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.

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)

Adaptación del MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T): Un instrumento para evaluar la toma de decisiones en adolescentes / Adaptation of the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T): An instrument for evaluating decision-making in adolescents

Evaluar la capacidad de toma de decisiones en salud es un proceso complejo en adolescentes. El MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) permite estimar habilidades vinculadas a dicha capacidad. Esta herramienta fue adaptada para niños y adolescentes, pero no se dispone de versión en español. Objetivo: adaptar el MacCAT-T al español en su versión para adolescentes utilizando una situación estímulo. Muestra: los participantes fueron adolescentes entre 13 y 16 años (n=77) de edad sin diagnóstico clínico evidente. Materiales: se utilizó el MacCAT-T y el test de Raven. Resultados: el instrumento mostró propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. Se obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en los adolescentes de 15 y 16 años en comparación con los de 13 y 14 años y no se evidenciaron diferencias de género. Discusión: esta entrevista semiestructurada es útil para complementar el juicio clínico al valorar la capacidad (cognitiva) para tomar decisiones en el ámbito de la salud(AU)

Assessing decision-making capacity in health is a complex process in adolescents. The MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment (MacCAT-T) makes it possible to estimate skills related to this ability. This tool was adapted for children and adolescents, but a Spanish version was not available. Objective: adapt the MacCAT-T to Spanish in its version for adolescents using a stimulus situation. Sample: the participants were adolescents between 13 and 16 years (n = 77) of age with no obvious clinical diagnosis. Materials: the MacCAT-T and the Raven test were used. Results: the instrument showed adequate psychometric properties. Notably higher scores were obtained in 15- and 16-year-olds compared to 13 and 14-year-olds and no gender differences were found. Discussion: this semi-structured interview is useful to complement clinical judgment when assessing the (cognitive) decision making capacity in the health field(AU)