Medo da covid-19 e sofrimento psicológico: o efeito mediador da "infoxicação" durante a pandemia

Durante a pandemia, o medo da covid-19 afetou a vida das pessoas, principalmente associado à infoxicação, que corresponde ao consumo excessivo de conteúdos que comprometem a capacidade de absorção e de filtragem quanto à relevância e à veracidade deles. A presente pesquisa objetivou verificar o papel mediador da infoxicação na relação entre medo da covid-19 e as sintomatologias de ansiedade, estresse e depressão. Contou-se com 424 pessoas da população geral (M = 25.48, variando de 18 até 75 anos; DP = 8.63), em maioria mulheres (56.1%) de diferentes estados brasileiros, que responderam a EPININ, FCV-19S, DASS-21 e questões demográficas. Correlações, seguidas de regressões e modelos de mediação demonstraram a contribuição do medo da covid-19 e da infoxicação nos sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e estresse. Discute-se como níveis elevados de medo, quando mediados pela busca exacerbada por informações, tendem a prejudicar a saúde mental durante a pandemia. Contudo, o acesso excessivo aos meios digitais foi associado ao aumento do sofrimento psicológico. O dado obtido é resultante da infoxicação, pois esta atuou como mediador do adoecimento mental no período pandêmico.

Abstract: During the pandemic, the fear of COVID-19 affected people's lives, mainly associated with infoxication, which corresponds to the excessive consumption of content that compromises absorption and filtering capacity for relevance and veracity. This research aimed to verify the mediating role of infoxication in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. It counted with 424 people from the general population (M = 25.48, ranging from 18 up to 75 years; SD = 8.63), mostly women (56.1%) from different Brazilian states, who responded to EPININ, FCV-19S, DASS-21 and demographic questions. Correlations, followed by regressions and mediation models demonstrated the contribution of the fear of COVID-19 and infoxication in the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress. It is discussed how high levels of fear, when mediated by the exacerbated search for information, tend to harm mental health during the pandemic. However, excessive access to digital media was associated with increased psychological distress. The data obtained is the result of infoxication, as it acted as a mediator of mental illness in the pandemic period.

Psychometric properties of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) in Brazil.

We aimed to adapt the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) in Brazil, using a range of statistical techniques (e.g., factor analysis, item response theory). Two studies were conducted (Ntotal = 512). The unidimensional structure presented a good model fit and reliability, significant convergent validity, and all items presenting very high discrimination levels, adequately assessing medium and high anxiety levels. We also gathered evidence on cutoff points for detecting anxiety symptoms, reinforcing the diagnostic feasibility (for screening) of the CAS. Our findings emphasize the CAS as useful for rapid assessment and research involving COVID-19 and mental health markers.

Attitudes towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Old Age Scale (EAFV- LGBT): Elaboration and Psychometric Evidence.

The aim of this study was to construct and validate an Attitude Scale relating to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) old age (EAFV-LGBT). The first study, consisting of 29 items in its preliminary version, counted on 266 individuals from the public in general with an average age of 28.6 years (DP = 9.70), exploratory factor analysis was undertaken and EAFV-LGBT consisted of twelve items, with eigenvalues of 5.08, accounting for 43.8% of total variance. The second study consisted of 261 individuals from the general public with an average age of 23.18 years (DP = 8.25), confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken and psychometric parameters by means of Item Response Theory and conformation of the EAFV-LGBT structure. After this analysis, two items were excluded due to lower psychometric values, in which the 10 item scale proved to be valid and precise in evaluating individuals with varying levels of the latent trait. An adequate fit of the model to the data was verified, CFI = 0.97; TLI = 0.6; RMSEA, 90% CI = 0.05 [0.01, 0.07]. Lastly, the EAFV-LGBT has valid psychometric properties to evaluate attitudes towards LGBT old age.

Human values of colombian people. Evidence for the functionalist theory of values / Valores Humanos de los Colombianos. Evidencia de la Teoría Funcionalista de los Valores

The objective of this research work has been to get to know the axiological orientation of Colombians, and gather empirical evidence regarding the suitability of the functionalist theory of values in Colombia, testing its content and structure hypothesis and the psychometric properties of its measurement (Basic Values Questionnaire BVQ). The BVQ evaluates sexuality, success, social support, knowledge, emotion, power, affection, religiosity, health, pleasure, prestige, obedience, personal stability, belonging, beauty, tradition, survival, and maturity. Two hundred and thirty people participated (112 men and 118 women) whose average age was 28.7 years old, from 50 cities and towns of Colombia. They answered the BVQ and demographic questions. The results gave support to the content hypothesis (six valorative sub-functions: excitement, promotion, existence, suprapersonal, interactive and normative) and to structure (the values represented in two dimensions: orientation type and motivation type). Verifying previous research, it was found that Colombians presented a value orientation which was more social than personal, and more idealistic (humanist) than materialistic. The main values were success, maturity and affection. The least important were power, tradition, beauty and emotion. In conclusion, there is an initial evidence of the suitability about the functionalist theory of values in this culture, although it is advisable to conduct new studies, even thinking in an emic measurement of the values in this country.

El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido conocer la orientación axiológica de los colombianos, y reunir evidencias empíricas con respecto a la adecuación de la teoría funcionalista de los valores en Colombia, comprobando sus hipótesis de contenido y estructura y las propiedades psicométricas de su medida (el Cuestionario de Valores Básicos, CVB). El CVB evalúa sexualidad, éxito, apoyo social, conocimiento, emoción, poder, afectividad, religiosidad, salud, placer, prestigio, obediencia, estabilidad personal, pertenencia, belleza, tradición, supervivencia y madurez. Participaron 230 personas (112 varones y 118 mujeres) con edad promedio de 28.7 años, provenientes de 50 ciudades y pueblos de Colombia. Contestaron el CVB y preguntas demográficas. Los resultados respaldan las hipótesis de contenido (seis subfunciones valorativas: experimentación, realización, existencia, suprapersonal, interactiva y normativa) y estructura (los valores representados en dos dimensiones: tipo de orientación y tipo de motivador). Corroborando investigaciones anteriores, se encontró que los colombianos presentan una orientación valorativa más social que personal, y más idealista (humanista) que materialista. Los principales valores fueron éxito, madurez y afectividad. Los menos importantes fueron poder, tradición, belleza y emoción. En conclusión, existen evidencias iniciales de la adecuación de la teoría funcionalista de los valores en dicha cultura, aunque se recomienda realizar nuevos estudios, incluso pensando en una medida emic de los valores en este país.