

Abstract Background : the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) is a global measure of repetitive negative thinking, a core transdiagnostic dimension of mental health. Objectives: this study sought to examine the factor structure, reliability, and evidence of associative validity of the PTQ in Peruvian undergraduates. Method: data from 240 undergraduates (Mage = 20.33, 59% female) were evaluated with confirmatory factor analysis. After finding the best factor structure, reliability was estimated with coefficient omega. The correlation between the PTQ's latent variable and cognitive fusion was examined as evidence of associative validity. Results: the PTQ proved to be essentially unidimensional since acceptable fit was obtained by the one-factor model with three correlations between errors (CFI = .945; RMSEA = .079). Reliability was high (ω = .927). The correlation between the PTQ and cognitive fusion was very large (ϕ = .876). Conclusion: the PTQ is an essentially unidimensional measure, thus only a global score should be computed. Associative validity should be further examined in future studies.

Resumen Antecedentes : el Cuestionario de Pensamiento Perseverativo (PTQ) es una medida global del pensamiento negativo repetitivo, una dimensión transdiagnóstica central de la salud mental. Objetivos: este estudio buscó examinar la estructura factorial, la confiabilidad y la evidencia de validez asociativa del PTQ en estudiantes universitarios peruanos. Método: los datos de 240 estudiantes universitarios (Medad = 20.33, 59% mujeres) se evaluaron con análisis factorial confirmatorio. Después de encontrar la mejor estructura factorial, se estimó la confiabilidad con el coeficiente omega. La correlación entre la variable latente del PTQ y la fusión cognitiva se examinó como evidencia de validez asociativa. Resultados: el PTQ demostró ser esencialmente unidimensional, ya que se obtuvo un ajuste aceptable mediante el modelo de un factor con tres correlaciones entre errores (CFI = .945; RMSEA = .079). La fiabilidad fue alta (ω = .927). La correlación entre el PTQ y la fusión cognitiva fue muy grande (ϕ = .876). Conclusión: el PTQ es una medida esencialmente unidimensional; por lo tanto, solo se debe calcular una puntuación global. La validez asociativa debe examinarse más a fondo en futuros estudios.