Recycled water acceptance: Data from two Spanish regions with opposite levels of scarcity.

The dataset presented in this paper were collected for testing a perceptive-axiological model of recycled water acceptance for low and high contact uses. Participants were selected by proportional random sampling by sex and age the two Spanish communities with the most extreme values of water stress (Galicia, the rainiest region and Murcia, the driest). Data were collected by a company specialized in market research using an online survey housed on Qualtrics. Participants who matched the specified profile were contacted by email. The company compensated them financially. The final sample size consisted of 726 valid responses. The survey collected data on a variety of variables related to three conceptual dimensions: the diagnosis of the environmental situation, the axiological influence and the public perceptions regarding recycled water. The survey also collected demographic data from respondents. The survey was designed and reviewed by four experts in social psychology and two experts in methodology. The dataset featured in this article provides the raw survey data plus sociodemographic distribution, survey items, and other statistical data. This is the first and most comprehensive set of comparative data known to the authors on public acceptance of water reuse for high and low contact uses comparing regions with and without water scarcity. The authors have published an open access paper based on this data set, which are linked to this paper. Water industry professionals, policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders aiming to implement wastewater reuse systems in society may be interested in using the data as a point of comparison for their own study on public acceptance of water reuse or examining the data for relationships not yet explored in the literature.

From scarcity problem diagnosis to recycled water acceptance: A perceptive-axiological model (PAM) of low and high contact uses.

Water scarcity is a major problem that affects a greater number of countries every year. A possible solution is using recycled water systems. However, to implement the use of recycled water, public acceptance is needed. In this study, we propose a perceptive-axiological model (PAM) to understand the reasons for public acceptance or rejection of recycled water. This is the first model to jointly consider three conceptual dimensions: the diagnosis of the environmental situation, the axiological influence and the public perceptions regarding recycled water. The sample in this study consisted of 726 randomly selected participants who completed an online questionnaire. A key factor considered was the type of water use (low- or high-contact). Additionally, the model's ability to predict acceptance in regions of high and low water stress was tested. The model showed good fit and predictive capacity for both low (R2 = .272) and high (R2 = .501) contact uses and partial equivalence between regions. Threat perception was the most distal variable in the model which, together with identity, affected the attribution of responsibility. These variables, along with trust in scientists, affected the three direct predictors of acceptance: perceived health risks, moral obligation, and cost-benefit analysis. Perceived health risk was the most important predictor in both types of contact (ß = -.642 in high-contact, ß = -.388 in low-contact uses). Moral obligation had a greater impact in high-contact (ß = .170) than in low-contact (ß = .099) uses; the opposite outcome occurred with respect to costs-benefit analysis (ß = .067 in high-contact, ß = .219 in low-contact uses). The PAM offers a general framework that identifies the importance of the three dimensions and how they interact with each other, which facilitates the development of strategies to increase acceptance. On the one hand, the PAM works as a tool to assess the profile of a specific population and, on the other hand, it highlights the specific factors which are the best suited for interventions to increase public acceptance.

Multidimensional Model of Environmental Attitudes: Evidence Supporting an Abbreviated Measure in Spanish.

We conducted three independent studies to support the Spanish version of the Environmental Attitudes Inventory (EAI). The first study consisted of translating and pre-testing on a sample of 125 college students. The second consisted of testing the EAI on a sample of 225 university students in several undergraduate courses. Student data were collected using two different methods, through an online teaching platform and in the classroom. The findings were symmetrical in terms of precision and dimensionality. The third study completed the aforementioned ones testing the items on a representative sample from the general population in Spain. The participants were 630 citizens from 17 regions and responded to the EAI using an online platform. The results of the factor analysis led us to propose a measurement model, with 18 items and six first-order factors: environmental movement activism, conservation motivated by anthropocentric concern, confidence in science and technology, personal conservation behaviour, human dominance over nature, and support for population growth policies. External validity evidence was assessed by the correlation with the following variables: neuroticism, ecological behaviour, limits to economic growth, economic liberalism, sustainability, altruism, and social desirability. These estimations stayed away from demographic and personal aspects such as age, sex, political ideology, and region.

Psychological and Situational Variables Associated with Objective Knowledge on Water-Related Issues in a Northern Spanish City.

This study brings together the level of objective knowledge on water-related issues and other variables of psychological and situational nature. A random sample of 459 participants was employed, selected proportionally based on sex and age. In this sample, knowledge on the water-related issues tended to be low, particularly related to the direct source of water in the household, the type of services involved in the management, and consumption itself. In order to understand both the relationship with knowledge on water and the relative importance of all the other factors, a regression model was formulated. The highest standardised effect was for sex, followed by occupation, political leaning, and water-related emotions. The best level of knowledge was attained if the residents were male, if they were actively employed or unemployed, if their political leaning was towards the left, and if they demonstrated greater emotional involvement with the water use. Consequently, the design of programmes would need to consider that the information flow must be greater for citizens as a whole, particularly for certain groups such as women and students. It should contribute to the realistic perception of water as a problem and to seek emotional involvement.

Mediators linking insecure attachment to eating symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

In the last two decades, the number of studies focused on the mediators connecting insecure attachment with Eating Disorders (EDs), at both clinical and sub-clinical level, has considerably increased. However, there has not been a systematic synthesis of this literature to date. To fill this gap, the current meta-analytic review aimed at identifying and quantifying the extent to which mediators contribute to the explanation of this relationship. The present study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017076807). A comprehensive search process in seven different electronic databases retrieved 24 studies that examined how insecure attachment leads to ED symptoms through mediation analysis. Standardized regression coefficients of the indirect and total paths of 21 mediation models were pooled. Studies were coded and ranked for quality. We found evidence to show that maladaptive emotion regulation and depressive symptoms had the highest effect size for mediation (mediation ratio [PM] = 0.71). Further, body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, perfectionism, mindfulness and social comparison had significant, but moderate to low mediating effects (PM = 0.21-0.58). The methodological quality of these studies was mostly low to moderate and potential areas for development were highlighted. Our findings support the direct targeting of these psychological constructs in prevention programs and treatment of EDs. Future investigations addressing the time sequence between the variables will provide valuable clues to untangle the prospective contribution of each variable on the development and maintenance of eating pathology.

Development and validation of the monopoly on truth scale. A measure of political extremism / Desarrollo y validación de la Escala de Monopolio de la Verdad. Una medida de extremismo político

BACKGROUND: Extreme political attitudes have been on the rise since the economic and political crisis of 2008. This surge of extremism constitutes a real threat, as attitudes like these are dangerous for the peaceful, democratic functioning of society. A new cognitive style, Monopoly on Truth has been proposed, based mainly on the concept of naïve realism. METHOD: The development and validation of a scale for this new construct is the main objective of this study. A pilot study (N=209) was performed in order to gather the items that make up the final scale; and a main study (N=369) was conducted to test the validity and predictive power of the scale. RESULTS: The validation is successful as the scale shows good reliability scores, while also proving to be linked to extremism-related constructs. Additionally, the scale shows signs of not being ideologically biased. CONCLUSION: Results show the scale to be a very useful tool for studying extremism and other political trends. Future directions and other implications of the Monopoly on Truth are also discussed

ANTECEDENTES: las actitudes políticas extremas han experimentado un crecimiento constante desde la crisis político-económica de 2008. Esta oleada de extremismo constituye una amenaza real, debido el peligro que supone para el funcionamiento pacífico y democrático de la sociedad. Se propone un nuevo estilo cognitivo, el Monopolio de la Verdad, basado principalmente en el concepto de realismo ingenuo. MÉTODO: el desarrollo y validación de una escala para este nuevo constructo es el objetivo principal del presente trabajo, para ello se llevó a cabo un estudio piloto (N=209) con la finalidad de desarrollar la escala, así como un estudio principal (N=369) cuyo propósito fue la validación de la misma. RESULTADOS: el proceso de construcción y validación fue satisfactorio ya que la escala muestra una buena fiabilidad y está vinculada con constructos relacionados con extremismo. Adicionalmente, la escala no muestra sesgos ideológicos. CONCLUSIONES: la Escala de Monopolio de la Verdad es una herramienta de gran interés para el estudio del extremismo y otras tendencias políticas. Se discuten también direcciones futuras y otras implicaciones del Monopolio de la Verdad

Development and validation of the Monopoly on Truth Scale. A measure of political extremism.

BACKGROUND: Extreme political attitudes have been on the rise since the economic and political crisis of 2008. This surge of extremism constitutes a real threat, as attitudes like these are dangerous for the peaceful, democratic functioning of society. A new cognitive style, Monopoly on Truth has been proposed, based mainly on the concept of naïve realism. METHOD: The development and validation of a scale for this new construct is the main objective of this study. A pilot study (N=209) was performed in order to gather the items that make up the final scale; and a main study (N=369) was conducted to test the validity and predictive power of the scale. RESULTS: The validation is successful as the scale shows good reliability scores, while also proving to be linked to extremism-related constructs. Additionally, the scale shows signs of not being ideologically biased. CONCLUSION: Results show the scale to be a very useful tool for studying extremism and other political trends. Future directions and other implications of the Monopoly on Truth are also discussed.

The Importance of Protesters' Morals: Moral Obligation as a Key Variable to Understand Collective Action.

Collective action and protest have become a normalized political behavior that in many cases defines the political agenda. The reasons why people take to the streets constitute a central subject within the study of social psychology. In the literature, three precedents of protest that have been established as central to the study of this phenomenon are: injustice, efficacy, and identity. But political action is also deeply related to moral values. This explains why in recent years some moral constructs have also been pointed out as predictors of collective action. Moral variables have been introduced into the literature with little consideration to how they relate to each other. Thus, work in this direction is needed. The general aim of this research is to differentiate moral obligation from moral norms and moral conviction, as well as to compare their ability to predict collective action. In order to do so, the research objectives are: (a) conceptualize and operationalize moral obligation (Study 1, N = 171); (b) test its predictive power for intention to participate in protests (Study 2, N = 622); and (c) test moral obligation in a real context (Study 3, N = 407). Results are encouraging, showing not only that moral obligation is different to moral conviction and moral norm, but also that it is a more effective predictor working both for intention and real participation. This work therefore presents moral obligation as a key precedent of protest participation, prompting its future use as a variable that can enhance existing predictive models of collective action. Results regarding other variables are also discussed.

Political Protest in Times of Crisis. Construction of New Frames of Diagnosis and Emotional Climate.

In times of crisis, political mobilizations increase. Many of them compete to impose a determined diagnosis of the situation. This work analyses this issue, taking into consideration two of the movements that have had a greater incidence during the crisis in Spain: The Catalonian National Assembly and the Marches for dignity. The objective is to know how the categories of aggrieved ingroup and outgroup responsible were identified and how both these movements defined the emotional climate at that moment. This work includes two studies. In the first one, an analysis of the categories identified in the manifestos published by these two movements was carried out. The results show that the Marches for dignity constructed a more inclusive ingroup identity and show a more negative emotional climate than the Catalonian National Assembly. The second study includes a sample of 919 participants and non-participants in 2 demonstrations called by those organizations. In this case MANOVAs of 2 (Type of demonstration: Catalonian National Assembly, Marches for dignity) × 2 (Type of participants: participants, non-participants) were performed. Results show that participants in both demonstrations have a higher level of injustice than non-demonstrators. Furthermore, demonstrators in Marches for dignity have a more negative perception of emotional climate than non-demonstrators. However, and contrary to the hypothesis, demonstrators of the Catalonian National Assembly have a more positive perception of emotional climate than non-demonstrators. The work explains these results in the socio-political context in which each of these movements acts and highlights the relevance of comparative investigation designs to further the knowledge of political mobilization dynamics.

Efecto de factores temáticos y pragmáticos en razonamiento condicional con textos narrativos / Effect of thematic and pragmatic factors in conditional reasoning with narrative texts

En esta investigación experimental se analiza la importancia de factores de tipo temático y pragmático en tareas de inferencia condicional, incluidas en textos narrativos, que describen situaciones plausibles de la vida cotidiana. Se manipula el tipo de contenido (causal versus promesa/amenaza), la congruencia de los textos (congruente versus no congruente), la probabilidad de ocurrencia empírica de los enunciados condicionales (deterministas, probabilísticos y ninguna relación), y el tipo de regla condicional (Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Afirmación del Consecuente y Negación del Antecedente). A partir de un paradigma de selección de respuesta, además de elegir la conclusión, los sujetos debían indicar la seguridad con la que hacían dicha selección. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que: (a) Los sujetos que razonaban con textos congruentes, obtenían mejores resultados y manifestaban sentirse más seguros de sus respuestas que los que razonaban con textos no congruentes; (b) se obtuvieron las tasas más elevadas de aciertos y la mayor seguridad en las respuesta cuando se razonaba con enunciados deterministas, que siempre suceden en el mundo real (c) el tipo de contenido no registró efectos principales, pero sí se obtuvieron efectos interactivos significativos entre el contenido y la congruencia de los textos. Los resultados obtenidos se discuten en el marco de los principales enfoques teóricos actuales de razonamiento condicional.

The purpose of this investigation is to explore the importance of thematic and pragmatic factors in conditional inference tasks, included in narrative texts, which described plausible everyday situations. Content type (causal versus promise/threat), text coherence (coherent versus non-coherent), the probability of empiric occurrence in conditional statements (deterministic, probabilistic and without specific relation), and the type of conditional rule (Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Affirmation of the Consequent and Denial of the Antecedent) were manipulated. Using an answer-selection paradigm, as well as choosing the conclusion, the subjects indicated the level of certainty with which they made their selection. The results showed that: (a) The subjects who reasoned with coherent texts obtained better results and declared feeling more certain of their answers than those who reasoned with incoherent texts; (b) when reasoning is carried out with deterministic statements, which always occur in the real world, the highest number of correct answers, as well as the highest level of certainty in the choice of answer, is achieved. (c) The content type did not register any principal effects, but significant interactive effects of this variable were obtained with text coherence. The results obtained were discussed within the framework of the principal current theoretical approaches to conditional reasoning.

Importancia del conocimiento pragmático en inferencia condicional: una aproximación experimental / Importance of pragmatic knowledge in conditional reasoning: an experimental approach

En este trabajo se estudia la influencia de variables de tipo pragmático en razonamiento condicional. Se manipuló: (a) la probabilidad de ocurrencia empírica de la relación entre el antecedente y el consecuente de los enunciados condicionales (determinista, probabilístico y ninguna relación); (b) la función pragmática de las premisas (causal, temporal, promesa/ amenaza), y (c) el tipo de regla condicional (Modus ponens, Modus tollens, Afirmación del consecuente y Negación del antecedente). Los resultados apoyan la influencia del conocimiento pragmático sobre las cuatro reglas de inferencia condicional, y son discutidos en términos de la teoría de modelos mentales y la teoría del doble proceso.

This paper sought to study the influence of pragmatic factors in conditional reasoning. We manipulated: (a) the probability of empirical occurrence of the relation between antecedent and consequent of conditionals (deterministic conditionals, probabilistic conditionals and those without any relation); (b) the pragmatic function of the premises (causal, temporal, promise vs. threat), and (c) the type of conditional rule (Modus Ponens, Modus Tollens, Affirmation of the Consequent and Denial of the Antecedent).The results obtained support the influence of pragmatic knowledge on the four conditional inference rules, and were discussed in terms of the mental models theory and the dual process theory.

Toward understanding the role of body dissatisfaction in the gender differences in depressive symptoms and disordered eating: a longitudinal study during adolescence.

This study was aimed at examining whether body dissatisfaction in early adolescence contributes to the development of gender differences in depressive symptoms and disordered eating across early to mid-adolescence, testing both a mediation hypothesis (higher levels of body dissatisfaction in girls, provided body dissatisfaction is a predictor of psychopathology beyond the effect of gender) and a moderation hypothesis (more detrimental effect of body dissatisfaction in girls). A community-based sample initially comprising 882 (49.55% female) adolescents (M(age) = 12.85) was followed-up after 2 and 4 years. Multilevel models were used to analyze the data. Results supported the mediation hypothesis for depressive symptoms and disordered eating, and the moderation hypothesis for disordered eating. Whereas gender differences in depressive symptoms may be simply linked to dissimilar levels of body dissatisfaction in girls and boys, gender differences in disordered eating may arise from both dissimilar levels and effects of body dissatisfaction for each gender.

Reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and disordered eating among adolescent girls and boys: a multiwave, prospective study.

Symptoms of depression and eating disorders increase during adolescence, particularly among girls, and they tend to co-occur. Despite this evidence, there is meager research on whether depression increases the risk of future eating pathology, or vice versa, and we do not know whether these processes are different for adolescent girls and boys. Accordingly, this study explored the prospective reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and disordered eating at different time points from preadolescence to mid-adolescence and tested the moderator effect of gender on these associations. A community-based sample of Spanish youth (N = 942, 49 % female) was assessed at ages of approximately 10-11 (T1), 12-13 (T2), 14-15 (T3), and 16-17 (T4) years. The bidirectional relationships between depressive symptoms and disordered eating were estimated in an autoregressive cross-lagged model with latent variables. A unidirectional, age-specific association between depressive symptoms at T1 and disordered eating at T2 was found. No other significant cross-lagged effect emerged, but the stability of the constructs was considerable. Gender did not moderate any of the links examined. Regardless of gender, the transition from childhood to adolescence appears to be a key period when depressive symptoms foster the development of disordered eating. These findings suggest that early prevention and treatment of depression targeting both girls and boys may result in lower levels of depressive symptoms and disordered eating in adolescence.

The Construct Validity of the Spanish Version of the ABQ Using a Multi-Trait/Multi-Method Approach / Validez de constructo de la versión española del ABQ a través de aproximación multi-rasgo/multi-método

This study was designed to evaluate construct validity evidence associated with the Spanish version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) using a multi-trait/multi-method (MTMM) approach. The ABQ was administered to a sample of 302 Spanish athletes, along with two other questionnaires including the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), which respectively measure burnout in organizational settings and indicators of illbeing including depression, anxiety and stress. A structural equation modeling approach to a MTMM analysis was used. Results revealed by comparative analysis of four models that the Spanish version of ABQ has convergent and internal discriminant validity evident by high correlations between matching burnout subscales across two measures and lower correlations between non-matching dimensions. In addition, the burnout measures exhibited external discriminant validity as the correlations between burnout dimensions were higher than those seen between conceptually related, but unique, constructs (AU)

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la validez de constructo de la versión española del Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) utilizando la aproximación multi-rasgo/multi-método (MTMM). El ABQ fue administrado a una muestra de 302 deportistas españoles, junto con dos otros cuestionarios, el Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) y la Escala de Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés (DASS-21), que miden respectivamente burnout en el contexto organizacional e indicadores de depresión, ansiedad y estrés. El análisis multi-rasgo/multi-método se hizo desde la perspectiva de los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados obtenidos por medio de la comparación entre cuatro modelos revelaron que la versión española del ABQ tiene validez convergente y discriminante interna como lo evidencian las altas correlaciones observadas entre las dimensiones semejantes del burnout medidas por los dos cuestionarios de burnout y las bajas correlaciones observadas entre dimensiones no equivalentes. Además, se ha podido concluir que las medidas de burnout también disponen de validez discriminante externa dado que las correlaciones entre las dimensiones del burnout fueron más altas que las obtenidas entre los constructos únicos conceptualmente relacionados (AU)

Adaptation of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire in a Spanish sample of athletes.

In this paper, we offer a general version of the Spanish adaptation of Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) designed to measure the syndrome of burnout in athletes of different sports. In previous works, the Spanish version of ABQ was administered to different samples of soccer players. Its psychometric properties were appropriate and similar to the findings in original ABQ. The purpose of this study was to examine the generalization to others sports of the Spanish adaptation. We started from this adaptation, but we included three alternative statements (one for each dimension of the questionnaire), and we replaced the word "soccer" with the word "sport". An 18-item version was administered to a sample of 487 athletes aged 13 and 29 years old. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated the factor structure, but two items modification were necessary in order to obtain a good overall fit of the model. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire were satisfactory.

Adaptation of the athlete burnout questionnaire in a spanish sample of athletes

In this paper, we offer a general version of the Spanish adaptation of Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) designed to measure the syndrome of burnout in athletes of different sports. In previous works, the Spanish version of ABQ was administered to different samples of soccer players. Its psychometric properties were appropriate and similar to the findings in original ABQ. The purpose of this study was to examine the generalization to others sports of the Spanish adaptation. We started from this adaptation, but we included three alternative statements (one for each dimension of the questionnaire), and we replaced the word «soccer» with the word «sport». An 18-item version was administered to a sample of 487 athletes aged 13 and 29 years old. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated the factor structure, but two items modification were necessary in order to obtain a good overall fit of the model. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire were satisfactory (AU)

En el presente estudio se ofrece una versión genérica de la adaptación española del Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) para medir el síndrome de burnout en diversas modalidades deportivas. En investigaciones anteriores, la versión española del ABQ fue aplicada a diferentes muestras de futbolistas españoles, logrando unas propiedades psicométricas adecuadas, similares a las encontradas en el ABQ original. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en comprobar el grado de generalización a otros deportes de la adaptación española. Se partió de esta adaptación a la que se le añadieron tres ítems con enunciados alternativos (uno para cada dimensión del cuestionario) y se sustituyó la palabra fútbol por deporte. Este cuestionario de 18 ítems fue aplicado a 487 deportistas con un rango de edad entre los 13 y los 29 años. Análisis factoriales confirmatorios replicaron la estructura factorial, pero fueron necesarias dos re-especificaciones para conseguir un buen ajuste. En cuanto a la fiabilidad, se refirieron valores aceptables tanto de consistencia interna como de estabilidad (AU)

Gender-related risk and protective factors for depressive symptoms and disordered eating in adolescence: a 4-year longitudinal study.

The interplay between intrapersonal risk (low self-esteem, perfectionism and body dissatisfaction) and interpersonal protection (social support) appears relevant for delineating gender-specific pathways that lead to both depressive and eating psychopathology. The aims of this longitudinal study were to examine gender differences in the levels of depressive symptoms, disordered eating and the co-occurrence of both problems from preadolescence to mid-adolescence and to identify gender-specific risk and protective factors of depressive symptoms and disordered eating. A Spanish community-based sample initially comprising 942 early adolescents (49% females) was assessed at baseline (T1; X (age) = 10.8 years) and at 2 and 4-year follow-up (T2 and T3). Gender differences emerged at T2 for disordered eating and at T3 for depressive symptoms and for co-occurring depressive symptoms and disordered eating. Predictors of depressive symptoms were body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and fear of getting fat, for girls, and body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem, for boys. Predictors of disordered eating were body dissatisfaction, depressive symptoms, BMI and perfectionism, for girls, and low social support and BMI, for boys. In addition, for boys only, social support moderated the effect of body dissatisfaction on depressive symptoms and the effect of depressive symptoms on disordered eating. The hypotheses of the study were partially supported. Clinical implications are derived regarding the components that should be included in programs for preventing depression and eating disorders in both girls and boys.

A prospective study of risk factors for the development of depression and disordered eating in adolescents.

There is evidence that females display higher levels of depressive symptoms and disordered eating than males from adolescence onward. This study examined whether different risk factors and their interaction with sex (moderator effect) prospectively predicted depressive symptoms and disordered eating in adolescents. A total of 415 female adolescents and 413 male adolescents were evaluated at 2 different times: In the first evaluation (T1) the mean age of the participants was 12.8 years, and in the second evaluation (T2) it was 14.9 years. Differences between sexes were observed in relation to depressive symptoms at T2 and in disordered eating at T1 and T2. Body dissatisfaction was a significant predictor of both depressive symptoms and disordered eating. In addition, moderation tests indicated that the interaction between self-esteem and sex and the interaction between body mass index and sex significantly predicted depressive symptoms and disordered eating, respectively.

Validation of a Spanish version of the Airways Questionnaire 20: a short and simple instrument.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Airways Questionnaire 20 (AQ20S) for asthma and COPD separately. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred and eight patients (108 asthma, 100 COPD) filled in the AQ20S, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). Clinical and physiological measurements were assessed concurrently. Clinically stable patients were asked to fill in again the AQ20S after 14 days. The same assessment as on baseline visit was repeated after 3 months. RESULTS: The AQ20S showed a satisfactory score distribution, with minimal floor and ceiling effects, high internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.80), and good test-retest reliability (ICC ≥ 0.87). The AQ20S showed a high correlation with the SGRQ in both asthma and COPD (r (s) > 0.75; P < 0.001), as well as with the AQLQ (r (s) = -0.72, P < 0.001) in asthma and with the CRQ (r (s) = -0.59; P < 0.001) in COPD. The AQ20S showed significant correlation with clinical and functional variables, similar to the SGRQ and the AQLQ in asthmatics, but weaker than the SGRQ in COPD patients. Changes in AQ20S scores correlated quite well with changes in other HRQoL questionnaires, both in asthma and COPD. CONCLUSION: The AQ20S showed psychometric properties similar to the original questionnaire. It was equally useful compared with the SGRQ and the AQLQ in asthma patients and slightly less useful than the SGRQ in COPD patients. Considering its simplicity, the AQ20S may be an alternative to more complex traditional questionnaires.

Symptomatic profile and health-related quality of life of persons affected by the Prestige catastrophe.

This study analyses the impact of the Prestige oil spill on the mental health and the perception of physical health and functional capacity in the affected population. The sample comprised 926 residents from the section of the Spanish coast affected by the oil spill. The data was collected slightly more than one year after the accident. Scales referring to clinical symptoms (SCL-36) and health-related quality of life (SF-36) were administered. The results suggest that individuals with higher degrees of exposure or residing in areas closest to the spill show lower levels of mental health in comparison to those with lower levels of exposure or living in areas farther away from the spill. This study also finds that women and fishermen tend to suffer more from the consequences of these types of disaster.