The impact of Benevolent Childhood Experiences on adult Flourishing: the mediating role of Light Triad traits.

The literature has well documented the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences, personality traits, and well-being. However, less is known about how Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) relate to "light" personality traits and Flourishing. The study analyzed the effects of BCEs on Flourishing, considering the mediator role of Light Triad traits (Kantianism, Humanism, and Faith in Humanity). The study used a quantitative methodology with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design; 410 Honduran adults responded to the survey, including questions regarding Light Triad personality traits, Flourishing, and BCEs. On average, respondents reported 7.34 BCEs. The number of reported BCEs did not vary significantly between men and women. However, specific BCEs were categorically associated with subjects' sex. A higher proportion of men reported having at least one teacher who cared about the respondent, having opportunities to have a good time, and liking/feeling comfortable with oneself. Flourishing was significantly higher for participants who reported the presence of BCEs. The largest effect size was achieved for the difference in Flourishing scores between those who reported liking school as a child and those who disliked it. The number of Benevolent Childhood Experiences had a significant total and direct effect on Flourishing scores. Significant indirect effects were also identified. Faith in Humanity and Humanism, not Kantianism, mediated the relationship between BCEs and Flourishing. BCEs significantly explained all Light Triad traits. In conclusion, BCEs have significant direct and indirect effects on adult Flourishing; Faith in Humanity and Humanism mediate this relationship.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on mental health, sexual risk behaviors, and alcohol consumption in adulthood.

The purpose of the study was to determine how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) relate to adulthood flourishing, symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, self-reported health, sexual risk behaviors, and alcohol consumption. A quantitative cross-sectional methodology was used. A total of 452 adults completed the survey. The most prevalent ACE include physical abuse (44.69%), separation/divorce of parents (41.81%), living with someone with alcohol problems (39.38%), and being sworn, insulted, or humiliated by adults at home (35.62%). Almost one out of every four respondents (24.34%) reported being touched by an adult, 17.92% reported that an adult tried to manipulate the respondent into touching them, and 8.19% were forced to have sexual intercourse. Results indicate that women reported a higher number of ACE than men. The number of ACE is inversely related to flourishing and self-reported health; while being positively associated with participant's scores in depression, anxiety, somatization, sexual risk behaviors, and alcohol use. The regression model, including the eleven ACE and respondents' sex and age, achieved medium effect sizes for somatization, depression, and anxiety symptoms and small effect sizes for flourishing, self-reported health, sexual risk behaviors, and alcohol consumption. Specific ACE have a particularly significant negative impact on mental health outcomes: forced intercourse, witnessing familial violence, verbal humiliation, and living with individuals struggling with mental health issues and drug consumption or who were incarcerated. In conclusion, the study highlights the alarming prevalence of ACE among the Honduran population and their significant negative impact on mental health outcomes during adulthood.

Exploring suicide ideation in university students: sleep quality, social media, self-esteem, and barriers to seeking psychological help.

The purpose of the current study is to analyze how variations in suicidal ideation scores can relate to sleep quality, social media consumption, self-esteem, and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help in a sample of university students in Honduras. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. Self-reported data was collected from a non-random sample of 910 university students in Honduras; their average age was 24.03 years (SD=6.05). Most respondents were women (67%) with men accounting for 33% of the sample. Measurements included item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Barriers to Seeking Psychological Help Scale for College Students, and a self-reported questionnaire on social media. In response to the query, "Over the past two weeks, how frequently have you experienced thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself?" 54% (n=495) of participants indicated "not at all" 18% (n=168) reported "several days" 14% (n=129) responded "more than half of the days" and 13% (n=118) stated "nearly every day". The results from the ordinal logistic regression model indicate that sleep quality and self-esteem serve as protective factors associated with decreased suicide ideation. At the same time, a higher number of social media platforms used per week and perceived barriers to seeking psychological help increase suicide ideation. Altogether, these variables explained 19% of the variance in suicidal ideation scores. Suicidal ideation is highly prevalent among the sampled university students.

Social media addiction relationship with academic engagement in university students: The mediator role of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

This research analyzed how addiction to social media relates to academic engagement in university students, considering the mediating role of self-esteem, symptoms of depression, and anxiety. A quantitative methodology was used with a non-experimental-relational design. A set of questionnaires was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 412 students enrolled at the National Autonomous University of Honduras. On average, participants use 4.83 different social media platforms at least once a week. Instagram and TikTok users report significantly higher levels of social media addiction, symptoms of depression, and anxiety compared to non-users. Directly, social media addiction does not significantly influence academic engagement scores. However, there are significant indirect inverse effects on academic engagement. Symptoms of depression and self-esteem mediate these effects. Social media addiction increases symptoms of depression, which in turn decreases academic engagement scores. Social media addiction decreases self-esteem, which serves as a variable that significantly increases academic engagement. Overall, findings suggest that social media addiction has a total inverse effect on academic engagement; symptoms of depression and self-esteem mediate this relationship. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale in the Honduran population.

Studying Flourishing is important to understand wellbeing. The current study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale (FS) in the Honduran population. The primary sample consisted of 422 residents of the Central District of Honduras; this included 275 (65.17%) women and 147 men (34.83%). Their average age was 28.18 years (SD = 10.58). Findings from the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis support a unidimensional factor structure. The FS achieved a high internal consistency with McDonald's ω = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86, 0.91]. The average inter-item correlation was 0.48, 95% CI [0.43, 0.53]. Using Student's t-test for paired samples, results indicate that none of the FS items varied significantly between baseline and post-test. Additionally, Spearman's rho was used to correlate test-retest scores; this yielded a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.66. The Flourishing Scale had adequate convergent validity with the Subjective Happiness Scale (r = 0.70) and the PANAS-Positive Affect Subscale (r = 0.70) (p < 0.001). In contrast, it correlates inversely with the PANAS-Negative Affect Subscale (r = -0.34) and the PHQ-9 (r = -0.51). Strict measurement invariance for sex was supported. The results indicate that the Flourishing Scale has robust psychometric properties for the Honduran population. Practical implications for public policy are discussed.

Factores psicológicos asociados al riesgo suicida en estudiantes universitarios de Honduras / Factors Related to Suicide Risk in University Students from Honduras / Fatores psicológicos associados ao risco de suicídio em estudantes universitários em Honduras

El riesgo suicida es definido como la posibilidad de que una persona atente deliberadamente contra su vida y se considera una conducta autodestructiva de causas multifactoriales. El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar los factores psicológicos aso-ciados al riesgo suicida en estudiantes universitarios. Esto se realizó por medio de un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental. La muestra estuvo conformada por 1696 estudiantes de pregrado, 54.7 % correspondiente al sexo femenino y 43.6 % al masculino. Se aplicaron escalas para evaluar sentido de la vida, depresión, esperanza, soledad, apoyo interpersonal y riesgo suicida. Los resultados indicaron que el 50 % de la muestra reportó nunca haber tenido pensamientos suicidas. Sin embargo, el 26.8 % tuvo un pensamiento pasajero al respecto; el 9.9 % planeó quitarse la vida, pero no lo intentó; el 5.8 % realizó un intento suicida sin intención real de concretar el acto, el 5 % hizo planes para quitarse la vida con intención real de concretar el acto; y el 2.4 % efectuó intentos suicidas con deseos de morir. Se evidenció que existe una relación inversa significativa entre el riesgo suicida y la esperanza, presencia y búsqueda de sentido de la vida y apoyo interpersonal. No obstante, los individuos con mayor riesgo suicida poseen puntajes más altos en soledad y depresión. Estos resultados se discuten desde sus implicaciones en el ejercicio clínico

Suicide risk is defined as the possibility of a person deliberately taking his/her own life; this is considered a self-destructive behavior with multifactorial causes. This research aimed to determine the psychological fac-tors associated with suicide risk in university students. This was done through a quantitative, non-experimental approach. The sample consisted of 1.696 undergraduate students, 54.7 % female and 43.6 % male students. Ques-tionnaires were applied to evaluate meaning in life, depression, hope, loneliness, interpersonal support, and suicide risk. The results indicated that 50 % of the parti-cipants reported never having suicidal thoughts. However, 26.8 % had had a passing thought about committing suicide, 9.9 % had thought of a specific (but unexecuted) plan to commit suicide, 5.8 % reported a previous suicide attempt without the intention of actually committing suicide, 5 % had made plans to take their own life with a real intention to commit the act, and 2.4 % had made at least one suicide attempt with a desire to die. Results indicate that there is a significant inverse relation be-tween suicide risk and hope, the presence and search for a meaning in life, and interpersonal support. However, a higher suicide risk is positively correlated with loneliness and depression. These results are discussed according to their implications in clinical practice

O risco de suicídio é definido como a possibilidade de uma pessoa deliberadamente atentar contra sua vida, considerando-o como um comportamento autodestrutivo com causas multifatoriais. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar os fatores psicológicos associados ao risco de suicídio em estudantes universitários. Isso foi feito por meio de uma abordagem quantitativa, não experimental. A amostra foi composta por 1696 alunos de graduação, sendo 54.7 % do sexo feminino e 43.6 % do sexo mascu-lino. Foram aplicadas escalas para avaliar o sentido de vida, depressão, esperança, solidão, apoio interpessoal e risco de suicídio. Os resultados indicaram que 50 % da amostra relatou nunca ter tido pensamentos suicidas. No entanto, 26.8 % tiveram um pensamento passageiro sobre isso, 9.9 % planejaram se matar, mas não tentaram; 5.8 % fizeram uma tentativa de suicídio sem real intenção de realizar o ato, 5 % fizeram planos para tirar a própria vida com real intenção de realizar o ato e 2.4 % fizeram ten-tativas de suicídio com desejo de morrer. Evidenciou-se que existe uma relação inversa significativa entre risco de suicídio e esperança, presença e busca de sentido na vida e apoio interpessoal. No entanto, indivíduos com maior risco de suicídio apresentam pontuações mais altas em solidão e depressão. Esses resultados são discutidos a partir de suas implicações na prática clínica

Psychology students' attitudes towards research: the role of critical thinking, epistemic orientation, and satisfaction with research courses.

The current study aimed to determine how attitudes towards research are related to epistemic orientation, critical thinking, and satisfaction with research courses in psychology university students. Control variables included respondents' gender, current academic degree (undergraduate or postgraduate), number of research methods courses completed, number of research projects completed, and academic score. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used, with a non-probabilistic sample size of 137 students. Correlational findings suggest that students with high scores in critical thinking domains and empiric and rational dispositions, tend to achieve higher academic grades. Rationality and reflexive skepticism were related to the number of research projects completed by the student. While an intuitive disposition is inversely related to academic scores and the number of research courses completed. Results from a hierarchical linear regression model suggest that attitudes towards research are significantly and positively affected by students' satisfaction with research courses, empiric epistemic orientation, and critical openness. On the other hand, an intuitive epistemic orientation has significant detrimental effects on attitudes towards research. Rational epistemic orientation and skeptic reflexiveness yielded non-significant coefficients. Overall, the model containing all independent variables accounted for 47.4% of the variance in attitudinal scores; this constitutes a large effect size. Results are discussed in light of previous research and their implications for the teaching of psychology in higher education.

Universal Screening in Positive School Mental Health Using the ASEBA Methodology for Teachers: A Pilot Epidemiological Study.

School-based detection and intervention are critical components in ensuring positive mental health in children, with teachers playing an essential role in assessing students' well-being. The current research aims to be a pilot epidemiological study on positive school mental health in Malaga, Spain, using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). Data were collected in the COVID-19 pre-pandemic setting, using the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (C-TRF) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) in a sample of 420 children, who were between 5 and 8 years old at the time of the data collection. In 5-year-old children, the DSM-oriented scale with the highest clinical prevalence corresponds to attention deficit and hyperactivity problems (1.13%). In this same sub-sample, clinical levels of externalizing problems (4.52%) were non-significantly more common than internalizing conditions (1.69%). As for children between 6 and 8 years old, the DSM-oriented scale with the highest prevalence of clinical scores corresponds to anxiety problems (4.12%) and conduct problems (2.88%). Clinical levels of externalizing problems (9.47%) were non-significantly more prevalent than internalizing problems (6.58%). The results present 95% confidence intervals prevalence data in the general population and sex-differentiated descriptive statistics. The results are discussed according to their implication for school mental health.

Moral Injury and Light Triad Traits: Anxiety and Depression in Health-Care Personnel During the Coronavirus-2019 Pandemic in Honduras.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the influence of moral injury and Light Triad (LT) personality traits on anxiety and depression symptoms of health-care personnel during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was used, the study included a sample of 169 health-care workers from Honduras. Data was gathered through the Moral Injury Symptom Scale for Health Professionals (MISS-HP), Light Triad Scale (LTS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Patient-Health Questionnaire-9. Results suggest that almost 9 out of 10 respondents experienced at least one potentially morally injurious event, 45.6% were at significant risk of impairment related to moral injury. Working with limited staff and resources, and the implications of it, was the most common potentially morally injurious situation reported by the respondents. Results suggest that MISS-HP Mistrust has significant negative correlations with LT traits. A hierarchical regression model determined that Moral Injury, but not LT traits, significantly affected depression symptoms. On the other hand, anxiety symptoms were significantly predicted by Moral Injury, as did LTS-Humanism. The results were discussed according to their implications for public health policy in Latin America.

Coronavirus Awareness and Mental Health: Clinical Symptoms and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help.

The current study analyzed the relationship between Coronavirus (COVID-19) Awareness, mental health, and willingness to seek professional psychological help. This was made through a quantitative approach, using online questionnaires to collect data from 855 subjects. The questionnaires included the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53) to measure mental health indicators, the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form, and the Coronavirus Awareness Scale-10 (CAS-10). An Exploratory Factor Analysis suggests that three factors underlie the CAS-10: Coronavirus Concern, Exaggerated Perception, and Immunity Perception. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between Coronavirus Concern and both general anxiety and phobic anxiety symptoms. Immunity Perception is positively related to paranoid ideation and psychotic symptoms. A Mediation Analysis determined that Coronavirus Concern has a significant positive direct effect on Openness to Seeking Psychological Treatment (OSPT), while Exaggerated Perception and Immunity Perception scores have significant direct negative effects on the Value and Need in Seeking Treatment (VNST) scores. Indirectly, the relationship between Coronavirus Concern and OPST is significantly mediated by anxiety symptoms. Similar results were found for the VNST subscale. There is a negative significant effect of Immunity Perception over OSPT mediated by Paranoid Ideation. However, the overall model only achieved small r 2 coefficients for the OSPT (0.060) and VNST (0.095) scores. Comparisons in Coronavirus Awareness between sex, age, and the presence of children and older adults at home were also made. These results are discussed regarding their practical implications for mental health providers and policymakers.

Coronavirus awareness, confinement stress, and mental health: Evidence from Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Spain.

RATIONALE: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the influence of coronavirus awareness, psychological stress responses, and sociodemographic variables on mental health indicators (somatization, depression, and anxiety) in residents of Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Spain. METHODS: The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional approach. Data was collected online using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18); the Coronavirus Awareness Scale-6 (CAS-6) and a questionnaire that included psychological and sociodemographic questions. The total sample size consisted of 1559 respondents from Honduras (34%), Chile (29%), Costa Rica (17%), Mexico (11%), and Spain (9%). RESULTS: The most common stress domains correspond to family (22.97%), financial (22.53%), academic (16.47%), leisure time constraints (14.23%), health (12.48%), peer group (7.63%), and religious concerns (3.69%). These domains are significantly associated with the respondent's country, sex, employment status, and being or not a health worker. Respondents who reported confinement stress also reported higher scores in anxiety, depression, and somatization. The Global Severity Index was significantly predicted by confinement stress, health, academic, and leisure time-related stress, sex, age, being a health worker, COVID-19 Personal Concern, and Perceived Seriousness. Non-significant predictors were employment status, the number of people at home, presence of older adults and children at home, financial, peer group, family, and religious concerns; the regression model had an R2 of 0.26. Similar analyses were conducted for somatization, depression, and anxiety subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse effects on the mental health of the general population, particularly regarding anxiety, depression, and somatization. Specific populations, such as women and healthcare workers, are at particular risk of suffering a deterioration in mental wellbeing. The implications of the study for public policy are discussed.

Violence in Honduras from 2008 to 2018.

The current study documents homicide trends in Honduras from 2008 to 2018. Specifically, this study describes demographics of homicide victims and incident profiles (ie, weapons) using homicide data from the Honduras National Police and census data from the National Institute of Statistics. A total of 58 543 homicide incidents were analysed. Results indicated that the homicide rate in Honduras increased from 2008 to 2011 and decreased substantially after 2011. In addition, the male homicide victimisation rate was significantly higher than the female homicide victimisation rate across the entire time period, with the highest rate for males aged 30-44 (233.4 per 100 000 population). Firearms were the weapons used most frequently in homicides (80.3%). Implications of the findings are discussed in light of public safety in Honduras.